University Officials Govern Tiffin Citizens?
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rctwe...@gmail.com
Sep 8, 2008, 2:23:39 AM9/8/08
to Responsible Citizens for Tiffin (RCT)
As Tiffin University management goes, governance of employees and
other University resources is NOT an exercise in Democracy.
Nor should it be. No University President will deny that this is
necessary, especially when faced with opposition to its own mission
and policies from within. To allow such dissidence could result in
yet another Ohio College going defunct.
Especially at independent colleges, such as the Tiffin University,
long term survival is often dependent upon bold, deliberate, and
decisive action to carry out their mission. The mission is usually
stated in a formal Strategic Plan, that if not substantially executed,
can result in bad things happening. For example, the University could
lose accreditation, loss of revenue from students who won't come to an
unaccredited college, and the President, along with some staff will
certainly be fired from their jobs for their lack of effectiveness!
In the higher education industry, it is considered fair, necessary,
and just that Universities are NOT Democracies.
If you are not familiar with this basic University governing
philosophy, here's a link that gives a very rare look into the ongoing
NON-DEMOCRATIC governing philosophy and practices of Tiffin University
Officials:
http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/protect/academicfreedom/investrep/2002/Tif.htm
Although I do NOT agree with the methods he has chosen because they
hurt Tiffin University neighbors, with the abusive aspects of the
Miami Street
Project, I can sympathize with TU President, Paul Marion's "rock-and-
a-
hard-place” situation.
He is on a mission. He has Board-approved plan that he MUST carry
out to keep University accreditation, his job, and that of other high-
value staff members. All of this is VERY STRONG motivation to do
everything possible to ensure Tiffin University's Institutional
survival...even if it means "bending the rules; or giving up your
personal sense of integrity. Dr. Marion and company are very
effective in ensuring their
survival and prosperity BECAUSE they carry out their mission and plans
in a much focused way, without consideration for any issues they are
known to call "irrelevant". Herein lies the rub.
Nothing about governing Tiffin University's resources is Democratic.
If you are employed here, you either "tow the company line" (and
don't oppose any University policies), or it is quite clear that you
will be fired from your job. If you don't believe this, you haven't
spoken to enough of their 180+ employees, or their relatives who will
tell you some version of their own fears that their loved one can
loose their job, if they "speak-up" about any indignity. [ Why else
would nearly every TU employee who was asked, say to us, "No, I work
for Tiffin University, so I can't sign the Referendum Petition!” ].
If you are a student, please don't assume that the $25,000+ you bring
to the University gives you any license to proclaim your objections to
important indignities you might notice on campus or off. You too will
have to suffer silently, or you will quickly get a lesson in dark
power-politics that will scare out of you any trust and esteem you
might have accorded your institutional Officials. If you are intent on
having your young innocence thus violated, you might be best-served to
patiently wait for other dark University-inspired events to take their
toll on you. In this way, probability suggests you will be spared most
indignities. The link above, gives but one account of how this
affects would-be activist students at Tiffin University
Remember, this “fear” dynamic quietly permeates the Tiffin University
Organization: Do you think Dr. Marion and his key subordinates, such
as Dr. Grandillo, are also subject to it? If you are highly paid, or
highly compensated in some other way, it is easier to rationalize the
indignity. If you know anyone not-so-privileged who has ever been out
of a job, this is tough to take in an economically depressed city like
Tiffin, Ohio. It can change your values and re- order your priorities
in a way that most of us are not proud to admit.
TU Officials are extremely effective at governing this NON-Democracy
known as Tiffin University, with its attendant dynamic of silent fear
and oppression among their own rank-and-file…as well as their own
students.
Why do TU Officials act like they have a right to subject Tiffin, Ohio
Citizens to the same abusive methods of governance?
What makes them act like they actually expect our Tiffin City Council
and Mayor to act as a cartel on their behalf?
Why do we allow the pervasive influence of Tiffin University
Officials to virtually "dictate" actions of more than just one or two
Tiffin
City Officials?
We need to separate this currently confused mission of Tiffin, Ohio
governance from the governing philosophy and self-interested
influences of Tiffin University Officials. Encourage and allow the
University to survive and prosper on its own merits...and NOT at the
expense of the regular Citizens who object to subsidizing questionable
projects with Citizen tax dollars...or with Tiffin Citizen’s
neighborhood streets...or with our homes.
Just like any private enterprise, Tiffin University Officials are
legally allowed to fire their employees and to dictate the rules every
employee is required to follow. If employees don’t obey Tiffin
University rules, or protest them in public, Tiffin University
Officials have a documented history of silencing them into the ranks
of the unemployed This is the punishment for speaking up!.. even if
they would have a family, a modest mortgage on a home, and are now
headed for certain
financial ruin.
However, I am hard-pressed to find any Responsible Tiffin Citizen who
does not clearly condemn the same philosophy and practice when applied
to the governance of Tiffin Citizens. The resulting abuses are
nothing short of outrageous!
Responsible Citizens need to take back our City and place it into the
hands of those elected council members and the Mayor who represent
us! This is one example of where your vote can make an immediate
difference!
Please mobilize with the Responsible Citizens for Tiffin on November
4th, and
vote "NO" on the Tiffin University's Miami Street Project Referendum.
