tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post140775044174165931..comments2024-03-17T08:07:12.695-05:00Comments on Between The Lines: Savoie requests show resistance to Jindal agendaJeff Sadowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03972004592729833310noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-84389119161111285602008-01-31T14:46:00.000-06:002008-01-31T14:46:00.000-06:00Why do you keep calling it a "freeze?" Considerin...Why do you keep calling it a "freeze?" Considering that 60-some-odd have been hired, looks more like a "chill." Like you, I doubt that it will result in lost opportunity at universities.<BR/><BR/>University administration isn't the only group that will resist change, though. My prediction-- we'll see a lot more resistance to Jindal's changes.<BR/><BR/>The test will be whether he can foster the type of cooperation needed to make positive changes.<BR/><BR/>Dr. Carlton, my Louisiana history professor, told us that so-called "reform" governors never get much accomplished. I did not want to hear that at the time (1983 or so), but he was right up to that point.<BR/><BR/>Mike Foster, on the other hand, got a lot accomplished. Problem was, he grew state government dramatically while passing tort reform and doing other positive things. He wasn't exactly a reformer. I guess that it is a lot easier to horse trade your reforms with extra spending in someone's district.<BR/><BR/>Jindal has some good ideas, and I hope he can prove Dr. Carlton wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-20503136232476017382008-01-31T12:53:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:53:00.000-06:00On common freezes -- reread the comment. At any gi...On common freezes -- reread the comment. At any given time several states have something like this going on, even now. Every job candidate knows it, expects it, and factors it in their searches. It's part of the process. So it's not uncommon or unusual.<BR/><BR/>On deference ... I linked to just one article. There are a couple of others where she adds other comments. In one, she practically begs universities to forward endowed chair positions. A second-hand source in DOA confirms it.<BR/><BR/>On my second job ... I think you missed the point that this job having a financial hold on it did not discourage me from pursuing and even turning down a sure thing. The university assured me chances of it coming open were great and I found it persuasive. I don't think the mindset of academicians has changed all that much since when I was on the market.<BR/><BR/>Something everybody should read is Jim Beam's comments on this in his column today. He accurately points out about the several cushy, high-paying (LeBlanc making five times my salary; two months of that is a whole year of a faculty line) jobs affiliated with higher education into which recent government officials have parachuted. That's the main thing Jindal is after as far as the unviersities are concerned. In other words, it's not all that certain that "granting the wishes or respected the concerns" from our universities is always a good thing, and a little review of these isn't a bad thing. If we can't justify the obvious to those outside the university, then we have no business being in higher education or spending taxpayers' dollars.Jeff Sadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972004592729833310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-27144414618548353102008-01-31T12:04:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:04:00.000-06:00She says she is "trying to work," which is not the...She says she is "trying to work," which is not the same thing as giving deference. She wants the universities to play by her rules. She already rejected the university system's request for a blanket exemption and, as such, has not granted the wishes or respected the concerns of administration or faculty at a time when the universities actually have money to spend, and some are trying to recover from Katrina.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-48503798306315430612008-01-31T11:56:00.000-06:002008-01-31T11:56:00.000-06:00In re the first part: She didn't say anything remo...In re the first part: She didn't say anything remotely akin to what you're suggesting about giving deference. That was my point. I don't see where in the article you got that. In not one word does she suggest any such thing. <BR/><BR/>Hiring freezes, meanwhile, at at the beginning of the decade (during a slight economic downturn) do not equal "common." It's now 2008. Budgetary issues can be common, as was noted, but if a job is equal or better elsewhere at this time of the year, you're incentive as a candidate would be to take it--that is, the job without any budgetary delays or in a state without a hiring freeze. <BR/><BR/><I>My second job out of graduate school was one that had a financial hold on it. In fact, I turned down a tenure-track job (but an inferior position) to wait on that one.</I><BR/><BR/>Great example there! You waited for the better job. Presuming that all jobs with Louisiana state universities would be superior is ... well, not a serious argument, especially not in the post-K environment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-75642874214071932582008-01-31T10:50:00.000-06:002008-01-31T10:50:00.000-06:00>Davis doesn't say anything in that article about ...>Davis doesn't say anything in that article about "giving deference" to universities.<BR/><BR/>Reread the post -- nor did I say she said those exact words. Mine is just a reasonable summation of her sentiments.<BR/><BR/>>And neither statewide nor university hiring freezes are common.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you don't study state politics or have worked in a public university. In the early part of the decade, about a couple of dozen states had to institute freezes for some time at one time or the other because of deteriorating finances. At any given time a handful will have freezes on. It's just the nature of differing economic fortunes and fiscal structures.<BR/><BR/>Back when I was on the market, probably 5-10 percent of all jobs I applied for had some kind of contingent financial condition attached to them. Job candidates know some portion always will. It certainly won't encourage them, but neither will it discourage them.<BR/><BR/>>but candidates don't wait a whole month at this time of year for them to be worked unless desperation is involved.<BR/><BR/>My second job out of graduate school was one that had a financial hold on it. In fact, I turned down a tenure-track job (but an inferior position) to wait on that one. This and other experiences I have had on the other end argue that "desperation" is a total mischaracterization of the traits of candidates you get.<BR/><BR/>And, the larger point remains true, if Louisiana universities had just gotten to work with the justifications, even as I type this Davis might be approving those exemptions. Instead we've seen posturing and self-vicitmization designed to portray the freeze as negative.Jeff Sadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972004592729833310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10214951.post-78377876981113393862008-01-31T00:11:00.000-06:002008-01-31T00:11:00.000-06:00Davis doesn't say anything in that article about "...Davis doesn't say anything in that article about "giving deference" to universities. And neither statewide nor university hiring freezes are common. Budgetary delays are certainly not uncommon for specific jobs, but candidates don't wait a whole month at this time of year for them to be worked unless desperation is involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com