Should I participate in this?

[Hibush]

Another option: don't accept chair, but stay on the committee. I don't think that "makes a statement" though. However, it likely cuts down on the work.

Resigning in protest from a committee never "makes a statement", it just results in your statements not being heard.

The desire to resign from an ineffective committee is understandable. But the idea that the resignation will result in things getting better is just not supported by experience. What happens is that the nominations committee will have one more slot to fill in the next round. And the committee you left will concern itself with other things than those you brought up as a member.

If protesting is the goal, one has to do so by participating (in the right place), not by withdrawing.

[polly_mer]

If protesting is the goal, one has to do so by participating (in the right place), not by withdrawing.

The kicker is "in the right place".  Seldom is the right place the same committee on which one was tapped to serve that is clearly not being effective instead of being faculty representative to the relevant board of trustees committee, to the presidential advisory committee, or to the committee on committee effectiveness.

Protest is usually ineffective.  However, working the system to get change often means finding out where the change can happen and then being there to lead the discussion instead of being loud in the wrong place to merely be annoying and ignored by those who aren't involved in the day-to-day activity.

[Hegemony]

I actually have no hope that anything I can do will make a difference at this point. We tried everything we could think of last year. The best hope is for the union to get the appeals process reformed, and that's on their list, as I say. My principal concern right now is whether I have to devote another umpteen hundred hours to a pointless process. And on reflection, I sure am not feeling it. My only hesitation is that I am up for an advantageous internal grant, and I wouldn't put it past the powers that be to disqualify me behind the scenes out of spite. I've seen similar things happen. But if I'm going to bow out of this committee, I need to do it now. After what happened last time around, I just don't think I have the stomach for it.

[fishbrains]

Go with your gut and bow out.

Speaking from experience, I would add that no one should "fight for faculty" unless they have at least the following:

• The support of the majority of faculty in writing: What kind of petition has the faculty within the division circulated? What kind of statement has your Faculty Senate issued? Is the union really going to do anything? Who is going to stand next to you during the fight? etc.
• Legal proof that what has occurred is clearly illegal, against a clearly-stated policy the board or system will enforce, or will affect the money in a big way: A situation like this being "unethical" rarely concerns people at the upper administrative level--or at least they won't deal with it in public or in front of faculty
• The support of legal counsel--and I'm not talking about your cousin Vinnie
• A clear understanding of why the president isn't taking action: How much of the situation do you not really know about? How much administrative support will you have (note: the answer = zero)?
• Contacts within the local media
• A plan B for your career

In short: The president, the board, and the College have access to a multitude of resources that a single faculty member does not.

[Kron3007]

I would also mention that since you have a union, I would not feel obliged to sacrifice myself to push for change.  You notified the union, and it is their job to address this.

This isn't to say you shouldn't fight for change, but I would not feel obliged. 

[Volhiker78]

Go with your gut and bow out.

Speaking from experience, I would add that no one should "fight for faculty" unless they have at least the following:

• The support of the majority of faculty in writing: What kind of petition has the faculty within the division circulated? What kind of statement has your Faculty Senate issued? Is the union really going to do anything? Who is going to stand next to you during the fight? etc.
• Legal proof that what has occurred is clearly illegal, against a clearly-stated policy the board or system will enforce, or will affect the money in a big way: A situation like this being "unethical" rarely concerns people at the upper administrative level--or at least they won't deal with it in public or in front of faculty
• The support of legal counsel--and I'm not talking about your cousin Vinnie
• A clear understanding of why the president isn't taking action: How much of the situation do you not really know about? How much administrative support will you have (note: the answer = zero)?
• Contacts within the local media
• A plan B for your career

In short: The president, the board, and the College have access to a multitude of resources that a single faculty member does not.

Excellent advice. 

[Ruralguy]

I would still recommend staying on for one more year for reasons mentioned prior plus this internal grant thingy.

As for committee effectiveness: In 22 years of experience plus observing academia for many years before that point, seldom does one person , no matter how brilliant, sympathetic or just darn right or righteous, make much difference. There needs to be group will, and the bigger the group, the better. I've seen a number of great committee chairs have great ideas go nowhere because of ..well...you name it. But in the end, it comes to ideas just not catching on to others or enough important others.

[Ruralguy]

I didn't exactly "sell" that opinion  very well did I?   

Maybe that's a sign that its correct.

[Cheerful]

Go with your gut and bow out.

Speaking from experience, I would add that no one should "fight for faculty" unless they have at least the following:

• The support of the majority of faculty in writing: What kind of petition has the faculty within the division circulated? What kind of statement has your Faculty Senate issued? Is the union really going to do anything? Who is going to stand next to you during the fight? etc.
• Legal proof that what has occurred is clearly illegal, against a clearly-stated policy the board or system will enforce, or will affect the money in a big way: A situation like this being "unethical" rarely concerns people at the upper administrative level--or at least they won't deal with it in public or in front of faculty
• The support of legal counsel--and I'm not talking about your cousin Vinnie
• A clear understanding of why the president isn't taking action: How much of the situation do you not really know about? How much administrative support will you have (note: the answer = zero)?
• Contacts within the local media
• A plan B for your career

In short: The president, the board, and the College have access to a multitude of resources that a single faculty member does not.

Excellent advice.

Yes. Belongs in Fora Hall of Fame.

[Stockmann]

I actually have no hope that anything I can do will make a difference at this point. We tried everything we could think of last year. The best hope is for the union to get the appeals process reformed, and that's on their list, as I say. My principal concern right now is whether I have to devote another umpteen hundred hours to a pointless process. And on reflection, I sure am not feeling it. My only hesitation is that I am up for an advantageous internal grant, and I wouldn't put it past the powers that be to disqualify me behind the scenes out of spite. I've seen similar things happen. But if I'm going to bow out of this committee, I need to do it now. After what happened last time around, I just don't think I have the stomach for it.

Is that grant worth the cost in terms of time and energy wasted by serving on the committee (as it's pretty crystal clear it is a waste)? How likely are you to get the grant?
If the likelihood of getting the grant if you don't resign is very high, and the cost (the time, energy and aggravation wasted on the committee) is worth it, then just view the comittee as busy work (it can still issue honest recommendations - indeed it should, only as an ethical matter but as a CYA move in case someone sues, but there's not point in putting in more time or effort than what is strictly necessary), document everything, resign at some suitable later date (steer clear of this mess as soon as reasonably possible) and move on.
I know what it's to be like at an institution with serious problems and no hope of improvement - that describes my previous employer. Ultimately, it's "just" a job - by which I mean that there are limits to the sacrifices or risks you can be reasonably asked to make or take, even if you're tenured. At my previous employer, I participated in efforts to improve matters, but I also made sure to keep my CV good and to look for other jobs.