Blowing the Whistle on Higher Education:
A Loss of Integrity?
by Bob Topor, Senior Consultant
I look at the world around me and see a gigantic loss
of integrity.
This is, I believe, the result of cumulative losses we find in the cultural
environment around us. Generally we find ourselves in a culture of change...
and not necessarily for the better! We have many examples of declines
from the ideals of noble culture that existed in the 50s (when I first
started in higher education). At that time, things were a lot different.
Morality seemed more prevalent. Today I see a loss of integrity in many
areas:
Business
The news is loaded with stories of illicit activities in the world of
commercial business. Stories abound about examples such as Enron and
other financial organizations that have over stepped legal and ethical
boundaries. Greedy individuals and whole groups have gone over the moral
line.
Politics/government
Lies and half truths, untruths, deceptions and falsehoods flood our
daily news. Disappointments. run rampid in our society. Hardly a day
goes by that our world is not tainted by falsehoods and disappointments.
Wars have been conducted based on false information; as a result many
lives have been lost.
Sports
Once held up as powerful examples of personal integrity for us and our
youth, sports heroes have often abandoned us. Cheating, using all possible
means to beat one's opponent and advance one's self-interests, seems
to some, to justify all methods of immoral behavior. On and off the
fields of dreams, nightmares and disappointments prevail. Our super
stars are often our super duds.
Personal ethics
No matter what the field of endeavor, we see evidence of dishonorable
actions. No area seems exempt from the encroaching loss of ethical behavior.;
no area seems absolved. Some of the most visible areas, (entertainment,
Hollywood, music, films, videos, games) abound with soul searching misdeeds.
Separations, divorce, drugs, alcoholism, unfortunate comments (the "Imus
factor"), shock and sadden many.
In the past, higher education resumes with false
information, designed to beat ones'competition were very uncommon. Today
we see false evidence much more frequently. Personal efforts to advance
and succeed seem to justify dishonesty. Hard work is often overtaken
by creative falsehoods. One cannot trust resumes or, curriculm vitaes
and those who promote them.
The recent debacle over student loans sounds the warning loud and
clear: Greedy administrators must stop defrauding students and parents!
Institutional images are tarnished. Higher education suffers.
Religion
Terrorism under the umbrella of organized religion threatens our world.
Nowhere is this better evidenced than in the Middle East where suicide
bombs have replaced moral discourse. Death replaces life in many cases.
Scams
Stories abound about how people with dishonest motives steal identities
from seniors and how seniors are targets for other misdeeds and deceits.
Many have lost life savings. Scams seem an unfortunate way of life for
many perpetrators.
International
The World Bank has been compromised by unfortunate management. Much
of its positive mission has been overtaken by personal ambitions. Honorable
efforts have been forgotten; much has been lost, compromised. Often
the disadvantaged (the poor) are the losers.
The Art World
Collectors, including major museums, have been forced to return stolen
works to the original owners. Cultural objects have been challenged,
false provenances are disclosed, major museums embarrassed and museums
compelled to make amends, as the art world is forced into the spotlight
of honesty. Deceit has been uncovered for many works of art. Is the
Jackson Pollock real? Or a fake? Do the Elgin marbles belong in the
UK or to Greece?
Higher education
Is it any wonder that our world of higher education is mired in this
societal complexity, a severe downward spiral?. Who is to blame?
Ultimately, we all are. These sweeping changes, many of which we abhor,
ultimately come down to personal choice. How we behave as individuals
counts. In higher education we have often been held to higher standards.
Many who have gone before us in higher education have set high course
limits. Boundaries have been set in admissions, development, curricular
development, grading, etc. I believe it is our obligation to live up
to these standards. These have been standards that most professonals
in higher education agree with. They are standards related to higher
education and life in general. We must not compromise. If we do, we
are hurting ourselves and all who have gone before us, but most importantly,
we cheat those who follow (our students). We cheat everyone in the process.
We must be strong in our convictions.
INTEGRITY: A Real-Life Story
In the 60s, when I was working at the University
of Rochester with
Barbara Ames in Publications, Barbara and I purchased a lot of printing
on behalf of the University. We had won the confidence of our colleagues
in the Purchasing Department by being honest and dependable. We placed
large purchase orders. We worked with a lot of printers in the Rochester
area.
One young such rep, quite inexperienced, was very
aggressive and kind of "slimy" in the way he handled himself
by trying to change his estimate after the deadline in order to low-ball
other printers. Other indicators suggested he was less than honest and
truthful. One weekend Barbara got a letter in the mail from this representative
contaning a sizable check made out to her personally. The following
Monday morning, she and I discussed what to do with the check as we
had no intention of cashing it. We decided to sign the check over to
the University Development Office and have them send a thank you note
to the printer rep's employer. That company lost all future business
from the University.
Now, as I think back on this tiny episode, I wonder
if this sort of response is typical of what would have happened today.
Would you cash the check and not tell anyone about it? Would it be cashed
and no one have known about it? Or would it be forwarded to the University
Development Office? Or would you do something else? What do you think?
Why?
E-mail your thoughts to topor@ marketinged.com;.....
subject : Higher Education Integrity
© Bob Topor, 2007
Marketng Higher Education e-magazine
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