At 04:26 PM 6/26/99 EDT, you wrote:
>Hi everyone!
>
> The "in and out of the ivory tower" thread, which arose out of my
>request for opinion about disability etiquette brochures is germane to what
>happened to me as a result of my posting.
> Upon receipt of list members' feedback (which I appreciate very
>much), I wrote to my boss to relay some of the arguments for and against
this
>type of brochure. In return, I received a scathing E-mail from her
informing
>me that I had no right to make such an inquiry to a list without first
>running it by her. She further stated that I misrepresented the brochure
>(which I did not) and may have misrepresented the university as well (I
never
>mentioned its name). She added that I needed to focus on what is "right"
>rather than what is "wrong" with the brochure. I perceive her response to
be
>a good example of institutionalized oppression and a violation of what
>Mairian called "academic freedom." As part of my reply, I invoked the First
>Amendment and told her that I refuse to participate, either through
>complicity or otherwise, in repression of ideas or suppression of speech.
> It is a real struggle trying to move disability services for students
>out of the medical model. Yes, we who engage in disability studies are,
>indeed, advocates. I see no dichotomy here. Yes, David, we who survive the
>world of academia are strong!
>
>Best,
>
>Beth Omansky Gordon
Hi Beth
Thats unfortunate that your boss didn't see the (your) contribution via the
list as a 'positive'. Methinks she protesteth too much. Perhaps in the
heat of the moment, she did not stop to scrutinise the posts and ascertain
that the responses were aimed at the title and thus the *suggested*
content. There may be marvellous content which would be very 'positive'.
That was not what the criticism was about. Surely this shows her that it is
the way its approached and the messages implicit in the title that need
changing?...I should be so lucky to get the type of feedback she received
from the list about a proposed brochure. She *is* interested and *does*
value the comments and feedback of disabled people doesn't she?
With best regards
Laurence Bathurst
University of Sydney
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
East Street (P.O. Box 170)
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Australia
Ph+ 61 2 9351 9509
Fax+ 61 2 9351 9166
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Note: This is the e-mail address for my home as well
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There is not one shred of evidence that supports the notion that life is
serious.
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