As chair of the Committee for Review of the Catt Controversy, I must begin by affirming that we have not finished our job.

Our job was “to review the controversy over the name of Catt Hall and to make recommendations of specific action items that will help bring about closure of the issue.”

This requires intense, focused research of the pertinent literature. This requires discussion of what claims were made during the controversy, their qualifiers and how they should be addressed. This requires a synthesis of opinions and suggestions from the public. This did not take place.

The committee did meet since the previous spring semester. So, what happened, you may ask? Was this a complete and utter waste of time? My answer would be an emphatic “no.”

What did happen was that for the first time in the more than three years, a group of individuals with conflicting viewpoints sat down together in a non-threatening atmosphere.

Bonding even took place between specific members that I would have thought ludicrous to imagine only a few months ago. Though much time was taken talking around the issue, we have finally reached the point in which we can move forward as a committee, and I would consider that something of an awesome accomplishment.

Since our committee was initially mandated to prepare specific action items concerning the Catt Hall naming controversy, I would like to address this myself even though the committee as a whole may have failed to do so.

After overseeing the research and naming process of the building, giving an ear to those who still have the courage to speak about the situation,and taking into account what I have personally experienced in my four years on this campus, I have become overwhelmed by the complexity of this issue.

My conclusion is that this conflict has caused much injury. This includes not only those who advocated that the name of the building be changed and those who defended the name of the building.

The matter is much too complicated to categorize into two opposing viewpoints. The controversy has even tarnished the legacy of Catt herself.

Healing this gaping wound is long overdue. It has tormented this campus for too long.

Why was this allowed to occur? The Catt Hall controversy is evidence of the suffocating atmosphere on this campus caused by poor leadership on the part of the administration.

It is another item on the laundry list of what I have seen. I saw students screaming at a stone wall. I saw faculty members remain silent when the situation needed to be addressed.

I saw the administration take four months to remove bricks. I saw decisions dictated behind closed doors. I saw “toe the line or resign.”

I saw smoke billowing from the Knoll.

This toxic waste of an embarrassment to higher education was the result of the power games and stonewalling that are unfortunately becoming a tradition on this campus.

During this process of addressing the GSB and the Office of the President of Iowa State University, I was warned to not place blame and to include options in the final proposal. I cannot in good conscience do that.

It troubles me that we live in such a society in which our appointed leaders are not permitted to admit that they are imperfect. Sounds pathetic ,doesn’t it?

And this is the reason why we have a man like Martin Jischke running this “No.1 land-grant university in the nation.”

I ask that the complete blame for the state of the campus’ political environment ultimately rest on his shoulders.

Initially, I thought that a type of formal mechanism to foster open communication on this campus was needed as a remedy.

However, upon further consideration, I have decided that such a Band-Aid won’t work. What is needed is a leader who respects faculty, staff and students.

What is needed is an administration that gives a hearing to those individuals who wish to speak. This is an obligation that holds even if those in power are criticized.

It takes courage for a single voice to stand up for what they believe when it is a view not held by the majority. That courage needs to be fostered for an environment of open dialogue to exist at this university.

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Dan Pasker

Senior

Ceramic engineering

Chair

Catt Hall Review Committee