A few quibbles about college report

Nevertheless, I wish to comment on Nathan’s article in the April 21 issue of the Stowe Reporter (“Budget squeezes Johnson State College”). 

First, I was identified as “chairman of the journalism department,” and while I appreciate the sudden promotion, there is no journalism department at Johnson State College. There is a journalism major, which is housed within the writing and literature department, the current chair of which is Dr. Daniel Towner. More accurately, I am director of the journalism program at the college. 

Next, I wonder why Nathan chose to highlight salaries of those in the highest pay ranks of the college — including senior faculty — while ignoring the more representative salaries throughout the faculty as a whole.

Finally, as part of the new full-time faculty contract, it is true that next year we will receive a 2 percent pay increase; however, the article neglected to mention other provisions in the contract that effectively negate that increase, specifically concessions faculty made regarding benefits. 

This all calls to mind Mark Twain’s advice to journalists: “Get your facts first; then you can distort them as you please.”

Tyrone Shaw

Assistant professor 

of writing and literature

Director of the journalism program

Johnson State College