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WESTERN FRONT Vol. 70, No. 52 Friday, June 2,1978 Faculty tenure necessary despite conflict by LAURIE DUNHAM Tenure remains a desirable, though somewhat controversial, system at Western. The faculty appears willing to accept its shortcomings in exchange for its benefits. Recently tenure has been an issue of controversy in circles of higher education in the state and at Western. Gov. Dixy Lee Ray has suggested abolishing the system, saying it promotes "dead-wood." She also has proposed periodic reviews of tenured instructors. Job security Tenure, as defined in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure formulated by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), guarantees certain procedural rights for instructors. It is an agreement between the institution and instructors that they will not be fired except under certain conditions. These conditions include financial difficulties faced by the university, curricular changes eliminating the need for the instructor and adequate cause, in which an instructor is proved incompetent. Tenure is the only form of job security the faculty has, Leonard Helfgot, history instructor and president of American Federation of Teachers at Western, said. The faculty has nothing it considers a contract, he said. University President Paul Olscamp said the instructor's letter of appointment is a contract. The faculty does not recognize it as one, however, Helfgott said. Tenure shifts the burden of proof from the instructor to the institution, Robert Thorndike of the psychology department said. Untenured instructors must demonstrate why they should be retained, he said. Once tenure is granted, the university must prove why the instructor should not be retained. Constance Faulkner of Fair-haven said tenure is a protection against erratic decisions by the administration. "There may be real problems with the system," she said, "but it is the only security a faculty member has against any kind of capricious action by the administration." Tenure is necessary for academic freedom, Harry Jackson, history instructor and president of the AAUP at Western, said. It prevents an instructor from being fired for advancing unpopular views, he said. Olscamp said he feels strongly about the preservation of the tenure system. "I worked damned hard to get tenure and I'll be darned if somebody's going to take it away from me," he said. Jackson said he disagrees with the governor's statement that tenure promotes "dead-wood" and complained she does not define the term. "Under tenure, we've had a lot of creative teaching," he said. "We ought to do things to emphasize that. "If we'd get off this business of beating up the majority for the sins of the few and encourage those doing something exciting, we may be able to drag those others along." Fifty-fifty chance An instructor at Western has a maximum seven-year probationary period. If tenure has not been granted by the end of that period, the instructor will not be rehired, according to the Faculty Handbook. The tenure applicant must survive a series of evaluations. Tenured members of the individual's department make the first recommendation. From there it moves to the department chairman, a tenure and promotion committee, the dean, the vice president for academic affairs and the president. A final decision is made by the Board of Trustees. A recommendation can be overturned anywhere along the line. About 50 percent of the applicants must go through a second time, James Davis, College of Arts and Sciences dean, said at a recent meeting on tenure. Thorndike said an individual who makes it through the process is a "tough creature." "There's an incredible a-mount of selection that goes on before an instructor is tenured," Thorndike said. "You're talking about the most select group of individuals in any profession in the world." Administrative problems Though Olscamp supports the tenure system, he said it does create some problems. The greatest problem is the reallocation of faculty positions, he said. With steady enrollment and a high percentage of tenured faculty members, it is difficult to take positions from one department and give them to others as demands shift, he said. Currently, 82 percent of Western's faculty is tenured. The administration says 85 percent will be the limit. When Continued on page 6 BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING - don't think you can hide behind any Foster Grants if you shoplift because that everyday shopper over there may just flip out a badge. Problems have been encountered in a local store. See page 2. Policy of hiring minorities called inadequate by JOHN HICKS Joyce Gomez, assistant dean of students of the office of minority affairs, said Western's policy toward hiring minorities is inadequate and unfair. Referring to positions other than part-time staff, she said the Viking Union, Office of the Registrar, Career Planning and Placement Center and Office of Admissions "simply haven't hired minorities." "They (minorities) apply, but they never seem to meet the qualifications," she said, "It is the failure of the school for not hiring them." Gomez said a major reason for the lack of minorities in administrative and faculty positions is "inbreeding." "There is too much of a ten- Inside Horseshoe The Horseshoe Cafe, on Holly Street for the last 91 years, pulls in a variety of patrons for its late night meals. See an inside look on page 3 dency for people to be given positions simply because they already work on campus," she said. Gomez's criticism of these departments prompted response from department heads. Jim Schuster, assistant VU director, said the VU administration has three people referred to it by personnel for each position, and therefore has no control over further selection. VU director Jack Smith said minorities have had administrative positions in the Viking Union. Dick Riehl, admissions director and Louie Lallas, career planning and placement director, said their offices work with Affirmative Action and "hire the most qualified personnel." "That (most qualified personnel) just hasn't been a minority up till now," Riehl said. Robert Thirsk, past associate registrar, said he didn't want to comment on Gomez's criticism because he plans to work with her to "solve the problem." "I empathize with Joyce (Gomez)," he said. "This is a problem I'd like to help her eliminate." Gomez also said minority faculty and administration members are not given fair opportunities for tenure. "Even though certain faculty members in ethnic studies were good, they're leaving because they're not wanted by the departments they teach under," she said. One way to correct this is to have a central ethnic studies department rather than ethnic studies classes "spread out in various other departments," she added. Gomez said because Western's College of Ethnic Studies disbanded two years ago, people tend to look elsewhere for an ethnic studies program. Gomez said attitudes are the main problem. "There is always the attitude that minorities must continue to prove themselves," she said, "so they have to be three to four times better to be accepted."
