The spirit shown by the Faculty Association’s informational picket [March 23] stands in marked contrast to their apathy in the recent chancellor search (where it was a foregone conclusion that the person most congenial to administration’s top-down, do-as-you’re-told management philosophy would be selected). Of course, many faculty do not agree with the aims and tactics of the association. That is to be expected among academics, who are trained to see many shades of gray and are prepared to debate various sides of any issue. Unfortunately, it is that diversity of faculty opinion that has enabled administration to divide and conquer, strengthening its autocratic grip on SIU. The administration position is monolithic:nowhere will one find an administrator who expresses a divergent opinion; nowhere will one find an administrator, other then a designated spokesperson, who says anything at all. It is no surprise that administration strategy is to stand pat and wait for faculty fractiousness to dissipate the rebellion.

Administrators continue to draw their premium salaries, and their lawyers their princely consulting fees, for as long as negotiations continue the longer the better. It is faculty who are working without contracts, without prospects of advancement, paying for negotiations out of their own pockets, who are expected to cave in. Thus, it was heartening to experience the collegiality and optimism among faculty at the picket line. But much more needs to be done to exert counter control over the lords of the purse strings. Faculty who are not actively involved need to realize that, however distasteful, there really are only two sides in this matter, and that sitting on the sidelines is, in fact, making a choice.