Dear Editor:Following the recent actions by the chancellor and president of SIU to begin positive communications with their constituency (as reported in last week’s issues), it is so gratifying to learn Provost Dunn will now take up the mantle of the authoritarian and undemocratic actions of higher administration.

I refer to his intention of forcing faculty to give final exams. As one of those “guilty people” who use the final paper as the final exam, I feel I must protest. I use papers as a means of evaluation both in terms of contributing to the supposed research mission of this university as well as attempting to treat students as responsible adults and not high school sophomores.

Furthermore, rather than inflicting the ordeal of a two-hour, high-pressure exam on students in SIU’s badly ventilated classrooms (which are either too hot or too cold), I encourage them to research class assignments in advance, use the library and do themselves justice rather than endure a “hazing” ritual in addition to other exams, job pressures, possible ill health and commitments during finals week. That is what I regard as a university education rather than a high school scenario.

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Naturally, as a higher administrator, Provost Dunn has now forgotten what research and teaching really involve. This is not surprising in view of his huge salary and removal from the “real work done” by SIU faculty.

Perhaps Provost Dunn should pay more attention as to why enrollments are declining, faculty leaving for employment in more democratic institutions and the continued demoralization of staff. In doing so, he should recognize the contradiction between his recent statements and the continuing decline of SIU, which his proposed authoritarian actions will certainly accelerate.

professor, Department of English