Recent accusations of plagiarism against a Dean at the University of Alberta ( http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Accusations+cast+pall/4941801/story.html ) raise a number of interesting issues. One of those is the manner in which power corrupts democracy. In all organizations, power accrues to the administration. Bureaucratic processes are used to obfuscate the exercise of power by a small inner cadre of administrators. Stakeholders are fed myths about the "mission, vision, and values" of the organization which, especially in crises situations, are revealed as propaganda and spin. Thus, when, say, downsizing the organization, individuals will be axed in indirect proportion to their power.
So, the test for the University of Alberta is whether it will deal with the Dean of Medicine and Dentistry in the same way it would deal with Joe Student from Hairy Hill. Already, the answer is apparently "No." as the Dean's fake speech issue must be "carefully studied" and all the bureaucratic arsenal of delays, hair splitting, and contextual concerns are deployed to provide time for the issue to blow over and attention be turned to the next cause celebre.
Why this rankles is that there is a strong urgency for fairness in a culture which is truly democratic. So called rebels, from Thomas Jefferson, to Wael Ghonim, and Julian Assange - have all been motivated, in large part, by experienced and perceived unfairness in the treatment meted out to the less powerful as compared to the arrogant dismissal of fairness and similar values by those in positions as insiders of the power elites.
Will the U of A pass the test? That will depend on its scores on the following rubric: fairness, transparency, accountability, openness, promptness, and courage. Will "whatsoever may be true" become a reality - or will it be reserved for the next opportunity to inspire students or motivate alumni givers?
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