Mary Lu -
I think that instead of comparing the Board to the Supreme Court, they
should be compared to elected representatives such as legislators or
presidential candidates. Saying that they shouldn't inform us as to
how they stand on the public domain issue is like saying that
congressional candidates should refuse to comment on abortion,
or health care reform, or any other issues and just give us their
academic and career qualifications. Since elected officials
are supposed to be representing us, we have a right, actually a
responsibility, to find out how they stand on the issues that are
important to us before we vote.
If we can't do so then the vote is a meaningless formality, and
the new board might as well be "appointed", in which case, the
comparison to the Supreme Court may be more apt than I thought.
I'm not trying to put anyone on the spot, or suggest a lack of any
kind on the part of the Board. I simply want to vote for the
people that represent my opinion on a matter that I think is
very important. It probably won't make any difference in
the outcome of the election, but I'd feel better about it! :-)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cindy Chick cchick@netcom.com
Los Angeles, CA 90017
-------------------------------------------------------------
On Fri, 13 Jan 1995, Mary Lu Linnane wrote:
>
> The question of a public domain and citation system of a great importance, as
> well as being a volatile and emotional issue, for many in AALL. The idea
> of the AALL Executive Board nominess being asked, in effect, to "take sides"
> on this issue strikes me as an example of a mandatory litmus test (think of
> the questions posed to prospective Supreme Court justices from both sides of
> the aisle in order to determine their allegiance).
>
> It is possible to have a personal opinion on the issue yet be willing to
> compromise for the good of the whole. One can also look at the issue from
> one side then, in a few months, after getting more information, alter that
> opinion. The citation question is one of many that AALL will have to face in
> the coming years and I am concerned that because it has become such a "hot"
> topic, some members see it as the one on which they will base their vote. I
> believe this isn't fair to the nominees and the membership as a whole.
>
> I think the nominees' statements should stand as they are and that we trust
> the system to arrive at the best choices for AALL. Having served on the Board
> for three years, I can tell you that NO decision was ever made lightly during
> those terms. The Board members take their jobs very seriously and hold the
> responsibility they have to AALL with great respect.
>
> Mary Lu Linnane, Associate Director for Technical Services, DePaul Law Library
>
>
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