10 | DECEMBER 5 • 2019 editorial Addressing Wayne State’s Board Dysfunction Views W ayne State University and the Detroit Jewish community have had a long and mutual- ly beneficial relationship. For Jewish immigrants, their chil- dren and grandchildren, Wayne was the affordable, high-qual- ity pathway to achieving the American Dream. Virtually every Detroit-area Jewish family included at least one member who earned a Wayne degree. In return, the Jewish commu- nity has provided Wayne with supportive and generous alumni, contributing philanthropic dol- lars to assist students with schol- arships, faculty with grants for their research and endowments for entire program centers. Sixteen of the school’ s buildings carry the names of prominent Jewish Detroiters. Therefore, the ongoing public battle among the university’ s eight-member board of gover- nors — with half of its members aligned with its President, M. RoyWilson, and half seeking his ouster — is disheartening and an embarrassing case study in dysfunctional board gover- nance. The board’ s polarization is reflective of our poisoned political climate, where being willing to disagree without being disagreeable has been eclipsed by certitude that one side — your side — is the sole possessor of truth. Candidates to the Wayne State University Board of Governors are selected by their political par- ties at nominating conventions for inclusion on the statewide ticket. They are listed “down ballot, ” where name recognition is almost non-existent. It is not a place where any Wayne governor can claim to represent the “will of the people. ” Many candidates selected by their nominating conventions to serve on Wayne’ s board have excellent credentials and a sincere interest in the school. However, others are cho- sen for purely political consider- ations, including as consolation prizes for being passed over for other positions. The result? A university growing in stature and impact — locally and nationally — being compromised by board mem- bers entrusted with its mission. Is there room for disagreement and debate about President Wilson’ s tenure? Absolutely. Has he come up short of expectations in some areas of his job descrip- tion and exceeded them on oth- ers? Likely. But publicly claiming he is unfit to serve? Publicly professing that he is unable to execute the ideals and the will of four of the eight board members and must be removed from his office now? Would it be any wonder that students will be reluctant to enroll at Wayne? That candidates for faculty appointments will be less likely to accept them? That legislators in Lansing will use this to justify Wayne receiving an even smaller share of the higher education allocation pie? It should be no surprise that “relationship counseling” among board members has been unsuc- cessful. Ultimately, the balance of power on the board may have to wait until the November 2020 election. Two governors have terms that expire in December of 2020. Would it be too much to ask the political parties to nom- inate candidates for the Wayne board in a more thoughtful manner? Meanwhile, the current board and administration should receive some assigned reading … Dale Carnegie’ s Abraham Lincoln-influenced classic How to Win Friends and Influence People. His “don’ t criticize, condemn or complain” mantra sounds so innocent these days, but remains timeless advice. Board members who truly have the best interests of Wayne and its students at heart would be wise to embrace it, and the hum- bleness that it requires. resilience astounds me, with the teachers and principal who show up every day for the kids amidst a system that is failing them. Tikkun olam — the Jewish idea after which Repair the World is named — is com- monly understood as a com- mitment to improving the lives of others and building a better world. My parents raised me with this idea as the central piece of my Jewish identity. I believe it is invaluable. But I think tikkun olam asks some- thing else of us, too: that we commit to repairing ourselves. It asks that we break down the prejudices we have inter- nalized, that we strive to over- come our fear of the “other” even when we would rather rationalize or ignore it. To become empathetic beings in a world that keeps us discon- nected, segregated and dis- trustful — this is what tikkun olam calls on us to pursue. I feel very lucky that in my time at Coleman A. Young, both types of tikkun olam have challenged me: that of service to others and that of self-repair. Working on reading with the kids is an uphill battle. Even on the days when we make real progress, it is painfully clear that they have been set up to fail, whereas I was set up to succeed. But struggling through new words and stories brings us closer together each week. The friendships we have formed have been such a gift. I chose to join the Repair the World Fellowship in Detroit because I wanted to be back in Michigan and because I am considering becoming a teach- er. Thanks to my Mondays at CAY, I have gained something else: healing, connection and a sense of purpose. Kendra Watkins and Ben Ratner are serving as 2019-20 Repair the World Fellows in Detroit. After having lived in North Carolina and Maine for the last several years, each of them has val- ued the chance to come to Michigan. Tikkun olam — the Jewish idea aft er which Repair the World is named — is commonly understood as a commitment to improving the lives of others and building a better world. — BEN RATNER COMING HOME continued from page 6