<p>barrons. IMP, Z, and the other societies traditionally have their names on steps in front of various buildings on Grounds. They do not deface the columns of the Rotunda. They also support the university and its students and faculty. As a graduate of UVA, I’m appalled at the lack of respect for the Rotunda and all that it represents. I’m entirely in favor of protesting, but not inclined to condone vandalism.</p>
<p>Well perhaps they feel there is a major lack of respect for what the Rotunda represents at the BOV level. And those letters all over the grounds are an eyesore no matter what good deeds they may perform. Many such groups exits all over the country without a tradition of defacing university property.</p>
<p>Here is the text of President Sullivan’s statement to the BOV. </p>
<p>[First</a> Time Since Ouster, Sullivan Speaks - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather](<a href=“http://www.nbc29.com/story/18817164/first-time-since-outser-sullivan-speaks]First”>http://www.nbc29.com/story/18817164/first-time-since-outser-sullivan-speaks)</p>
<p>Wow. Quite a statement. It’s no wonder she was so respected and made such an impact on the people there in such a short amount of time. It is a damn shame that she won’t be able to continue to make an impact on UVA as a school. Dr. Sullivan could have done so much good if given the chance. The BOV really screwed up on this one. It is a sad day for anyone who cares about higher education in the state of Virginia.</p>
<p>Loved her statement.</p>
<p>
[Resignations</a> begin: Esteemed computer science prof pulls plug | The Hook - Charlottesville’s weekly newspaper, news magazine](<a href=“http://www.readthehook.com/104300/resignations-begin-esteemed-computer-science-prof-pulls-plug]Resignations”>http://www.readthehook.com/104300/resignations-begin-esteemed-computer-science-prof-pulls-plug)</p>
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<p>Perhaps some might see the irony of such resignation in a thread about everything that IS wrong in higher education. For a school that desperately wants to improve his reputation is lifetime employment something worth preserving? </p>
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<p>It is obvious that many only want to see changes when they have no impact on their own little fiefdom of power. This professor is obviously giving up something; but the reality is that he should never have been in the position to someday make that decision. Age limits on tenure should have taken care of that! Faculty will be the last one to understand that changes are needed, and that the good old days are gone. If schools are now feeling the forces of market pressures and fiscal responsibility, they can blame themselves and the chummy leaders they so adore. </p>
<p>Schools, of course, should not be run like corporation. But neither should be considered eternal fountains of riches and sinecures for the few who knew how to work the system in an antiquated realm of preferences. In the funny world of academia, it seems that the preservation of the status quo buried in unending sea of blah-blah is to be considered … a drastic change.</p>
<p>I understand that Dr. Wulf is 72 years old. It was not too hard of a decision for him to retire from UVA based on what just transpired. I would imagine younger, tenured faculty would not make that same decision as easily.</p>
<p>Maybe Xiggi should have looked at the guy’s CV before commenting. Done many things many places.</p>
<p>Bill Wulf received the first Computer Science Ph.D. ever awarded at the University of Virginia in 1968. He then joined Carnegie-Mellon University as Assistant Professor of Computer Science, becoming Associate Professor in 1973 and Professor in 1975. In 1981 he left Carnegie-Mellon and founded Tartan Laboratories and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 1988. In 1988-1990 he was Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation. In 1990 he returned to the University of Virginia as AT&T Professor and University Professor. Bill Wulf is a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of ACM, a Fellow of the IEEE, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1997 he was elected President of the National Academy of Engineering, which operates under a congressional charter and presidential executive orders that call on it to provide advice to the government on issues of science and engineering. He has directed over 25 Ph.D. theses and is the author or co-author of three books, two patents and over 100 papers</p>
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<p>When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I once had a student like that. The Federal Reserve was behind everythong. Never mind that it was a microeconomics class. By golly, his dad had imbued him with a clear understanding of the evils of the Federal Reserve, and he was going to play that card whenever he could.</p>
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<p>As usual, speaking out of school, Barrons! Fwiw, I did look at the couple of pages of Bill Wulf:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The << Under Construction >>
