FEAR

It’s not a season, it’s The Climate

Webster Dictionary defines climate of fear as: the prevailing influence or environmental
conditions characterizing a group or period: ATMOSPHERE <a climate of fear>

We must ask ourselves:

1) Who and what began the climate of fear?

2) Who would benefit from others bound to this state of being?

3) Who does this affect?

4) What are the effects?

5) How can we change this to be an environment in which we can learn?

The answers we seek can be found by observing our current lives as students
and the lives of our faculty.

1) Clearly we did not initiate this. The climate of fear began when the term
“budget crisis” became widespread. The term crisis invokes the concept
of danger, which leads to fear. However, the term is generic and falsely
suggests we are all responsible for our current position. Those who
orchestrated this atmosphere are the ones who have the most to gain.

2) Fear, combined with confusion held by students and faculty indicates

who benefits. With no clear locations for blame to be properly placed
administrators are able to diffuse attention from themselves. The
inability for our campus leaders to be judged and held accountable is
the foundation for their other benefits.

3) This climate of fear affects us. It affects students. It affects faculty. It

affects all those who dare to believe that a higher education is important
 for more than simply obtaining a high-paying job, but for broadening
ones mind. The fear we all feel, from the lack available classes to the
almost guaranteed fee increases, extends more than just planning your
next semester. When our faculties are held captive in their fragile
position due to the fear of losing their jobs they are limited in how they
can teach. This once extended effects how we are to learn.

4) The most basic effect of the fear climate is control. We, the students,
have lost our ability to control how this campus is run. We have no say
over how our fees and school funds are allocated. The faculties have no
power over how to govern their own classes. By filling us with false hope
that the budget “crisis” on campus in not their fault, the administration
has been able to stall our minds from realizing their tactics. The best
way to maintain order and silence is to keep the masses ignorant. So,
what would ensue once true knowledge was gained?

5) Classrooms should be a place of open communication, from faculty and

students. Controversial topics should be raised to broaden our minds.
Assignments that enhance all skills should be assigned. Professors’
moral should be elevated and supported. Students should feel
motivated and encouraged. Yet, this is not how we can describe our
classrooms of today. This can only occur once we have done our
research, questioned the unacceptable, and demanded change from our
administration. We as stude

6) nts are not here to support the administration; we are more than chair-
filling dollar signs. They are here to support us. Join U.S. and let’s
demand they start.

U.nited S.tudents