Rooted in Respect

After writing regularly for The Exonian for more than a year, I’ve experienced interview denials on all ranges of the spectrum, from shouting and inflammatory outrage to a polite "no, thanks." Largely, they have come from faculty. In nearly every news story, faculty and administrative opinions are extremely important. Employees of the Academy often have opinions developed over many years spent on campus and representation of the varied opinions felt is a necessity. However, when I email or visit a teacher, dean, CCO officer or staff member, they do not typically accept interview requests.Their reasoning is varied. There are mundane excuses; Academy employees are often short on time, between balancing their demanding jobs and lives at home. Many do not reply to interview requests by email in the first place, neither accepting nor denying them. The message may have been buried, or simply couldn’t be addressed, among an already hectic schedule.This is not what troubles me. Much like our students, who have become infamous for their complaints, few faculty have free time to spend with amateur reporters speaking on any issue. However, there are other reasons that are harder to dismiss. In general, faculty are far more reluctant to speak publicly about their opinions regarding controversial topics on campus. This could be chance, but the overwhelmingly more positive and active response I get for an article like a Senior Spotlight compared to intense hesitation on an issue like the Exeter/Andover yield or mental health does not seem to be coincidental.Why would a faculty member be wary to express their opinions? Looking beyond time constraints, it’s initially difficult to understand. However, in a recent interview with head of the history department and instructor Bill Jordan, I gained a new perspective behind the faculty reasoning to decline an interview.A significant portion of faculty members, according to Jordan, worry about being misquoted or having their quotes put out of context. To have one’s voice misrepresented is unwelcome and potentially serious, not to mention embarrassing. It is true: Exonian reporters past and present have misquoted faculty, sometimes with damaging results. However, with the availability of quote confirmations offered by reporters and an increase of awareness of the seriousness of misquoting within The Exonian, I can say that this is rare. And, if it does occur, the paper may publish a correction or the faculty member may do so themselves in the opinions pages.Teachers, as employees, have a lot at stake while they are here. The Academy provides their place of work and often their home, dining services, a possible secondary school for their children and annual salaries. It’s hard to justify jeopardizing that for an opinion on seemingly inconsequential opinions.Ideally, there should be no fear of repercussions after any opinion of any faculty member in The Exonian has been expressed. Yet there is.

"The chilling effect and fear is there. Plenty of people I know say they are afraid of talking," Jordan said.

Beyond scheduling difficulties and fears of misquotations, faculty seem to be especially worried about being "called in." This often involves a dean or the Principal asking to speak to a faculty member about an opinion he or she voiced, to clarify it, discuss it or possibly reprimand them. Because these meetings take place privately, it’s impossible to know the exact tone being used. Regardless, Jordan and others have said that this is the source of the "chilling effect."While I cannot speak from any position of experience or understanding the fear that may be felt, I wish for the sake of the community and the integrity of our school paper that more faculty members were readily willing to express themselves in this form. We are members of a school based on opinion and debate and understanding, and each faculty member I have ever encountered has strong, well-formed opinions on dozens of topics in and outside the school. Additionally, in the long term moral ground, there is nothing to be afraid of.Anyone who speaks their mind in a respectful way, regardless of the opinion itself, should not have any reason to worry. They are innately in the right, protected under the First Amendment of our country and the rules, at least on paper, of our school. If we are to address problems most effectively, no one should be afraid to speak up, and every member of the community, especially faculty, ought to have the ability to speak without fear of any possible professional consequences afterwards.