[AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying organization?

Tue Jan 31 08:56:21 EST 2017

Dear Leon,

Thanks for writing again.  Your emails are motivating others to write about
this topic.  I am grateful to you for keeping this discussion alive.

I suggest that AIS leadership take a vote of its members denouncing the
President's executive order - just like ACM has done.  We cannot keep
silent at this time of national crisis which threatens the American values.

In fact, I urge all AIS members to write on this forum asking AIS to take a
vote.

And Leon, protesting persecution is not political.

Prashant Palvia

On Mon, Jan 30, 2017 at 11:49 PM, Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>
wrote:

> You said “We should all speak up when politics interferes with these
> basic human rights.”  Protesting a government policy is political by
> definition.
>
>
>
> PS, legally speaking, I’m not too sure anyone’s “academic freedom and
> basic human rights” have been infringed upon anyway.  No doubt, some
> folks were inconvenienced over the weekend and the bureaucracy fumbled a
> bit as it often does, but all the problems appear to have been resolved.  Yes,
> some uncertainty remains, but exception processes are being worked on.  Sure,
> some reacted fearfully (and understandably so given the abundance of
> hyperbolic media, politicians, and special interest groups), but many felt
> safer by these actions too.  Should we be vigilant?  Of course, very much
> so.  We remain a nation of laws with, thanks to the wisdom of our
> founders, a relatively weak executive kept in check by the courts,
> legislature, free albeit biased press, and a vocal citizenry.  But I see
> only downside for AIS if we drag it into the political arena, risking its
> tax exemption and reputation.
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* UNCG [mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu]
> *Sent**:* Monday, January 30, 2017 9:21 PM
> *To:* Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>
> *Cc:* AISWorld <aisworld at lists.aisnet.org>
>
> *Subject:* Re: [AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS
> into a political lobbying organization?
>
>
>
> Leon keeps making it a political issue when it is not. I don't understand
> why. If there was curtailing of academic freedom during previous
> administrations, I am sure AIS members would have spoken up.
>
>
>
> In any case, I am thankful to Leon as he raised the subject and started
> the conversation. It brought to light that, in general, AIS members value
> academic freedom and human rights. Perhaps, discreetly it was his intention.
>
>
>
> Thank you, Leon.
>
>
>
> Prashant Palvia
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On Jan 30, 2017, at 9:01 PM, "Kappelman, Leon" <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>
> wrote:
>
> It is wonderful that we as individuals have the freedom to protest and
> speak freely.  I’m simply saying that it’s best that we all keep our
> political and religious beliefs out of AIS official policies and actions.
> But if we think doing otherwise is a good idea, I strongly suggest we get
> a legal opinion or two before we do something that will jeopardize our tax
> exemption.
>
>
>
> BTW, was it an AIS issue when President Obama banned Iraqi immigration to
> the US for six months?  Seems political preferences are somewhat at play
> with the current brouhaha.  And I’m all for every AIS member’s political
> preferences.  My point is simply that we should not use AIS to further
> them.
>
>
>
> Watch out for that confounding, hyperbole-prone camel with the big nose
> too (-‘
>
>
>
> *"He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that." – John
> Stuart Mill*
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------
> *Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.*
>   *Professor of Information Systems* <http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112>
>   Director Emeritus, Information Systems Research Center
>     College of Business, University of North Texas
>     Voice: 940-565-4698 <(940)%20565-4698>   Email: kapp at unt.edu
>
>   Primary Investigator, SIM’s Annual IT Trends Study
> <http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
>
>
> *From:* Prashant Palvia [mailto:pcpalvia at uncg.edu <pcpalvia at uncg.edu>]
> *Sent:* Monday, January 30, 2017 7:45 PM
> *To:* Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>; AISWorld <
> aisworld at lists.aisnet.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [AISWorld] Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS
> into a political lobbying organization?
>
>
>
> I sent this message earlier. Somehow, it only went to Leon.
>
> ------------
>
> Excuse me, Leon.  This is absolutely non-political. Please do not confuse
> the issue. The freedom to conduct research and teach are academic issues.
> We should all speak up when politics interferes with these basic human
> rights.  So there should be no attempt to suppress our voices. And yes, AIS
> is absolutely the right forum to talk about it; AIS represents all of us
> academics.
>
> In fact, this is the time to speak up.  This is not the time to be shy or
> be intimidated.  I urge the entire AIS community to band together and
> peacefully oppose the breach of academic freedom and basic human rights.
>
> Thank you all,
>
> Prashant
>
> ----
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Prashant Palvia, Ph.D., Joe Rosenthal Excellence Professor,
> https://baelearn.uncg.edu/people/palvia/
> <https://baelearn.uncg.edu/people/palvia/> Bryan School of Business and
> Economics The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 426 Bryan
> Building, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA, Ph: 336.334.4818
> <%28336%29%20334-4818> Editor in Chief, JGITM,
> http://www.tandfonline.com/UGIT <http://www.tandfonline.com/UGIT>    Submit
> papers to JGITM at http://www.editorialmanager.com/ugit
> <http://www.editorialmanager.com/ugit> Associate Editor, Information &
> Management*
>
> *The World IT Project http://www.WorldITproject.com
> <http://WorldITproject.com> *
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 1:29 PM, Kappelman, Leon <Leon.Kappelman at unt.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Question: do we really want to risk turning AIS into a political lobbying
> organization or are there already other venues for the political activities
> in which AIS members may wish to engage?
>
> Seems to me we should keep AIS focused on the issues that concern us as
> academics - our research and teaching - and keep government policies on
> immigration, healthcare, gun rights, taxes, abortion, tariffs, and
> everything else in the venues where they belong.
>
> "Let us be men, not monkeys minding machines, or sitting with our tails
> curled, while the machine amuses us." - D. H. Lawrence
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------
> Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D.
>   Professor of Information Systems<http://www.cob.unt.edu/profiles/112>
>   Director Emeritus, Information Systems Research Center
>     College of Business, University of North Texas
>     Voice: 940-565-4698   Email: kapp at unt.edu<mailto:kapp at unt.edu>
>   Primary Investigator, SIM's Annual IT Trends Study<
> http://www.simnet.org/?ITTrendsStudy>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
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