Ponder bows to bullying by self-absorbed Bowles

Is UNC system President Erskine Bowles exacerbating current budget cuts out of concern for his legacy?

In last month’s faculty senate meeting, Chancellor Anne Ponder reminded participants of Bowles’ concern for his public image.

“The Raleigh News & Observer has identified for President Bowles what he wants to be his legacy, and that is a lean, business-like university,” Ponder said, according to Senate minutes. “Further, the news media is clear that he does not have it yet.”

Two weeks before the senate meeting, the News & Observer reported the number of administrators in the university system grew by 28 percent during the past five years.

“Chancellors received some very sharp instructions with threats of not authorizing and certifying our budget for the year until we comply,” Ponder said, according to the minutes. “UNC Asheville is not over-staffed, yet we may have to cut further from the administration and middle management.”

One action UNCA appears to be undertaking to please Bowles is a re-examination of titles.

In mid-September, three administrators were moved to new positions and at least three assistant and associate vice chancellors had their titles changed to “director,” according to a source who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly.

“There is no savings to the university, no salary cuts, as far as I know. But at least there won’t be so many people with “vice chancellor” in their title when the next audit happens,” the source said.

Such actions don’t save the university any money, but certainly makes Ponder look better when Bowles asks what she did to reduce the size of administration.

Current budget cuts are temporary. Eventually, things will return to normal, and students will once again see adjuncts walking the halls.

Until the economy improves, it is important to ensure we don’t worsen the budget situation by ordering further cuts to lay the foundation for one man’s legacy.

Bowles needs to realize UNCA isn’t like the other 16 campuses he oversees.

It is a small liberal arts university that exposes students to different cultures and opens their minds to various viewpoints.

If Ponder gives in to Bowles’ desire, we’ll need to change the way we do things. We will be a liberal arts university in name only.

Perhaps it says something significant about our society that higher-ups think of universities more as businesses than as institutions for learning.

Sure, universities take in money, but their concern should be education rather than administrative titles.

If Bowles wishes to have a lean, business-like legacy, perhaps he should return to Wall Street, where he worked before becoming system president.

Here at UNCA, we value a well-rounded and fulfilling education over a man’s image any day.

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