[William</a> Wulf’s Home Page](<a href=“http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~wulf/]William”>http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~wulf/)</p></li>
<li><p>And his UVA page
[William</a> Wulf](<a href=“http://www.cs.virginia.edu/people/faculty/wulf.html]William”>http://www.cs.virginia.edu/people/faculty/wulf.html)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I also followed the links to his spouse’s CV, if that matters!</p>
<p>Perhaps, I should have quoted this line “I live in mortal fear that someday they’ll catch on to the fact that they are paying me to have all this fun” but I thought it was utterly irrelevant to my point. Just as his achievements from decades ago. At no time did I address the merits of this particular professor. I addressed the issue of lifetime employment. And twice in the same post. </p>
<p>But, of course, that will be lost on you. Just keep on digging for more dirt without really knowing what side you’re on, safe and except that in a way this (whatever it is) might be good for the folks in Madison. Give reading critically a chance. It might help you!</p>
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<p>They may not retire, but they may look for openings elsewhere. You can be sure that the number of faculty members looking to move will continue to grow.</p>
<p>Xiggi, I don’t think the folks in Madison have anything to gain by UVA’s troubles. UW just went through the loss of Biddy Martin last year–a loss I would say was largely due to her attempts to shake things up and look at the university and its funding in new ways.</p>
<p>What is interesting to me about the UVA story is that I believe Sullivan gave voice to something a lot of die-hard supporters would never want to believe, even in the face of facts (as substantiated above): that the university IS overrated across many academic disciplines. As someone who had very little knowledge of UVA until I started being subjected to frequent posts on CC by an ardent booster who shall remain nameless, I believe its greatest strength is its extremely high four-year graduation rate. But Michigan, Berkeley, or Wisconsin it is not–at least when it comes to research and faculty excellence, which seems to be one of the primary issues Sullivan was trying to address.</p>
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<p>I did not say that the folks at Madison think they could gain anything from the current mess at UVA. I said that Barrons did --as the evidence of the number of threads he started on this issue can demonstrate. </p>
<p>Does anyone really think he posted this because of a concern for Dr. Sullivan and UVA in general? Really? </p>
<p>On a personal note, except for having corrected a few posts on the actual standardized test scores, I have no vested opinion nor bias regarding UVA. I look at this story from a broader point of view, namely the upcoming battles between faculty and fiscal responsibility. Be it at UVA, Stanford, or Harvard, I have the same view on elements such as lifetime tenure and reduced teaching responsibilities. </p>
<p>PS And except for antagonizing Barrons with my views on research funding and preferential treatment of researchers, I have no opinion on the University of Wisconsin. Oh wait, I think their football team is overrated. :)</p>
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<p>I find that an extremely disquieting statement. Are you saying that 72 year olds should be forced from teaching? The whole argument for or against tenure is another matter, but age should have nothing to do with it. I recently ran into a friend who was a long term member of Congress and found out he is still sharp as a whip at age 90, and teaching Political Science at a State University. I guarantee those kids are learning more than they ever would from some 50 year old professor.</p>
<p>I understand that 50 year old prof is some young whippersnapper too!</p>
<p>or considered to be just as ancient by today’s young students :)</p>
<p>Old people who can afford to retire should do it, opening up a job for somebody else. No one is indispensable.</p>
<p>The faculty that have the greatest ability to move are in the departments which the coup-leaders said they wanted to emphasize. The humanities profs won’t leave because no one is hiring. The science, engineering, finance profs and profs with large research grants are the ones who can most easily leave, if these bozos stay in control. Many stayed at UVa even though the pay might have been moderate because they enjoyed the community. </p>
<p>Prof. Wulf above said in his statement that he expects the coupleaders to keep making dumb decisions, because they don’t understand UVA or higher education.</p>
<p>Through the Va. Freedom of Information Act, the Cavalier Daily received copies of some communications between the coup-leaders, although they were heavily redacted. One says that President Sullivan’s view of online education is “pedestrian.” Another sends around an article that Wesleyan University was cutting back on need-based financial aid, which was a goal of some of the coup-leaders at UVa, and which Sullivan resisted.</p>
<p>Well, at least Kington is gone. Hopefully,Dragas will not be far behind.</p>