On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 5:26 PM, Carrol Cox <[email protected]> wrote: > Michael Yates wrote: "The problem with some of the posts on this topic is > that they ignore what would appear to be an obvious point: the structure of > an institution conditions the behavior of the people operating within it." > > I've been taking that for granted, which is why I haven't bothered to read > most of the posts on the topic. A one-year _acting_ president saved my ass > at ISU, but I emphasize the ACTING part of his title: he had no intention of > returning. He had a funny idea that procedures should be followed, even if > the Board thought different. > > Carrol
During the Truman-McCarthy era, while many University presidents collaborated, many other defied it. And it was not just acting Presidents. I am a strong believer in structure and institutions shaping actions. But there also cases of individuals long embedded within institutions unexpectedly defying them - on occasions far more serious than the Truman-McCarthy era, dying as a result. Though not a substitute for mass resistance, such individuals can make a huge difference in particular cases. Anyone who was ignoring this truth who retorts that it is obvious or banal will be laughed at. > > _______________________________________________ > pen-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l -- Facebook: Gar Lipow Twitter: GarLipow Solving the Climate Crisis web page: SolvingTheClimateCrisis.com Grist Blog: http://grist.org/author/gar-lipow/ Online technical reference: http://www.nohairshirts.com _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
