What about post-tenure review? Do you have that? This is, I think, our second year of post-tenure review, and I am interested in what will happen to very weak professors. We know who they are: how they ignore kids, teach poorly, sign up for committees with no intention of attending meetings, do no research, etc., etc.
I fear the union has agreed to this soley so that they can demand more money. There is a provision for raises if the materials meet certain levels, and we all know how unions love to sue if the administration disagrees with the union stance. (As an aside, I think union leaders can be some of the most short-sighted, childish people imaginable....but that's another thread...)
Re hiring committees: I have been on many, probably because I do the work well. I like to see good people hired, regardless of politics. I expect many of them were liberals, but more moderate and certainly not ideologues. They have also proven to be good teachers and they do listen to my alternative ideas.
Having tenure and my final promotion as full professor helped to give me the power to speak out on FR.
I have to quibble with the definition of manliness: "confidence in a risky situation." I think women can show this too. But I have no problem with men and women being "defined" in ways that emphasize their inherent differences. As a woman, even a strong woman, I do see incredible sexism out there. I think the feminists try to be as strong as men, but what they also need to do is to value what women do very well: nurture their families, whether full-time or part-time. Feminists tend to dismiss traditional homemakers to their detriment. Young women nowadays thrive on their choices. My generation was told that careers were the only valid choice, with the result that some waited too long to have families and feel cheated.
Enough ranting for now.