[CED/CD/EAT] FW: Campus Climate and Respectful Discourse

Wed Aug 12 18:25:18 MST 2020

FYI…

Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Director of Extension and Economic Development
Division of Agriculture, Life, & Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension
Forbes 301
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona          85721-0036
520-621-7205

From: Office of the Provost <provost at comms.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2020 6:20 PM
To: Silvertooth, Jeffrey C - (silverto) <Silver at ag.arizona.edu>
Subject: Campus Climate and Respectful Discourse

I am writing to share my growing concern about the ways in which some of our colleagues have been communicating with one another

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Dear Arizona Faculty Colleagues,

The impact of COVID-19 on all of our lives has been extraordinarily challenging. Like me, I imagine you are witnessing colleagues distressed in ways you have not seen before. I have deep empathy for what our community members are experiencing on both a professional and a personal level.

I am writing to share my growing concern about the ways in which some of our colleagues have been communicating with one another and how this is causing some members of our community to feel fearful of voicing their viewpoints. I am alarmed by the use of vitriolic language and the deployment of ad hominem attacks in the chat feature in a number of Zoom meetings, including at my Live Chat meeting on July 7, and at the Faculty Senate meeting on August 3. Additionally, a group of faculty members attempted to Zoom-bomb a business meeting to which they were not invited, alarming the staff and faculty who were legitimately invited to that meeting to discuss their work. I am alarmed to see unfounded allegations of illegal acts by individuals circulated on faculty listserv emails.

These behaviors by a minority of individuals, regardless of intent, have served to both intimidate and silence.

Valued colleagues have been reduced to tears because they have been targeted personally or because their co-workers have been targeted with ugly, vitriolic and false statements. Valued colleagues have expressed fear about attending departmental meetings with those who hold differing opinions, having already been targeted for abusive comments in online settings. Treasured senior faculty have told me that they will no longer share their views openly for fear of being targeted with verbal abuse.

Our campus has long prided itself on its ability to both honor free speech and to contribute to productive and respectful discourse. These actions and the use of hurtful words do not come close to meeting our campus expectations for workplace behaviors and are utterly inconsistent with our Wildcat values of Compassion and Inclusion. When any one of us indulges in these behaviors, we make it difficult or impossible for our colleagues to perform their work to a high standard. When any one of us indulges in these behaviors, we set an appalling example for our students, who should be learning the art of professional dialogue and respectful discourse by watching us model it. When any one of us indulges in these behaviors, we undermine the necessary climate for our academic community to thrive.

I write today to implore each and every one of us to hold ourselves to a higher standard. I write today to urge you to re-acquaint yourself with UHAP policy 7.01.01 Statement on Professional Conduct<https://click.comms.arizona.edu/?qs=709415d7f2a4e1164d44c1ff79f0464a4580afde174160e4adb9c5c42adc93262a95f1d8cead0cb28609676f0f8dbfe194f4c0c602009463>, which provides excellent guidance for conducting university discussions. I write today to ask that each of us brings respect, compassion and kindness to our work together.

I anticipate that many of us likely will need to change the modes in which we run online meetings to actively moderate the discussions that occur and to elevate the dialogue in order to protect our valued colleagues. But my strong preference would be for that to be an unnecessary step because collectively we can commit to do better as Wildcats.

I welcome your thoughts on this issue, which is of the highest concern to me.

Regards,

Liesl Folks

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
The University of Arizona

Our mailing address is:
University of Arizona
PO Box 210066 Tucson, AZ 85721 US

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