If the employee really wanted to help us improve our coffee, without destroying our business, he'd work closely with us, and keep his complaints internal. If he did go public, it would be with a positive message, such as, "The boss knows there are some problems with the coffee, and he's been working with me to solve them." The public message wouldn't be: "Everything about the coffee is bad, and by the way, please sign this petition encouraging the boss to resign." you are assuming that UC is a receptive employer. keeping things internal only works if you perceive those on the inside to be actual constructive avenues for change. unless you are talking about superficial changes, as in perhaps asking UCSC administration to sponsor next year's tent U by providing booths and refreshments, asking the current UCSC admin to bring about significant changes is pretty much a joke. if you knew anything about campus politics you'd understand this fact. it seems pretty clear to me you are approaching this matter from a purely theoretical standpoint. the only problem with theory alone is that real life interferes.