Right on, K.C.

I’ve seen similar incidents at the Public Ivies. As Dr. Phil likes to say, “let’s call it what it is” — when certain groups are seen racing up academic hiring ladders, while others seem to be crawling, J.D. Average knows what is going on. She/he isn’t that ignorant. Provosts and presidents would be wise to keep that in mind.

A.D., at 1:12 pm EDT on August 26, 2005

Nothing new under the sun

We know it; we African Americans are always ranked second to the last! Why because of our skin color! if we are employed it is because of political correctness; what a crap.

Caucasians feel it is their right to employment, and African Americans they don’t count or do not deserve; I support Paul Hudson and LLCC more diversity in academics – teaching is not reserved exclusively to whites.

David Robertson, Professor at SUNY, at 3:00 pm EDT on August 26, 2005

It is very curious that the individuals commenting here come to such definitive conclusions without all of the facts available. Can any of you say “critical thinking"?

D. A. Grove, at 6:29 am EDT on August 27, 2005

Counselor McCanles

What Counselor McCanles Esquire omits, is the matter of “interest” — do the individuals involved have a property or liberty “interest” in how the hiring decisions are made.

Assuming that a plaintiff has a recognized “interest” in a decision, he or she may be granted standing to sue. Bring suit for what reason? That the institution or individual(s) in question did or did not follow their own stated policy(ies).

Further, the institution may shuck and jive, bob and weave, and declare that they were only following the doctrine of “Affirmative Action” as directed by the federal government; however, that doctrine or executive order must be interpreted.

The institution in this (as in many cases — yes, I’ve been on those hiring committees too) instance, appears to have taken an extreme interpretation of “. . . all other factors being equal. . .” in the Affirmative Action policy.

The court must decide: who was (possibly) injured more, the individual (who may or may not be decended from a family enslaved [or who may be a more recent Black immigrant from Trinidad, who’s family was never enslaved in the U.S.A.]) who’s “African-American” or the individual (because of his or her gender) who has systematically (or not) been discriminated against (legally or illegally) based upon the theoretical writings of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, August Bebels, and others.

Finally (not in the case of the courts, but in the case of this little response), was the U.S. and the people who depend upon fair and consistent interpretation of the laws (and honest expenditure of state and federal monies) the fundamental “injured party(ies)?” That is, if Big State University has a set of hiring guidelines, job descriptions, recruiting and interviewing procedures, etc. and they do not follow their own rules — are the peoples and the laws injured?

This may be a stretch, but would we say that Kenneth Lay injured only those companies or individuals who invested in Enron? How about the people who had money in the banks that backed Enron? People who worked for Enron? Other companies who suffer loss of confidence by potential investors because of Enron (Worldcom, Global Crossing, etc.?

If Big State U. or Dick Cheney can interpret laws and policies to suit themselves, why not all the rest of us?

One poster said it correctly, though I won’t be able to paraphrase accurately: higher education has political correctness down to a (near) science. Any one of you with guts, no kids and no mortgage, and good connections: do a survey of the staff and administrative side of most state universities. Come back and tell us the percentage of promotions or new hires during the past ten years that were based primarily on experience, education, job skills, and professional accomplishments.

Then, contrast that number with the percentage of new hires or promotions that obviously weighed gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity more heavily.

If true, the U.S.A. is in nearly as much trouble as countries that have historically hired and promoted based (largely) on family lineage (members of a royal family) or the ability for one to “buy” a job as in the British Army. (thank god the “red coats” were led primarily by incompetent idiots who’d purchased their commissions).

Coda: I’m not an attorney and I don’t give legal advice, nor do I practice law. If you want professional legal advice, hire a lawyer who is practicing. . . law.

Dr. Gump, at 5:18 am EDT on August 28, 2005

Where is this two-year college and what is its racial makeup? What was the job applied for and what did it pay, approximately? What WERE the credentials and experience and skills of the two applicants? Does the AAUP get into things like this? At what point?

vincent, at 5:08 am EDT on September 3, 2005

hudson

I would sure be interrested in seeing Hudsons crudentials (verified)having seen his behavoir and grading procedures first hand, I wonder how much more productive another teacher might have been?

Ben, student, at 6:10 pm EDT on April 25, 2006

Diversity!

Yes, as we all know, true diversity is measured by the differences in the color of our skin or in the languages that we speak! What a crock of you-know-what. Discrimination is discrimination no matter what direction it takes!

Eileen, at 4:35 am EDT on July 19, 2006