Stand in Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street... and Whatever it May Actually Stand For?

(Caution – My politics may be showing)

Professional organizations serve a variety of purposes for the people they serve. Among those purposes one often finds lobbying government officials and working towards the improvement of their field. It is also often the role of these organizations to serve as the voice of their constituents on key political or economic issues and to issue press releases.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) website defines their purpose as follows:

The AAUP's purpose is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good.

The AAUP put out press release yesterday proclaiming that they “stand in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement.” The release goes on to frame several issues of concern surrounding equality and the economy, funding for higher education, and the security of faculty jobs. They conclude their press release by stating, “we strongly support the movement and wish it every success. We are in this together.”

What? Seriously? Wow.

While the statements the AAUP make concerning the economy, decreased funding for higher education, and even about the tenuous nature of faculty jobs are sound (and in many ways represent the profession they serve), they are not really echoed by or connected with the messaging of the Occupy Wall Street movement. In fact, one of the biggest challenges with the OWS movement has been its lack of cohesive message. The movement’s messages have ranged from demanding that politicians pay attention the little people, to calling for a military coup to overthrow the government and dismantle corporations.

One publication summarizes the goals of the movement as follows:

Occupy Wall Street” has listed virtually every progressive concern of the early 21st century in its current manifesto – from environmental degradation and corporate greed to animal rights and gender, race, and age equality, as well as collective bargaining rights. Now a new item has emerged, listing access to higher education as a basic human right, perhaps not surprising considering the youthful face of the movement.

I wonder which of the goals the AAUP stand in solidarity with?

I am not opposed to an organization making a statement about the tenuous nature of our economy and the impact it is having on many professions and professionals. Such a statement seems appropriate given the national dialogue concerning these issues. I am concerned when rather than making a statement that mirrors the needs of the membership, the organization associates and connects itself with an ill-defined and polarizing movement. How does a connection with such a movement serve to enhance the purpose of the AAUP?

In general I am weary of whole-heartedly supporting anything that the Daily Show spends ten minutes mocking and tearing apart. I am also weary of any movement or message that it is both panned and endorsed by Fox News and its viewers due to its lack of clarity and cohesiveness. I am honestly frightened when both of the above are true for the same thing. Occupy Wall Street fits neatly into this frightening category.

I encourage you to watch the Daily Show clip and answer the Fox News poll question. Hopefully this will illustrate the point I am trying to make and it will make you smile.