Since the failed initial attempt by the University of Louisville to force its own acquisition by Catholic Health Initiatives, a number of current University faculty members have approached me privately to thank me for my small roll in bringing the secret agreements into public view. They told me many of their colleagues were also very unhappy with the plans.
I confess that over the last month I had begun to feel like the old dinosaur I am, witnessing the apparent extinction of traditional academic principles. The question I had for my former colleagues was, “if there were so many of you, where were your voices when the public needed to hear them?” Of course I already knew the answer: they were afraid of losing their offices or their jobs. “How could that happen” you might ask? The fact is that bullying is not just a phenomena of grade schools. Of the few faculty letters to the Courier-Journal these past months, the only three that spoke against the acquisition were from retired faculty like myself. A few administrative faculty wrote in support, but I felt as sorry for them as I did for the young (she looked young to me!) new Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who had to begin her Louisville career arguing for the University that nothing was going to change and everything would be all right.
I have not had any feedback after reprinting a critical letter allegedly sent from many senior faculty and faculty administrators to President Ramsey and Provost Willihnganz last summer. I for one am assuming it is not a forgery! In any event, we already know it was essentially ignored. Is there anyone from the University who is willing to at least tell us how many faculty finally signed the letter? (Use the confidential “Contact Us” link on the right.) I will not ask anyone to personally identify themselves or any other faculty member, nor will I do so. I know your concerns about retaliation are real. Isn’t that sad?
Peter Hasselbacher, MD