I was dismayed by the recent column by Western News editor Jason Winders (“A slightly less instant reaction to instant reactions,” Feb. 2) where he states: “I am amazed, and somewhat concerned, at the inability of university graduates to process information beyond 140 characters in length. Many of their concerns could have been assuaged by simply reading another sentence, at most the next paragraph. But gut reactions have no time for context.”
I admit I, too, had a visceral reaction to the announcement of the new Western brand. For the record, my reaction was negative. My reaction was negative not for the reason I dislike the new visual image; I am ambivalent, though the tower was at least distinctive.
My reaction was negative because of the time, effort, focus and money spent thus far, and that will be spent, on this exercise.
One of my deepest concerns is the associated effects of the brand change. As just one example, we are informed Western is changing the domain name from uwo.ca to westernu.ca. Why? What possible positive change can come by changing every single email and computer address? It will have no positive effect on how we are viewed externally; it will seriously disrupt the professional activities of every person on campus; it may cause the loss of support from alumni and from Ontarians who are proud of the province; it will have enormous costs long-term beyond the $200,000 associated with the branding initiative, including letterhead, signage and employee time.
We are asked in the editorial to put this in context. I would submit the context of this change to anyone who has been here for more than a decade, is we have seen this scenario played before, and with the same justifications.
Western is faced with many challenges. We need to invest in our research infrastructure, all of it. Western has a history of trying to ‘build a roof without foundations’ when it comes to research infrastructure. We need to invest in smaller class sizes. I think many students would love to have a professor who they get to know. Western’s class sizes are likely going in the opposite direction with higher enrolments and slower faculty recruitment.
A final challenge is engaging the Western community. This is not done by surveying without sharing the data behind the results that led to the change. This is not done by then announcing a done deal followed by devoting more ink to this than to anything in my memory at this institution.
I would like to witness a return to a Western where those in power do not patronize those in the community who do not share their views, as illustrated by this column.
Have I exceeded my 140 characters?
Greg Gloor
Professor of Biochemistry