Consistency: It Isn't For Academics Anymore

Roger Pielke is being befuddled by his Chancellor:

Last week I received an email from our Chancellor, Bud Peterson, warning me and my CU colleagues of the perils of engaging in political advocacy activities as a university employee. Here is an excerpt:

Dear Colleagues:

In light of the many political campaigns currently, or soon to be, underway at the national, state and local levels, I would like to provide you with a set of guidelines we, as members of the University community, should keep in mind as we consider our own activities and level of involvement....

IN GENERAL, UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES MAY NOT:

* Engage in any activity during working hours designed to urge electors to vote for or against any campaign issues, which include campaigns for public office, state-wide campaign issues or referred measures, and local campaign issues or levies.

* Employees wishing to participate in a campaign activity should take personal leave.

* Use office supplies or equipment, including computers, telephones, printers or facsimile machines to create materials urging electors to vote for or against a campaign issue.

* Use their University email accounts to urge electors to vote for or against a campaign issue, or to forward materials that urge electors to vote for or against a campaign issue.

* Use University-hosted websites to urge electors to vote for or against a campaign issue.

At the same time Chancellor Peterson has endorsed faculty participation in a January 31 political advocacy effort called "Focus the Nation," which seeks to motivate action on climate change.

Here is how The Colorado Daily describes the activity:

There's also a hint of politics involved: the teach-in is scheduled for Jan. 31, shortly before statewide primaries and caucuses, and is timed to place pressure on political candidates. [Colorado's caucus is Feb. 5].

"We wanted to do it right in the height of the early primaries to ensure that climate change is at the forefront of the issues," [Garrett] Brennan [media director for Focus the Nation] said.

...

The website for Focus the Nation lists the policy actions that it wishes to focus our nation's attention on and for me to discuss in the classroom ...[emphasis added]

Last time I checked, the time spent in front of your class is usually counted as "working hours" as far as a university is concerned. So why is issue advocacy for climate change given a special dispensation? The stated goal of the "Focus The Nation" effort is political and, as such, clearly prohibited by the Unversity's own policies. There is no other way to view it.

When rules are applied to some groups but not to others based solely upon the whim and favorable disposition of the powers that be, then the rules become illegitimate. As a result, any professor would be morally justified, in the face of this "Focus The Nation" affront, to use their classroom to advocate for any cause they see fit without restriction.

Is it just me, or does a large portion of the academic establishment often come across as dim witted?