Your employer is probably NOT a Tiffin University Official, so YOU
can't be fired for voting "NO". All others, when you are alone in the
voting booth,
practicing your constitutional right as an American Citizen, please
consider voting "NO", too!
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
other University resources is NOT an exercise in Democracy.
Nor should it be. No University President will deny that this is
necessary, especially when faced with opposition to its own mission
and policies from within. To allow such dissidence could result in
yet another Ohio College going defunct.
Especially at independent colleges, such as the Tiffin University,
long term survival is often dependent upon bold, deliberate, and
decisive action to carry out their mission. The mission is usually
stated in a formal Strategic Plan, that if not substantially executed,
can result in bad things happening. For example, the University could
lose accreditation, loss of revenue from students who won't come to an
unaccredited college, and the President, along with some staff will
certainly be fired from their jobs for their lack of effectiveness!
In the higher education industry, it is considered fair, necessary,
and just that Universities are NOT Democracies.
If you are not familiar with this basic University governing
philosophy, here's a link that gives a very rare look into the ongoing
NON-DEMOCRATIC governing philosophy and practices of Tiffin University
Officials:
http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/protect/academicfreedom/investrep/2002/Tif.htm
Although I do NOT agree with the methods he has chosen because they
hurt Tiffin University neighbors, with the abusive aspects of the
Miami Street
Project, I can sympathize with TU President, Paul Marion's "rock-and-
a-
hard-place” situation.
He is on a mission. He has Board-approved plan that he MUST carry
out to keep University accreditation, his job, and that of other high-
value staff members. All of this is VERY STRONG motivation to do
everything possible to ensure Tiffin University's Institutional
survival...even if it means "bending the rules; or giving up your
personal sense of integrity. Dr. Marion and company are very
effective in ensuring their
survival and prosperity BECAUSE they carry out their mission and plans
in a much focused way, without consideration for any issues they are
known to call "irrelevant". Herein lies the rub.
Nothing about governing Tiffin University's resources is Democratic.
If you are employed here, you either "tow the company line" (and
don't oppose any University policies), or it is quite clear that you
will be fired from your job. If you don't believe this, you haven't
spoken to enough of their 180+ employees, or their relatives who will
tell you some version of their own fears that their loved one can
loose their job, if they "speak-up" about any indignity. [ Why else
would nearly every TU employee who was asked, say to us, "No, I work
for Tiffin University, so I can't sign the Referendum Petition!” ].
If you are a student, please don't assume that the $25,000+ you bring
to the University gives you any license to proclaim your objections to
important indignities you might notice on campus or off. You too will
have to suffer silently, or you will quickly get a lesson in dark
power-politics that will scare out of you any trust and esteem you
might have accorded your institutional Officials. If you are intent on
having your young innocence thus violated, you might be best-served to
patiently wait for other dark University-inspired events to take their
toll on you. In this way, probability suggests you will be spared most
indignities. The link above, gives but one account of how this
affects would-be activist students at Tiffin University
Remember, this “fear” dynamic quietly permeates the Tiffin University
Organization: Do you think Dr. Marion and his key subordinates, such
as Dr. Grandillo, are also subject to it? If you are highly paid, or
highly compensated in some other way, it is easier to rationalize the
indignity. If you know anyone not-so-privileged who has ever been out
of a job, this is tough to take in an economically depressed city like
Tiffin, Ohio. It can change your values and re- order your priorities
in a way that most of us are not proud to admit.
TU Officials are extremely effective at governing this NON-Democracy
known as Tiffin University, with its attendant dynamic of silent fear
and oppression among their own rank-and-file…as well as their own
students.
Why do TU Officials act like they have a right to subject Tiffin, Ohio
Citizens to the same abusive methods of governance?
What makes them act like they actually expect our Tiffin City Council
and Mayor to act as a cartel on their behalf?
Why do we allow the pervasive influence of Tiffin University
Officials to virtually "dictate" actions of more than just one or two
Tiffin
City Officials?
We need to separate this currently confused mission of Tiffin, Ohio
governance from the governing philosophy and self-interested
influences of Tiffin University Officials. Encourage and allow the
University to survive and prosper on its own merits...and NOT at the
expense of the regular Citizens who object to subsidizing questionable
projects with Citizen tax dollars...or with Tiffin Citizen’s
neighborhood streets...or with our homes.
Just like any private enterprise, Tiffin University Officials are
legally allowed to fire their employees and to dictate the rules every
employee is required to follow. If employees don’t obey Tiffin
University rules, or protest them in public, Tiffin University
Officials have a documented history of silencing them into the ranks
of the unemployed This is the punishment for speaking up!.. even if
they would have a family, a modest mortgage on a home, and are now
headed for certain
financial ruin.
However, I am hard-pressed to find any Responsible Tiffin Citizen who
does not clearly condemn the same philosophy and practice when applied
to the governance of Tiffin Citizens. The resulting abuses are
nothing short of outrageous!
Responsible Citizens need to take back our City and place it into the
hands of those elected council members and the Mayor who represent
us! This is one example of where your vote can make an immediate
difference!
Please mobilize with the Responsible Citizens for Tiffin on November
4th, and
vote "NO" on the Tiffin University's Miami Street Project Referendum.
Your employer is probably NOT a Tiffin University Official, so YOU
can't be fired for voting "NO". All others, when you are alone in the
voting booth,
practicing your constitutional right as an American Citizen, please
consider voting "NO", too!
Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter
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