WTF
Another in our continuing series of "Only In Utah" though perhaps I should change it to "Only In A Red State"
Important Update Here
original source
SUU professor's cussing may hurt his tenure hopes
Oops: He let a swear word fly during a heated classroom debate and later apologized
A popular political science professor dropped an "f-bomb" in class at Southern Utah University, and the fallout has triggered a departmental probe and student allegations that the Cedar City school may deny the teacher tenure. Stephen Roberds - the choice of the university's students for professor of the year in 2003-04 - let loose with the swear word last month during a dispute with a student about a Supreme Court ruling. At one point during the debate, Roberds asked: "What the [f-word] are they teaching you in criminal justice?" - referring to an academic discipline that SUU recently combined with political science. Roberds quickly apologized to the student and his classmates, according to senior Tasha Williams, a political science major who witnessed the exchange. "The student [involved] told me personally that he and professor Roberds had chatted about it for more than 45 minutes," she said. "[The student] said it was resolved. I don't understand why it's still an issue." But it is.
Lamar Jordan, chairman of SUU's Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice, said the student filed an official complaint. "I was obligated to follow [SUU's] policy and look into it," Jordan said.
However, that investigation also is causing a stir.
Senior Megan Brown, a political science major from Sandy, said the student - who has not been publicly identified - told her he was approached by Jordan and urged to complain.
The controversy could not have come at a worse time for Roberds, who after seven years at SUU is under review for tenure.
Roberds said this week he was "not prepared to make public comments at this time." But he said he is considering legal representation.
So did the professor's profanity violate SUU policy?
The school requires faculty to "provide a respectful atmosphere and not reward agreement or penalize disagreement with their views on controversial topics."
Human Resources Director David McGuire said Roberds' outburst could be read as a violation of that policy. "There will be people who would say that was not a very respectful atmosphere or a sensitive atmosphere."
Even so, Susan Olsen, vice president for faculty at the University of Utah, said she doesn't think one cussing incident - even if it occurred "right in the middle of tenure review" - would stop a professor from gaining tenure at the U.
Barry Gomberg, director of Weber State University's equal employment office, said he doesn't believe an isolated curse word in class would be enough to deny tenure at the Ogden school either.
Jordan's inquiry at SUU included calling a group of students to his office to discuss "curriculum issues."
At least four of the students told the University Journal student newspaper that they were "interrogated" and asked questions designed to elicit negative anecdotes about Roberds.
In a letter published Monday in the student paper, Jordan acknowledged that he invited students to his office under the "pretext [of discussing] a 'curriculum matter.' ”
This was done "out of concern for the privacy of Dr. Roberds," he wrote. He also characterized his conversations with the students as interviews, not interrogations.
SUU President Steven Bennion told The Salt Lake Tribune he had no qualms about how Jordan invited students to his office, noting that it was better than saying, “ 'I want to talk about such and such professor' and broadcasting that."
"When we review faculty, we take into account students as well as faculty and administrative assessment," Bennion said. "That's what the department's chair was doing."
Although Jordan balked at the student paper's coverage of the dispute, Journal Editor Melissa Nielsen said other SUU faculty and staff have praised the Journal's stories as "some of the best journalism" they have seen in a long time.
"People think we have more credibility now," said Nielsen, a senior communication major from Grantsville. "There are lots of sides to this story. . . . Just having Lamar Jordan write in to give us his side enhances our credibility.
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Comments
Guess you have to be VP to get away with that kinda thing.
"The student [involved] told me personally that he and professor Roberds had chatted about it for more than 45 minutes..."
So two adults spent 45 minutes talking about a common expletive and the offended party wasn't laughed off the campus for such absurd niggling? These people aren't getting enough fiber in their diets.
By this shall all men know, that in the name of the peaceful and honest people on planet Earth, it has been announced this November 26th of the year 2004: Declaration of Public Outlawship on the Bush Administration §1. Any person who is an extreme danger to democracy, freedom of society, the environment, any other precious values of the human race or to mankind, fauna or flora in general, thereby never showing any remorse about his/her lies, wicked undertakings, election-cheatings, oil-wars, marauding, religious insanity and other evil endeavors, may be declared public outlaw for that. §2. The Bush administration fully meets the conditions as outlined in §1 and is herewith declared public outlaw. §3. Everyone teaming up with a public outlaw will cause an immediate declaration of public outlawship for those teaming up. §4. Separation from the Bush administration through retirement, change of mind, removal from office or through any other cause, voluntarily or by force, does not automatically end the public outlawship, once so declared. §5. A current public outlaw does not have any public rights at all. He/she may be made subject to harsh criticism or mockery and ridicule by anyone without the right of complaint. §6. Criticism, mockery and ridicule may be exercised by anybody in whatever mode, manner, method, style or approach. Mockers and ridiculers may exaggerate, lie, spin, amplify, inflate, lay on thicker, overstate, overstress or twist facts to any extend deemed necessary to vividly characterize the evil character and dangerous potential of the public outlaw. §7. Foul or vulgar language on bumper stickers, signs, graffiti or other displaying, when picking on a public outlaw, is allowed without any kind of limitation. §8. The use of the Internet, including web sites, blogs, comments, feedback, e-mail, polls or any other instruments on the net, in use presently or in future, is explicitly encouraged for criticizing a public outlaw or making him subject to mockery and ridiculing. §9. A current public outlaw may demonstrate through good behavior his willingness to return to the standards of civilization and can ask for resocialization. The public outlaw should also give good reasons for his/her request. Nevertheless, the society is free to decline any request without giving reasons. §10. §9 does not apply to permanent public outlawship, which shall be endless. §11. The Bush administration, including it's present, past or future members, quislings and collaborators, are under permanent public outlawship.
§12. §11 shall be irreversible for our days and shall only end on judgment day when any power on earth will dissolve into nothing in the face of the Almighty and to whom we leave the Bush administration in humble acknowledgement of our own weakness.Anno Domini 2004, 26th of November The not insane part of the human race
Thomas, finally the festive ambience I have longing for all week! Endulge now, repeat later.
I think maybe you're correct about the "only in Utah" on this one. I think it's illegal to deny tenure on the basis of a swear word. They have to dispute his academic record.
Having attended BYU, however, I know more absurd things have happened.
Sadly enough Professor Roberd's was denied tenure and placed on administrative leave during finals week, when most student's are so involved in studying that they hardly have time to breath, much less notice the departure of an admired professor. He was told to clear out his office by December 31st and will be missed.
It is very true that Steve could be abrasive, but even if he was abrasive you knew he was passionate and cared about the issues and the students. We will miss you Steve.
D
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