How can I, a public university employee at the bottom of the totem pole, start working today to try and end the University's dependence (read: wholly ensnared state) on proprietary, corporate owned/backed software?
Anybody know of any orgs that work on this, or have any experience fighting this kind of thing?
It makes for a very depressing state of affairs, being so reliant on these capitalist structures.
@gabe institutions are difficult to just uproot and change. i recommend starting the conversation first, just casually with higher ups, letting them know your interests and reasoning. maybe putting a strong emphasis on long term cost cuts, as well as pointing out shifts in cultural relevance.
if things go well, arranging a meeting with higher ups, departments heads and even board of directors, would be next, and outlining a plan to demonstrate a proof of concept.
the concern on this path is political, as well as philosophical, and monetary relevance. i.e., will they even care, or will they find the budget to transition.
i believe that you'll find an audience and an ear where it matters, but you'll have to follow the official institution practices for organizing such a change.
if they are resistant, you could even possibly go as far as to use underground channels to build interest, not necessarily /hype/ though
if things go well, arranging a meeting with higher ups, departments heads and even board of directors, would be next, and outlining a plan to demonstrate a proof of concept.
the concern on this path is political, as well as philosophical, and monetary relevance. i.e., will they even care, or will they find the budget to transition.
i believe that you'll find an audience and an ear where it matters, but you'll have to follow the official institution practices for organizing such a change.
if they are resistant, you could even possibly go as far as to use underground channels to build interest, not necessarily /hype/ though
