Mike Braun justifies IU board takeover by claiming Purdue is better. Huh?
Research universities are inherently messy. Research is unpredictable.
No one knew that Gregor Mendel's research on peas would lead to the green revolution. No one realized research in the field of space quantization would lead to the development of lasers or quantum computing. Penicillin was discovered by accident.
Studies on gambling have helped to explain the behavior of stock markets and outbreaks of viral diseases. Cognitive scientists and education researchers have found that experiencing failure is an essential part of learning. No one predicted that research on DNA would lead to advances in genetics and biotechnology.
There are risks for any individual or group believing they can pick winners and losers when it comes to research.
Opinion: I was running for IU Board of Trustees — until Mike Braun took it over
The path of the Indiana General Assembly should concern any of us who have benefitted from a research breakthrough. The legislature is dictating how faculty governance should work at Indiana University, becoming increasingly prescriptive regarding tenure and long-term employment. Is the next step dictating what should be counted as acceptable research?
Gov. Mike Braun has suggested that Purdue University does a better job of preparing Hoosiers for careers than IU. Over 80% of all graduates of Indiana University Bloomington live and work in the state, compared to 60% of Purdue graduates. Which university directly benefits Indiana?
Braun has suggested that changes in the composition of the board of trustees, with the governor choosing all members, will lead to a smoother governance process. A large body of research indicates that prioritizing a smooth decision-making process risks stifling innovation and creativity, poor risk management, ethical oversight and cultural openness. This threatens long-term resilience and success.
Academic governance enhances an institution's overall research output and impact. Trustees should not be involved in the details of all disagreements. However, it is hard to imagine that a board overseeing any complex organization would not disagree sometimes. It should not always be a smooth process.
Indiana University's governance should be open and transparent, even when disagreements arise. If the only rationale the governor can point to for changes in how trustees are appointed is an inaccurate statement about which university prepares Hoosiers for jobs in the state of Indiana, then we have a problem. We should be equally concerned that IU President Pamela Whitten has not spoken out about these issues.
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