He complained about the high price of parking. He disputed the President's numbers in a "cordial" but "tense" public meeting on the topic. He turned over the research documenting his numbers. Two and a half weeks later, the provost fired him, explaining that Tarleton State University would not "tolerate intolerable behavior."
I agree there's an academic freedom issue and he shouldn't have been fired over a trivial matter unrelated to his teaching - but even the higher parking cost is less than what a prof (or student) would have to pay for parking at the University campuses near where I live..
@vfrmedia@gemlog@petersuber@academicchatter The cost quadrupled a couple of years ago because of the new parking garage and is now higher than most universities in the state...contrary to the PR. Yes, it's cheaper than some other universities...especially those in large cities. Our little town has no public transport. And our salaries (including staff) are on the low end.
@rspfau@vfrmedia@gemlog@petersuber@academicchatter
Thanks for this link. People who sign up for leadership positions in higher ed and have not the smallest tolerance for dissent or discomfort are truly baffling to me. I hope this (by all accounts) fine teacher lands well somewhere else.
@petersuber@academicchatter I feel like this is a story from a bizarro world where something like my preferences rule! Instead of not renewing their contract I'd instead have required the instructor to read and teach The High Cost of Free Parking (where Free largely means underpriced) by Donald Shoup.
@petersuber@academicchatter I read this article yesterday. It's grimly ironic that this all came out of an "open forum" with the President encouraging discussion. HEAVY SIGH.