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | Western Front - 1978 June 2 |
Volume and Number | Vol. 70, no. 52 |
Date Published (User-Friendly) | June 2, 1978 |
Date Published (machine-readable) | 1978-06-02 |
Year Published | 1978 |
Decades |
1970-1979 |
Original Publisher | Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA |
Publisher (Digital Object) | Digital resource made available by Special Collections, Western Libraries Heritage Resources, Western Washington University. |
Editor | Angelo Bruscas, editor, Clay Hartl, managing editor, Jessie Milligan, news editor, Laurie Dunham, assistant news editor, Charles Nacke, photo editor, Bruce Hyland, opinion editor, Liz Rust, arts editor, Eric Hookham, sports editor, Sue Taylor, head copy editor, Gwen Collins, copy editor, Barbara Waits, copy editor, John Watkins, copy editor |
Staff | Ann Emanual, production manager, Rick Eskil, assistant production manager, Dave Imburgia, business manager, Michelle Roedell, ad manager |
Photographer | Darrell Butorac, Chuck Leach, Eric Hookham, Charles Nacke |
Faculty Advisor | Harris, Lyle |
Article Titles | Faculty tenure necessary despite conflict / by Laurie Dunham (p.1)-- Policy of hiring minorities called inadequate / by John Hicks (p.1) -- Olscamp reports on tenure and year's events / by Laurie Dunham (p.2) -- Techniques of local store detective examined / by Mike Wickre (p.2) -- Peabody fall case closed / by Janet Simmelink (p.2) -- Standard text policy defeated (p.2)-- Horseshoe Cafe: lesson in survival (p.3) -- Fairhaven record studio apparently booming, broke / by Michael Navalinski (p.3) -- Op/ed (p.4) -- Letters (p.5) -- Shorts & briefs (p.6) -- Campus Christians to court? / by Laura Merkel (p.6) -- Expressions (p.7) -- Bellingham stops for a passing parade / by Cindy Kaufman (p.7) -- Western student wins crown / by Steve Adams (p.7) -- Play directors job often anxious / by Chuck Leach (p.7) -- Four students share VU Gallery competition awards / by Kathy Johnson (p.8) -- Bellingham's entertainment could beat travel / by Beth Jacobson (p.8) -- What's up and coming (p.8) -- What's happening (p.8) -- Prof rejects UW system / by Bill McNeill (p.9) -- Sports (p.10) -- Ozone Coasters roast Necks (p.10) -- Official announcements (p.10) -- Fifteen years at Western: Randall is basketball / by Jonathan Davis (p.11) -- Classified (p.11) -- Crew: building their own racing shells / by John Hicks (p.12) -- Outdoor program's plans / by Dave Hatcher (p.12) |
Photographs | [Unidentified student, shop lifting] (p.1) -- [Unidentified patron of the Horshoe Cafe] (p.1) -- Paul Olscamp (p.2) -- [Unidentified patrons at the lunch counter] (p.3) -- [Parade clown] (p.7) -- [Little girl attending parade] (p.7) -- Nora Martin (p.7) -- [Weaving by, Shannon Brown] (p.8) -- [Two members of the Ozone Coasters] (p.10) -- Chuck Randall (p.11) |
Subjects - Names (LCNAF) | Western Washington University--Students--Newspapers |
Subjects - Topical (LCSH) | College newspapers--Washington (State)--Bellingham |
Related Collection | http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/261544388 |
Program | Special Collections |
Geographic Coverage | Bellingham (Wash.) |
Object Type | Text |
Original Format Size | 41 x 29 cm. |
Genre/Form | Newspapers |
Digital Reproduction Information | Bitone scan from 35 mm silver halide, 1-up negative film at 600 dpi. 2011. |
Identifier | WF_19780602.pdf |
Contributor | The digitized WWU student newspapers are made possible by the generous support of Don Hacherl and Cindy Hacherl (Class of 1984) and Bert Halprin (Class of 1971). |
Rights | This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact Special Collections, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103. USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to Western Front Historical Collection, Special Collections, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University. |
Format | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Language Code | Eng |
Description
Title | Western Front - 1978 June 2 - Page 1 |
Volume and Number | Vol. 70, no. 52 |
Date Published (User-Friendly) | June 2, 1978 |
Date Published (machine-readable) | 1978-06-02 |
Year Published | 1978 |
Decades |
1970-1979 |
Original Publisher | Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA |
Publisher (Digital Object) | Digital resource made available by Special Collections, Western Libraries Heritage Resources, Western Washington University. |
