By Kelly Smith, Faculty Senate President
Before becoming involved in faculty senate myself, I didn’t fully appreciate how integral its role in university affairs is. From the outside, it can seem that the senate is a body engaged in little more than a series of endless meetings. But Clemson faculty need to know that their senate has been a major force for good – it’s just that its successes are typically not touted in public. This is because our senate has for many years operated primarily through the exercise of what Harvard Political Scientist Joseph Nye calls “soft power.” Soft power refers to the ability to persuade those “in power” rather than exercising power directly – an approach which is by its very nature subtle, indirect, and underappreciated.
But it can also be extremely effective. By securing a seat at the table and advocating the faculty perspective vigorously, your senate has helped achieve a great deal, including a faculty driven grievance process, a significant faculty role in evaluation of administrators, faculty representation to the Board of Trustees, and a fair TPR process. But, since we do not always get everything we want, and since our failures are publically known in a way our successes typically are not, it’s all too easy to give in to cynicism about faculty influence.
Another common complaint is from faculty members frustrated that the senate is not making progress on a particular issue they care about. Of course, sometimes they have a good point, but what faculty often fail to appreciate is that the senate must walk a very fine line. If we man the barricades every time we receive a complaint about parking policy or the use of IPTAY funds, administrators will soon learn to ignore our input altogether. This would effectively end our role in shared governance. On the other hand, if we are not willing to defend critical principles like academic freedom or the need for robust research support, then we serve no purpose. It’s therefore crucial that the senate focus its efforts on issues that are both important and on which progress is attainable.
To make all this work, we need serious, thoughtful senators supported by an informed and engaged faculty. So the next time you have an issue with university governance, contact us to make your thoughts known – it’s easier than ever with our new Facebook page and improved website. Better yet, consider serving as a member of the senate and see for yourself how we make a difference!
