Sponsorship denied: History professor's deal with burrito joint went against school policy
By CHRIS ARNESON for the Missoulian About 250 University of Montana students walked into the first day of their U.S. history class to a new experience. On the projector screen was a logo for the local burrito and taco joint, El Diablo. The same logo was printed on the class syllabus for "The Americas: Conquest to Capitalism," and a sticker for El Diablo was clipped to it. "I've never seen anything like it," said Sara Ford, a freshman in the class. Kyle Volk, an assistant professor of history, told students the course was sponsored by El Diablo. University of Montana assistant professor Kyle Volk: worked out a deal with El Diablo, a Missoula Mexican restaurant, to sponsor one of his history classes, then learned it was against university policy. Volk brokered the deal with the burrito shop, which made a $250 donation to the University of Montana history department. In return, he handed out El Diablo stickers, mentioned the business in class and printed its logo on the course syllabus. El Diablo has never donated money to the university before, Volk said. And he wanted to pilot a sponsorship program with a local business. But UM administrators said such advertising contradicts school policy. History department Chairman Richard Drake said he didn't know in-class advertising was against school rules, but said the idea was never to challenge the university's policies. According to Drake, the advertising was intended to send a message. "I regarded this idea as a witty way to draw attention to the plight of this history department," he said. Last June, the department ran out of paper and toner for the copying machine, Volk said. Professors had to ride out the rest of the semester without printing or making copies. "We're struggling for basic everyday needs," he said, because of the rising cost of school supplies. UM is especially vulnerable to funding problems because its main source of income is tuition and state funds, he said. "This school and schools like it are going to have to think about more creative ways to compete, and whether or not we like it, that's going to mean more money." Volk said he will make sure future fundraising conforms to school policies. But with the state of education funding today, he said the university should consider allowing advertising in classrooms. UM attorney David Aronofsky said there are reasons that instructors can't put advertising on a class syllabus. "You've got to control the commercial activities on campus," he said. "Otherwise, the campus could become a commercial bazaar." Aronofsky said the university won't punish Volk or the history department for the violation, calling it a "good-faith mistake." "It probably won't happen again," he said. He also said the university doesn't want to chastise El Diablo, or deter donations to the university. Volk said the department planned to use the money for a staff travel fund. "Each faculty member is allotted $350 for travel," Volk said. "If you've ever flown out of Missoula, that doesn't go very far." The extra money would allow professors to attend out-of-state conferences and do research in other parts of the country, he said. Some students said they were surprised by the advertising, Volk said. But he doesn't see it as sending a bad message. Sara Ford said the advertising hasn't affected the class or Volk's teaching. "I've never seen a lecture class with a professor that into teaching," she said. In fact, Ford said she wouldn't mind seeing advertising in other classes, but it would have to be similar to the El Diablo ads. "I think it would be fine to a certain extent, but not to the point where it is overpowering," she said. Volk said he didn't think the advertising would be an issue because students encounter advertising all around campus. But there are some problems with professors doing fundraising, he said. Instead of talking to advertisers and donors, Volk said he could be researching or writing books. "The time commitment isn't enormous or overly burdensome. But it is a cost," he said. El Diablo did not respond to repeated telephone calls from the Missoulian, seeking comment for this story. http://www.missoula.com/news/node/1860 -- Jim Devine / "Nobody told me there'd be days like these / Strange days indeed -- most peculiar, mama." -- JL. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
