University Times

University Senate President-Elect James Cassing says he didn't mean to give the impression, through his recent comments to the University Times, that staff employees are anything less than essential and talented members of the Pitt community.

Many staff members, including the president of Pitt's Staff Association Council (SAC), objected to remarks that Cassing made in the May 3 University Times about faculty's role in Pitt governance. Cassing had said, in part: "Faculty and students are the University, but we are well aware that we need leadership. Faculty don't know how to build and operate buildings. We don't supply the pencils and paper and so forth. That's why we need an administration and support staff."

SAC President Rich Colwell called Cassing's statement "extremely offensive to staff." In an e-mail to SAC members, from which he read at last week's meetings of both SAC and Senate Council, Colwell said: "Staff employees here are quite valuable, talented, marketable and do far more than 'supply the pencils and paper and so forth.' Many staff hold responsible jobs managing departments and assisting faculty in their academic careers.

"Some faculty may believe that staff supply pencils and paper, but this is a ludicrous statement," Colwell continued. "[Cassing] also indicates that faculty and students are the University. If it were not for the efforts of staff, faculty might not be able to participate in the shared governance process.

"How can staff believe that there is a shared governance process when the leader of the faculty Senate openly makes such comments? I really believe he owes staff an apology."

Cassing, in an e-mail to the University Times, replied: "I would like to thank Rich, and several hundred others, for reminding me that the staff plays an essential role in achieving the mission of the University. I know that they are a talented group coping with complex problems and I hope we all appreciate their value. I do, and I apologize for giving any other impression in my comments to the University Times."

Ironically (or predictably, given the divergence of opinions at universities), an emeritus faculty member has accused Cassing and other newly elected Senate officers of taking an overly conciliatory stance toward Pitt's administration.

See letters column.

— Bruce Steele