Editor | Angelo Bruscas, editor, Clay Hartl, managing editor, Jessie Milligan, news editor, Laurie Dunham, assistant news editor, Charles Nacke, photo editor, Bruce Hyland, opinion editor, Liz Rust, arts editor, Eric Hookham, sports editor, Sue Taylor, head copy editor, Gwen Collins, copy editor, Barbara Waits, copy editor, John Watkins, copy editor |
Staff | Ann Emanual, production manager, Rick Eskil, assistant production manager, Dave Imburgia, business manager, Michelle Roedell, ad manager |
Photographer | Darrell Butorac, Chuck Leach, Eric Hookham, Charles Nacke |
Faculty Advisor | Harris, Lyle |
Subjects - Names (LCNAF) | Western Washington University--Students--Newspapers |
Subjects - Topical (LCSH) | College newspapers--Washington (State)--Bellingham |
Related Collection | http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/261544388 |
Program | Special Collections |
Geographic Coverage | Bellingham (Wash.) |
Object Type | Text |
Original Format Size | 41 x 29 cm. |
Genre/Form | Newspapers |
Digital Reproduction Information | Bitone scan from 35 mm silver halide, 1-up negative film at 600 dpi. 2011. |
Identifier | WF_19780602.pdf |
Contributor | The digitized WWU student newspapers are made possible by the generous support of Don Hacherl and Cindy Hacherl (Class of 1984) and Bert Halprin (Class of 1971). |
Rights | This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact Special Collections, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103. USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to Western Front Historical Collection, Special Collections, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University. |
Format | application/pdf |
Full Text | WESTERN FRONT Vol. 70, No. 52 Friday, June 2,1978 Faculty tenure necessary despite conflict by LAURIE DUNHAM Tenure remains a desirable, though somewhat controversial, system at Western. The faculty appears willing to accept its shortcomings in exchange for its benefits. Recently tenure has been an issue of controversy in circles of higher education in the state and at Western. Gov. Dixy Lee Ray has suggested abolishing the system, saying it promotes "dead-wood." She also has proposed periodic reviews of tenured instructors. Job security Tenure, as defined in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure formulated by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), guarantees certain procedural rights for instructors. It is an agreement between the institution and instructors that they will not be fired except under certain conditions. These conditions include financial difficulties faced by the university, curricular changes eliminating the need for the instructor and adequate cause, in which an instructor is proved incompetent. Tenure is the only form of job security the faculty has, Leonard Helfgot, history instructor and president of American Federation of Teachers at Western, said. The faculty has nothing it considers a contract, he said. University President Paul Olscamp said the instructor's letter of appointment is a contract. The faculty does not recognize it as one, however, Helfgott said. Tenure shifts the burden of proof from the instructor to the institution, Robert Thorndike of the psychology department said. Untenured instructors must demonstrate why they should be retained, he said. Once tenure is granted, the university must prove why the instructor should not be retained. Constance Faulkner of Fair-haven said tenure is a protection against erratic decisions by the administration. "There may be real problems with the system," she said, "but it is the only security a faculty member has against any kind of capricious action by the administration." Tenure is necessary for academic freedom, Harry Jackson, history instructor and president of the AAUP at Western, said. It prevents an instructor from being fired for advancing unpopular views, he said. Olscamp said he feels strongly about the preservation of the tenure system. "I worked damned hard to get tenure and I'll be darned if somebody's going to take it away from me," he said. Jackson said he disagrees with the governor's statement that tenure promotes "dead-wood" and complained she does not define the term. "Under tenure, we've had a lot of creative teaching," he said. "We ought to do things to emphasize that. "If we'd get off this business of beating up the majority for the sins of the few and encourage those doing something exciting, we may be able