Some thoughts on the higher ethics of name-calling
Editor:
I am pleased that the board of governors has responded so quickly to the principled concerns of some of its members about the Centre for Innovative Teaching. The board has asked the president to go back to corporate donors-after whom UVic had promised to name some rooms-and say, "Uh, sorry." No doubt the members who reminded the board of its duty were modeling their logic after Quebec's similarly principled language laws: The university will agree to publicly acknowledge the generosity of donors but only with the smallest possible signage.
The moral sticking point for board members seems to be the notion of profit. Hey, no sweat. In the future, we will solicit funds only from companies that lose money. True, their ability to give will be limited, but I'm sure that the provincial government will promptly make up the difference by restoring the cuts to our budget and unfreezing tuition.
I regret I am not as principled as some of our board members. For example, I do not approve of the NDP; nonetheless, should the NDP wish to pony up a few bucks for the CIT, I would be all for naming rooms after some of their more memorable accomplishments. We could have the Dave Stupich Bingo Room, the Andrew Petter Funny Budget Room, and (my favourite) the Great Pakistan Hydro Scam Room. I'm sure there's a word for my dubious morality, but for the life of me, I can't think what it is. Maybe I should ask those who are really good at name-calling.
Of course, even a pious hypocrite like me would have to draw the line somewhere. No matter how much the NDP gave, I would eventually one day have to get around to telling them where I darn well thought they should put their money. Please don't talk to me about rudeness as a response to generosity. Don't say my arrogance is exceeded only by my sanctimony. Don't mention that UVic has lots of buildings named after lots of people who knew how to count pennies. Don't bother me with the effects on future fundraising. Above all, don't speak to me about the moral emptiness of objecting to donors only after we've cashed their checks. I have my own standards. And anyway, my mind is already made up, and my solidarity goes all the way up to my head.
Arnie Keller
Department of English