01.23.06
Political Blogs at ALL Levels?
UMW
is in process of searching for a new President. Today was the first opportunity for the faculty, staff and student population to meet the final candidates, listen to their visions and ask questions. As with any public forum, this type of “conversation” generated between the audience and the candidate serves to flush out concerns and define issues. But it is standing in front of the microwave, converging in the hallway or walking to the bathrooms that opinions are stated, stands are taken, attitudes are formed and decisions are made.
Back at my desk, I hear “blog, blog, blog” in my head from a persistent director and I began to wonder just how much blogging is really catching on in our environment? Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search? Our nation witnessed a great explosion of media coverage from bloggers during the last Presidential campaign. For better or worse, it represented democracy and a nation on the cutting edge of technology. We may be choosing a president of a college not a nation but again I ask Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search?. Yes, we have been invited to share our opinions in a formally appointed place on the official website, but will that suffice? We have already seen a flurry of e-mails from those who would like to use their voice. Should e-mails suffice? Articles will be written in the Bullet, UMW’s student paper, as well as the faculty/staff paper, the Grapevine. Again I ask Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search?. Are we not as a university striving to be on the cutting edge of technology as well?
Would a presidential search of a small liberal arts college not benefit from political blogs the same way our nation did? Or are we still hesitating on sharing our opinions publicly if it could mean possible ramifications? Blogs are exposure. Are we comfortable or not?
Andy Rush said,
January 23, 2006 at 11:05 pm
Lisa,
I like your “challenges” on all fronts. Your challenge of discourse on an important subject for the University. Your challenge of blogging and pushing its limits. And challenging yourself to push your own blogging limits.
I think the blogs can serve to clarify the needs that the University has in a new president. However, I don’t think it should get as personal as the 2004 election
We should challenge the potential presidents to read our publishing efforts, and I would love to see faculty, staff, and administrators, state their opinions, or at least their needs, in their personal web logs.