Dear colleagues,
Several list members have put forward suggestions about how to improve the PHD-DESIGN list. It makes sense to me that discussion should start to shift from how the list is to how it ought to be. I think that a robust discussion about the future of the list should include the views of the list owners. While I respect their decision to refrain from contributing so far, I would welcome their input in the discussion of the future of the list.
To contribute to discussion about the future, I am putting forward the proposal that we should implement a process to design a constitution for the PHD-Design list. By constitution I mean the system through which a people governs itself.
In my view the PHD-Design list needs a written constitution – something short and easy to understand, which defines the relationship between the main stakeholders, that sets out how power is to be used, and codifies what are the basic rights and freedoms that all list members are entitled to. A short written constitution that is easy to access and use would inform both current and new list members about what the PHD-Design list is and how it works.
Current list culture is mostly based on an indeterminate arrangement of unwritten norms and conventions. This would be fine if there was persuasive evidence that the current situation was ideal. No doubt a considerable number of list members believe that there is nothing wrong and there is no need for change. I disagree. The recent discussions about list culture, the discussion of the recent poll, and the collection of statements that Ken Friedman recently posted indicate that we need greater integrity, transparency and participation in how power is structured and used in the list.
In my view, at minimum a constitution for the PHD-Design list should tell us:
* how the powers of JiscMail, the list owners and the list members are defined and organized
* how decisions about the functioning of the list are to be made and by whom
* what mechanisms exist to promote integrity, transparency and participation
* how human rights and rights of minorities are protected
* how the constitution should be amended to balance entrenching core values and letting future generations of list members adapt the list to their needs.
In my view, if we design the right kind of constitution then the prospect of better decision-making and a more inclusive list culture increases.
Best wishes,
Luke
Luke Feast, Ph.D. | Senior Lecturer | Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies | Auckland University of Technology | New Zealand | Email [log in to unmask]
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