Fall 2007
The Committee met once, in early October, during Fall 2007 semester. A second scheduled meeting was cancelled, as the semester had begun to draw to a close. All committee members have, however, seen this report and commented. Membership now consists of Frank Friedman(CST), JoAnna Moore (Tyler), Linn Washington (SCT), Bill Woodward (Law), and Steve Zelnick (CLA), with Lewis Gordon (CLA - Editor) and Joan Jasak
(CLA - Assistant to the Editor).
Attached you will find a report from Lewis Gordon and Joan Jasak on recent (Fall semester) activities and some hints as to projected Spring, 2008 items for the Faculty Herald.
One especially important item of note: As I know you are already aware, Lewis Gordon has announced his intention to step down as Herald Editor at the end of the Spring, 2008 semester. I would like the FSSC’s permission to generate and distribute an announcement for a new Editor, to begin work in the Fall, 2008. It would be to our advantage to find a new Editor before the end of this Spring semester, in order to effect the smoothest transition possible. Word of mouth distribution of our search of course would be greatly appreciated.
Please also note that while I appreciate Lewis’ sentiments about finding someone who would “offer a different vision from the one Joan and I have offered,” I do not completely share this point of view. I am personally quite pleased with the vision Lewis and Joan have offered, and would be happy to have a new editor with similar views. Of course input on this from the FSSC and the Senate in general is always appreciated.
In the attached Summary, there is reference to work that Joan is hoping to do this summer. The work would include transferring previous copies of the Herald into digital form and archiving them on the site. Joan is not yet sure what direction her work will take after that, although she has promised to get back to me soon. (I had asked her about the possibility of staying on, should the new editor wish her to do so. She and I both agree that both the new editor and the new editor’s assistant might benefit from some help learning how to operate the site and produce the PDF. We also agree that someone “technologically savvy, with access to such help, or at least, open to the importance of online media, would be great.”)
Frank L. Friedman
Chair
One Additional Item --
The Committee is still looking for additional members, in particular for additional representation from SCT. Calls have been made to potential candidates, but assistance from the FSSC is also requested to help bring the membership total to closer to 9 (the membership target).
Faculty Herald -- Summary of Accomplishments, Fall 2007 From Lewis Gordon and Joan Jasak (with minor edits by Friedman)
We posted two issues. We planned on a third, but the pieces we seek could not be submitted till January, so we decided on aiming for an issue to be posted for the return of classes in January.
Beginning with volume 38, we have begun using Google analytics to develop data on usage of the HERALD. That is how we discovered that the listserve goes only to presidential faculty. (Notification of the 2nd issue requested chairs to pass on the announcement and links to the Lecturers and adjuncts.)
An update is that a section entitled “Letters to the Editor” will be added to the next and subsequent editions of The Herald.
We have also found a faculty member, who specializes in health issues, to write a column on health matters of relevance to the faculty.
Dr. Yoshitaka Iwasaki, Professor
Department of Therapeutic Recreation
Suite 313, 1700 North Broad Street
College of Health Professions
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA USA 19122
Phone: 215-204-0011; Fax: 215-204-1386
Email: yiwasaki@temple.edu http://www.temple.edu/chp/faculty/YoshitakaIwasaki.html
Professor Iwasaki is completing a proposal on a major grant over the break, so he will inaugurate his column in the second issue next semester.
I also requested a piece from Bill Woodward (on our board) about his visit to the China program in law.
Art Hochner, who is now President of the union, promises a piece before heading to Japan in January.
We’ve already discussed that the senate should choose a new editor early since I will be doing too many international projects as of next summer onward (one linking Temple to Brazil; another in France; and one in Holland; in addition to the ones in Jamaica and South Africa). I have been traveling to those countries during my leave due to commitments made as far back as two years ago. At this point, it will be clear to pick someone who could take advantage of the online structure but offer a different vision from the one Joan and I have offered.
We have generally focused on positive developments at Temple while outlining some of the challenges faced on issues ranging from gender equity to attacks on academic freedom. There are, however, some REALLY NEGATIVE THINGS brewing, which we have been monitoring and on which we been acquiring information to determine the constructive role the HERALD could play in their resolution. One is with African American Studies; the other is with Religious Studies. And there are things brewing around the next contract with the union. There are also several initiatives coming into being, and a vote on new programs (e.g., in Economics). Some of these will get some coverage over the course of next semester. Most of these issues will have updates by January, so we're going to see how they are resolved and whether they will be worth reporting on.
And we will be interviewing Pepon Osorio of the Tyler school of art.
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/osorio/
http://www.pepatian.org/POsorio.html
Finally, Joan will be spending time over the summer archiving past issues on line. Robert Aiken is looking for support for this activity.
Lewis Gordon, Editor
Faculty Herald
