I am disturbed by the business terminology that is used to label activity and people at SFA. Students are called "customers" and at the workshop the term "ownership" was used extensively to discuss the relationship of faculty and students to the univwersity. I think this is the wrong image. I am not concerned about the idea of us 'giving students whatever they want," which is one concern that has been voiced about this metaphore. But I think we are better served if we build on another concept that was used extensively at the workshop.The concept was "community." I think we are best served if we conceive ofourselves as a community. People are not "customers' of a community, rather they are citizens. A cummunity is not a business which sells something, it is a way of organizing life so as to enhance everyone's well-being. In a cummunity each unit is connected to each other. The health and well-being of the individual member and unit of a community is related to the overall health and well-being of the community. Each citizen gains from the community, but is also expected to contribute to it, to aid in its governance, and is expected to respect and honor every other member of the community. I noticed that the word "civility" was used in the report of the roundtablediscussion. Communities, not businesses, create and nurture civility. The faculty, students, staff,and alumni of SFA are citizens of a community. If we nurture and build othat idea we will build a stronger institution.
This leads in to the third issue. We should see our community as onethat must connect and serve, and in turn be enhanced by, the larger community around us, both Nacogdoches and the other communities in our region. I know we already engage in many activities in this regard, but we should see part of our mission as strengthing those communities.
I apologize for having written so much. Thank you for your request forinput and good luck with this project.