WHAT DO OTHER CAMPUSES DO when the hiring process is corrupted? When academic freedom and the integrity of the institution is attacked? They organize.
Today the Los Angeles Times characterizes the situation at UCI as a "furor" (one of Rebel Girl's favorite journalistic nouns) and claims that the dismisal of Chemerinsky may delay the opening of the law school, scheduled for 2009.
An online petition, signed by faculty, students, staff and yes, fellow Anteaters, alumni can be viewed (and signed) here.
The petition is an open letter to Chancellor Drake and addresses him directly:
"...if the reports are true, as our institutional and intellectual leader, and as our representative, you have failed to defend the integrity of the university, its recruitment process, and the sanctity of academic freedom you have given voice to supporting in the past. We have no idea what pressure you came under from those promising to support the university financially or politically, but we have heard nothing of your public undertaking to stand up for the intellectual independence of the university, its hiring processes which weren’t allowed as a consequence to run their course, of academic integrity and of the principle of reasonable independence. It is this that disturbs us most deeply."
The letter closes with an appeal for Drake to "reconsider [his]position, and to reverse [his] decision thus to reinstate the process for Professor Chemerinsky’s appointment. Anything less is an attack on the integrity, reputation, and morale of faculty, staff, and students alike at the University of California, Irvine."
Meanwhile, Rebel Girl has been chided a bit on another blog for her tendency to characterize this incident in particular and county politics in general in a way that might be seen as Machiavellian.
Surely, it can't be that bad, the colleague on the east coast suggested.We know better, don't we?
--From today's Los Angeles Times:
Although Drake has denied that he took action under pressure from conservatives, [Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology and member of the hiring committee] said Thursday that the chancellor told the committee during an emergency meeting Wednesday night that he was forced to make the decision by outside forces whom he did not name. A second member of the committee confirmed Loftus' account to The Times but asked to remain anonymous.
"I asked whether it was one or two voices or an avalanche, and the answer is that it was an avalanche," Loftus said. "But we are not supposed to capitulate to that in the world of academic freedom."
10 comments:
Two best quotes from this morning's Times: 1. Drake to Chemerinsky: "I didn't realize there would be conservatives out to get you."
2. Drake to reporter: "...a dean would have to subordinate political activism for the good the school."
anon,
surely you means this:
"a dean would have to subordinate political activism for the good OF the school" -- right?
pesky prepositions.
Thanks for proofing me. See today's amazing NY Times editorial:
Mr. Drake insisted that he made the decision himself, with no outside pressure. But his “too politically controversial” comment suggests otherwise.
If the U.C.-Irvine law school proceeds without Mr. Chemerinsky, it will open under a cloud. Law professors and students should be wary of signing on with a school founded in a spirit of intellectual intolerance. Just as unfortunate, we will never get to see the law school that the talented Professor Chemerinsky would have created.
The idiot right wingers behind this failed to see the prestige Chemerinsky would have brought to the new school.
Fools.
At this point, the law school will get exactly what it wants: knuckleheaded apolitical fools. Thanks for the heads up. Let's hope the senate does ... something?
10:59 there are lots of right wingers supporting Mr. Chemerinsky. Such as: "Douglas W. Kmiec, a conservative Constitutional scholar and law professor at Pepperdine University who has often debated Chemerinsky called him "a gentle soul, a splendid scholar and a person with a fine legal mind. . . " So stop your name calling... it is childish.
Also, look in your own back yard, specifically Board Policy 4000.2 and AR 4000.2 which is still being enforced despite Superior Court ruling that it violates Education Code. Plus, VP Lise Telson can just pick on and slander the hell out of a student, spread false rumors about him, and NOBODY rises to his defense.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed some possible subtle indications of, (maybe I could be wrong), just a hint of pathological narcissism in the management of the SOCCCD?
What the idiot right wingers fail to notice, as well, as this bit about academic freedom protects right wing professors as well. If the ivy tower were as liberal as they want to claim it is, you'd think it might concern them some to chip away at notions like academic freedom.
2:59, a nice little selected quote. That surely proves that the idiot right wingers wern't behind this at all. No siree.
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