UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow has a great reputation on campus,
but his emails can occasionally create controversy.
The most recent message of
note alerted students that despite frigid weather (temperatures dropped below
-20 F with wind chill), students are required to show up for class, but they
should use good judgment when deciding whether to attend.
For some recipients, the email was a source of more
confusion than clarification. An attendance policy in which students are
required to attend class or notify the professor in case of absence is standard
for a university, so why was the e-mail necessary?
“I was already anticipating a day off after hearing (about)
other schools closing for low temperatures,” says UW-L Junior Nate Ziegeweid,
“so getting an email addressing the weather like this didn’t clear up anything
for me.”
Students reacting to this message may also remember the
controversy stemming from the cross shaped 9-11 memorial set up on campus last
fall. Gow touched on the issue with a carefully worded email, cautiously
addressing complaints from a few students, avoiding either side of the issue while
explaining the regulations that applied to the memorial.
Gow’s message prompted a debate over the religious nature of
the memorial, with students and alumni weighing in on both sides of the issue,
leading some to question whether it would have been so heavily contested had he
decided not to click “send” on the e-mail.
Others, however, appreciate hearing
their chancellor weigh in on the issues: “It’s good to hear that he is invested in these school
events,” argues UW-L Junior Patrick Otto, “it’s his decision at the end of the
day, but it’s nice to see that he respects us enough to explain his stance.”
