2008 Woodie Awards
Snyder scoffs, Robo's palaver
Erik Syverson
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Opinion
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On Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 11, at the last Academic Senate meeting to discuss, according to the agenda, "the current and future direction" of Humboldt State, I witnessed provocative things: several professors visibly shaken in speaking out for a no confidence vote against President Richmond; five students eloquently sharing with the audience their concerns, experiences and suggestions on the meeting's subject; and an administrator scoffing at one of these students' comments. This last scene was especially compelling.
Interim Provost Robert Snyder, former dean of the college of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, was sitting two seats to my left when he began reacting visibly to the comments of Associated Students Legislative Vice President Jason Robo. Robo, a recognizable student activist around campus for the past few semesters, was in the middle of his third rant directed at the administration and by this point was sounding long-winded-an observation others seemed to share (especially the attendant "adults"; faculty, staff and administrators). Yet in spite of Robo's preachy tone, the substance of his message(s) was invaluable. He was listing many of the worst aspects of Humboldt State's "current direction" while providing what seemed like creative and feasible suggestions for its future. Robo went through his laundry list of critiques; lack of administrative oversight, athletics prioritized over education, the community housing crisis, lack of dialogue with community leaders, the $2.1 million pay check of Humboldt State's top three administrators-as if they were the widely acknowledged reasons our institution is several million dollars in debt. This was completely lost on Snyder, who writhed around in his chair, huffing his disagreement and disbelief with everything that Robo said.
What was most evident about this scene was the irony it displayed. As an employee of an academic institution it would seem appropriate to regard one's primary professional and social task as the educating of responsible and intelligent individuals. Humboldt State claims that it's set apart from other four-year colleges because it emphasizes the practicality of its curriculum in labs and outside the classroom. As its web site says under the "about Humboldt" link, "At Humboldt State, learning isn't limited to sitting in a classroom and taking notes." Judging then by these standards, any person professionally engaged in educating would appreciate a student motivated enough to become involved in the governance of his own college. Snyder's reactions towards Robo's comments only indicated deep-seated resentment and frustration, not an appreciation or acknowledgement of this individual's critical thinking skills or his growing research abilities.
Interim Provost Robert Snyder, former dean of the college of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, was sitting two seats to my left when he began reacting visibly to the comments of Associated Students Legislative Vice President Jason Robo. Robo, a recognizable student activist around campus for the past few semesters, was in the middle of his third rant directed at the administration and by this point was sounding long-winded-an observation others seemed to share (especially the attendant "adults"; faculty, staff and administrators). Yet in spite of Robo's preachy tone, the substance of his message(s) was invaluable. He was listing many of the worst aspects of Humboldt State's "current direction" while providing what seemed like creative and feasible suggestions for its future. Robo went through his laundry list of critiques; lack of administrative oversight, athletics prioritized over education, the community housing crisis, lack of dialogue with community leaders, the $2.1 million pay check of Humboldt State's top three administrators-as if they were the widely acknowledged reasons our institution is several million dollars in debt. This was completely lost on Snyder, who writhed around in his chair, huffing his disagreement and disbelief with everything that Robo said.
What was most evident about this scene was the irony it displayed. As an employee of an academic institution it would seem appropriate to regard one's primary professional and social task as the educating of responsible and intelligent individuals. Humboldt State claims that it's set apart from other four-year colleges because it emphasizes the practicality of its curriculum in labs and outside the classroom. As its web site says under the "about Humboldt" link, "At Humboldt State, learning isn't limited to sitting in a classroom and taking notes." Judging then by these standards, any person professionally engaged in educating would appreciate a student motivated enough to become involved in the governance of his own college. Snyder's reactions towards Robo's comments only indicated deep-seated resentment and frustration, not an appreciation or acknowledgement of this individual's critical thinking skills or his growing research abilities.
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