She won a “Man of the Year” award in 1969 and accomplished many more “firsts” throughout her military career and in retirement. I recall her appearance on 60 Minutes 25 years ago where she explained nanoseconds. Hopper was a great scientist; and she was wise.
One of her most repeated aphorisms is “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.”
I’ve heard that advice repeated many times over the years, including at a meeting that has been on my mind for the past four days.
One of the most promising resources in this area, when it comes to volunteering, is the new University of California. I feel certain that hundreds of students and scores of others who work on campus will be eager — not just willing, but eager — to serve the community as volunteers.
I have this confidence because of the content of First Lady Michelle Obama’s commencement speech this year and the crowd reaction to her sentiments. Her address was a call to action and, she repeatedly specified volunteer service to this community as a priority.
At our meeting last week, the topic of UC Merced volunteering came up. A fairly lengthy discussion ensued, the aim of which was to identify how the matter should best be brought to campus. There were arguments in favor of “going through” the student affairs office, the student government, the public affairs office and through one or more professors known to be friendly toward community service.
When I suggested that a direct appeal to the Chancellor might prove fruitful, I was quickly admonished. A direct appeal to the top man, it seems, just isn’t the way things get done. I pressed my notion, asking why not start at the top? Then I was provided a lesson on university politics and told the faculty doesn’t take leadership from the administration.
Well, I’m sure all of that is true and wise. And I’m definitely not qualified to have an opinion on the subject. Though I’ve attended seven colleges and universities and taught at six, I’ve only been on campus at UC Merced a dozen or so times. And I’m pretty ignorant about the UC system in general — I’m more of a state university type of guy, maybe more of a community college type.
Anyway, when Admiral Hopper’s observation about seeking forgiveness after getting something done rather than risking being denied permission by asking for advance clearance, it occurred to me that it might have been more prudent to keep my idea about chatting up the Chancellor to myself and just call for an appointment on my own hook.
It’s the old process vs product case. My goal is to foster collaboration and that’s going to mean that I’ll be voted down pretty often. My ideas tend to test limits and that makes many people uncomfortable.
I’m a bit worried that I’m going to end up with a mouth full of hamburger, though, if I have to keep biting my tongue all of the time.
If I’ve overstepped any boundaries, please forgive me.
November 29, 2009 at 12:05 pm |
Hi! I am a new VISTA, and I started in August of this year. I am 24, and I’m going to keep following your blog, if you don’t mind, because I am experiencing some of the same things as you, and it’s helpful to see that it isn’t just an age thing…some things just don’t run the way we think they will/should. I too had an office before, and am finding it different to adapt to being interrupted all the time, including a constant barrage of emails that I must answer (aka:was demanded to answer, no matter what else I was told to work on at the time). I was taught to ask questions to clarify and to work together, and am getting shot down because of that. And I hate that we almost have to take Admiral Hopper’s quote literally. At any rate, your blog is encouraging! Good luck on the rest of your year!