Cal Poly & Saudi Arabia : Send in the Clowns!

Cal Poly and Saudi Arabia: Send In the Clowns!
For those folks who know me, I rather be spending time cooking! In fact, I just came back from a fun trip to Hawaii & Chicago where the culinary delights were a wonderful distraction… however, all good things come to an end and here I am back in Cal Poly Folly land.

As I mentioned before my trip, Cal Poly has a way of getting caught up in their own misspoken statements ( ‘lies’ sounds so judgemental and may not be completely accurate… ahem!)

As it happens a lot, certain incriminating ’emails’ were leaked. I have seen them and they are enlightening in their apparent eagerness to skirt the law and seal the deal. The Cal Poly Mustang Daily did a reasonable job in reporting the issue as did our own investigative favorite reporters at uncoveredslo.com. Check it out!

Cal Poly’s aging President Warren Baker has a tough time talking before any group larger than 1, which is why we don’t see him very often… anywhere. This is why he sent in ‘the clowns.’ Unfortunately, they know what their objective is… but they can’t get there by telling everyone what’s going on. Looking at the emails, we can certainly see why. Here’s one example as quoted by uncoveredslo.com:

“I really, really hope we can avoid asking for a clarification of this phrasing and simply tell them we’re ready to sign. I’m quite afraid that another round of ‘pickiness’ on our part could be the proverbial straw on the camel’s back.



So, let me understand a few things here:

1) This contract appears to involve direct or indirect hiring discrimination… but we’re not supposed to know about it?

2) We’re just supposed to ‘sign’ the Arabic version of the contract (also the ‘binding version’) without knowing what it says? What independent source is doing the translation?

3) If this contract really doesn’t benefit our students, but will actually replace our faculty with first year grad students, why are we doing this?

4) Who is this REALLY benefiting? Cal Poly? or a key donor? I hope this doesn’t depend on what the meaning of ‘is’ is?

Cal Poly’s administration — including Warren Baker and Mohammad Noori — have failed to provide a transparent process, have not been forthcoming when questioned, and apparently continuing to push forward regardless of long term consequences.

Let’s just say, if any of them worked for me… they’d be long gone.

Roger Freberg