to drag those others along." Fifty-fifty chance An instructor at Western has a maximum seven-year probationary period. If tenure has not been granted by the end of that period, the instructor will not be rehired, according to the Faculty Handbook. The tenure applicant must survive a series of evaluations. Tenured members of the individual's department make the first recommendation. From there it moves to the department chairman, a tenure and promotion committee, the dean, the vice president for academic affairs and the president. A final decision is made by the Board of Trustees. A recommendation can be overturned anywhere along the line. About 50 percent of the applicants must go through a second time, James Davis, College of Arts and Sciences dean, said at a recent meeting on tenure. Thorndike said an individual who makes it through the process is a "tough creature." "There's an incredible a-mount of selection that goes on before an instructor is tenured," Thorndike said. "You're talking about the most select group of individuals in any profession in the world." Administrative problems Though Olscamp supports the tenure system, he said it does create some problems. The greatest problem is the reallocation of faculty positions, he said. With steady enrollment and a high percentage of tenured faculty members, it is difficult to take positions from one department and give them to others as demands shift, he said. Currently, 82 percent of Western's faculty is tenured. The administration says 85 percent will be the limit. When Continued on page 6 BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING - don't think you can hide behind any Foster Grants if you shoplift because that everyday shopper over there may just flip out a badge. Problems have been encountered in a local store. See page 2. Policy of hiring minorities called inadequate by JOHN HICKS Joyce Gomez, assistant dean of students of the office of minority affairs, said Western's policy toward hiring minorities is inadequate and unfair. Referring to positions other than part-time staff, she said the Viking Union, Office of the Registrar, Career Planning and Placement Center and Office of Admissions "simply haven't hired minorities." "They (minorities) apply, but they never seem to meet the qualifications," she said, "It is the failure of the school for not hiring them." Gomez said a major reason for the lack of minorities in administrative and faculty positions is "inbreeding." "There is too much of a ten- Inside Horseshoe The Horseshoe Cafe, on Holly Street for the last 91 years, pulls in a variety of patrons for its late night meals. See an inside look on page 3 dency for people to be given positions simply because they already work on campus," she said. Gomez's criticism of these departments prompted response from department heads. Jim Schuster, assistant VU director, said the VU administration has three people referred to it by personnel for each position, and therefore has no control over further selection. VU director Jack Smith said minorities have had administrative positions in the Viking Union. Dick Riehl, admissions director and Louie Lallas, career planning and placement director, said their offices work with Affirmative Action and "hire the most qualified personnel." "That (most qualified personnel) just hasn't been a minority up till now," Riehl said. Robert Thirsk, past associate registrar, said he didn't want to comment on Gomez's criticism because he plans to work with her to "solve the problem." "I empathize with Joyce (Gomez)," he said. "This is a problem I'd like to help her eliminate." Gomez also said minority faculty and administration members are not given fair opportunities for tenure. "Even though certain faculty members in ethnic studies were good, they're leaving because they're not wanted by the departments they teach under," she said. One way to correct this is to have a central ethnic studies department rather than ethnic studies classes "spread out in various other departments," she added. Gomez said because Western's College of Ethnic Studies disbanded two years ago, people tend to look elsewhere for an ethnic studies program. Gomez said attitudes are the main problem. "There is always the attitude that minorities must continue to prove themselves," she said, "so they have to be three to four times better to be accepted." |
Language | English |
Language Code | Eng |
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