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Group's blog expresses opinions on SIUC issues
BY ADAM TESTA, THE SOUTHERN
Monday, September 29, 2008 8:39 AM CDT
CARBONDALE - A new blog aimed at being a "watchdog site to keep (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) honest" has been launched in cyberspace.

Jonathan Bean, an SIUC history professor and president of the Illinois Association of Scholars, and several others recently launched FreeSIU to provide information and commentary on issues regarding the university community.

"At SIU, when it comes to issues of diversity and civil rights, we're hearing the sound of one hand clapping," Bean said. "The people in power are speaking to themselves."

A focal point of the blog's content right now is the issue of sexual harassment on campus. Revisions to the university's sexual harassment policy are circulating the university's constituency groups and coming under fire from outside sources.

Situations involving John Y. Simon, a history professor who was being investigated on charges of sexual harassment at the time of his death in July, and Cal Meyers, a retired chemistry professor barred from campus on similar charges, have brought much attention to the policy.

Blog contributors, including professors, lawyers, students, recent graduates, businessmen and others "who are concerned about SIU," will submit entries to the site, Bean said. These opinions will come in addition to ones from the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association of Scholars and Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, he said.

University spokesman Rod Sievers said Friday university administrators won't debate Bean.

"Professor Bean, like anybody else, is free to express his opinions on these issues or any others," he said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031

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bugler wrote on Sep 29, 2008 5:40 PM:

" Sorry for the delay, had to register again (again!) -- wish they would fix this.

Tell me, CO, have you seen many pro-SIU letters from the right (or left) in the past ten years? Both Republican Wendler and Democrat Poshard have done their best to kill the University.

In any event, complementary comments are all very nice, but people tend to write comments more often when things are wrong than when they are right. There are a great many things wrong with SIUC lately. "

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misterbean wrote on Sep 29, 2008 3:03 PM:

" OK, took the challenge to come up with "positive talk." Correcting wrong, however, is always right or positive. Anyway, here is my latest "Twelve Steps for a Better SIU." Comment welcome at the site:

freesiu.blogspot DOT com and find the "Twelve Steps" at the top (currently) "

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Community Organizer wrote on Sep 29, 2008 11:17 AM:

" Sorry! Bugler you are right (or left not sure)...but reading his blog I agree with him that the accused should ALWAYS know the accuser (and this includes so called government whistle blowers). It's un-American to be accused by someone that won't have the courage to identify themselves. I leaped on the "liberal" because the letters that normally attack SIU are nearly always on the left. I have never seen any letter of support for SIU from the left. "

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misterbean wrote on Sep 29, 2008 9:02 AM:

" I can't speak for the other bloggers but: Like most SIU employees, I work hard for my students, year in and year out. In my letter to President Poshard and the Board, I made clear that I am happy to raise my family here and do whatever I can to move SIU forward.

But when a few people in power do the wrong thing . . . and it affects your child or spouse (student or worker), your practice of faith, or the reputation of the university then it is time to speak out.

Don't blame the messengers for trying to correct the abuses that limit the learning and speech of students and staff. Instead, if you see evil, speak out and if you can't do that. . . put SIU in your prayers. "Change" of this sort will make SIU better. "

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bugler wrote on Sep 29, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Why "liberal," CO? Professor Bean's history is pretty right-wing, although he has been happy to use the left whenever it was to his advantage. "

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Community Organizer wrote on Sep 29, 2008 7:48 AM:

" It seems the liberal professors at SIU think they are simply in charge of a demoltion derby. Is there nothing positive about SIU? I'm hard pressed to understand how the two issues mentioned in the story can do anything to lift Southern to greatness. I'm convinced a nearly wholesale change in profesors would greatly help. It's tear down tear down tear down. Nothing positive ever comes out of these peoples mouths. "

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