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MSUNAG  September 2008

MSUNAG September 2008

Subject:

Re: Some thoughts about a new email system for MSU

From:

"Esther V. V. Reed" <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Esther V. V. Reed

Date:

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:53:35 -0400

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (97 lines)

Hi Joseph,

I just had to comment on 3 points from your posts:

>
>Ok, so you produce a product you charge for and you compete against
others for this right. Sorry, but any organization who does that is a
BUSINESS. 
>Since MSU is a business, then shouldn't they actuall think about
perhaps acting like a business? Any data that flows across any companies
network is considered business property, and as such is not subject to
any free speech/freedom of information rules. 
[snip]
>

I have no idea which unit(s) you worked for when you were here, but you
must not have realized that this statement is *not* true for an academic
research institution.  What I have gleaned in my time here is that
education is different from commercial businesses.  The point of
education is to provide students with tools to think, problem solve and
develop in their discipline of choice.  We do teach "nuts and bolts"
classes to provide them with basic skills (C++ coding or principles of
Economics or human anatomy).  But the goal is to turn out thinkers.  It
isn't particularly important, or even smart, for them to learn
everything single detail about Cisco routers or MS Exchange or Juniper
firewalls; it is important for them to understand networking principles
or security issues -- and then be able to apply that and to be able to
continue to learn and develop solutions of their own (more than just
reading TechNet each month).  Freedom to think includes free speech
which includes academic and research email and network, which includes
open collaboration with faculty from other institutions.  Teaching
students how to think in a discipline is not like turning out a
commercial product -- we are not spitting out a new car from the
assembly line every 10 seconds nor producing the latest radio
advertisement for toothpaste.  

>
>However, MUS is NOT made up of multiple little companies, each with a
different goal. 
>
[snip]

This is absolutely not true.  Yes, MSU as a whole does have a common
goal to provide an excellent education.  But Colleges and Departments
have different needs and sub-goals to achieve this.  Why?  MSU has a
vast array of disciplines -- we have over 250 Graduate Programs alone.
MSU learned that departments need to have the flexibility to grow in
their very different directions in order for their programs to flourish
and achieve excellence.  I've always heard the various deans say that
departments know best what they need for their programs and their
research.  Forcing unit A to use unit B's IT solution will likely make
unit A's programs weaker by causing excellent faculty to leave in search
of an institution where they do have the freedom to pursue their
discipline as they choose.  So MSU allows each College and each
Department the freedom to choose how best to build their programs and to
decide what services are needed for these programs.  

Thus, we don't jam the IT solutions used by AIS down Chemistry's throat.
We don't force the College of Music to follow the IT model used by the
Health Care Colleges.  Academic needs are different than administrative
needs, which are different from clinical needs, which are vastly
different from research needs.  And the needs of one research group are
vastly different from the needs of a different research group.  I have
worked in all 4 of these types of units, and have seen this first hand. 

A colleague of mine used to say that the best way to think of a research
department was 16th century Bologna, Italy: each research group is a
like a little independent dukedom -- sometimes dukedoms cooperate with
each other, but sometimes they go their own way.  IMO, that is very
true.

Yes, this is frustrating for central solutions.  Very.  Hence, the
various discussions on the NAG or at the IT Exchanges.  But discussions
are healthy and encouraged, as is free thinking (including opinions like
yours).  IT at MSU is here to serve MSU; not force MSU to change to fit
the needs of IT.  The freedom, for departments to develop and to grow in
very diverse ways, is  an absolute strength of MSU and it is highly
valued by all academic and research units.  

>
>Microsoft is NOT run by Satan.
>
[snip]

Several MSU departments, like mine, are 99% Microsoft shops running
Exchange servers.  But I'm not about to say that it the appropriate
solution for all 16 Colleges and umpteen Departments.  Yes, MSU IT folks
have differing opinions regarding what to offer as a central solution.
I believe that ATS is doing a great job trying to solve a nasty problem
in a way that respects how MSU works.  

 ~ Esther
 
Esther V. V. Reed
IT Systems Administrator
MSU Graduate School
email: [log in to unmask]

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