Quick Takes
Arbitrator Rules Against Prof Who Didn't Want Extra Course
The University of Florida did not violate collective bargaining rules by requiring a professor to teach an additional course, an independent arbitrator has concluded. Florence Babb, an endowed professor and graduate coordinator of the university’s Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, challenged Florida’s decision to change her teaching load, saying her employment agreement stipulated that she would only be required to teach one course each semester. Given significant budget challenges, Florida officials increased Babb’s teaching requirements. Babb is now required to teach three courses over the spring and fall semesters, in addition to carrying out her duties as graduate coordinator for the women’s studies center. Ben Falcigno, an arbitrator who reviewed the case, based his decision on Babb’s 2004 appointment letter. The letter states that the “normal” course load for Babb would be two courses a year, but Falcigno concluded current budget constraints constitute “abnormal” conditions that allow the university to increase Babb’s teaching requirements. Babb was represented by the United Faculty of Florida, a statewide union affiliated with the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Pradeep Kumar, who represented Babb for the union, said the arbitration ruling is binding and won’t be appealed. Babb could not be reached for comment.
Students' Credit Card Debt Is Up
Students are carrying more credit card debt than at any time since Sallie Mae started a periodic study of the topic, USA Today reported. Data to be released by Sallie Mae today will show that the average undergraduate carried $3,173 in debt last year, up from $2,169 in 2004, the last time the study was conducted. Student debt increases the longer students are enrolled.
Arrests Follow Building Takeover at New School
Students pushing for the resignation of Bob Kerrey as president of the New School took over a building Friday morning, and university officials responded by sending in the New York City police to retake the building. Nineteen people -- some but not all of them New School students -- were arrested when the police retook the building, and other students were also arrested. Students and many professors at the New School say that Kerrey has provided poor leadership for the institution. A building takeover in December ended after negotiations, with students vowing additional protests if Kerrey remained in office.
A statement from the university defended the need to call in the police. "[T]he university has allowed and accommodated every peaceful protest, teach-in, and demonstration. We have enforced our rules governing such events in such a way as to permit protests, so long as they don't endanger the safety of other members of the community or destruction of property," the statement said. But it continued by saying that the protesters on Friday were not being truthful. "Their claim that this was a simple political protest is false. Their entry into this building was forced, they removed a man who was cleaning the building, took his phone, injured a security officer, and did physical damage to the building. Accordingly, in this case the university asked the New York Police Department to remove and arrest those who were trespassing on our property. We suspended, pending administrative review, all New School students who were a part of this action. The New School prides itself on civic engagement. We have been and will continue to be a refuge for open and critical political debate. Students and faculty who choose to peacefully and passionately oppose the policies of the university will have their rights to do so protected as strongly as we protect our right to safely and securely operate our university."
Supporters of the protest held additional rallies Friday night.
New School in Exile, the protest group, posted videos of the protests and arrests on its Web site. The group said that Kerrey and police officers were lying about the way events transpired, and vowed to continue efforts to oust Kerrey.
San Jose State Prods 'Super Seniors' to Graduate
San Jose State University -- forced to reject students for lack of space -- is trying to push out those seniors who have taken far more courses than they need to graduate, but who don't seem to want to pick up a diploma and leave. The San Jose Mercury News reported that the university is adding intensive counseling for such "super seniors." How long are some students sticking around. About 1,500 students have been seniors for at least three years. And some of these seniors really like it: 35 have been enrolled for at least 10 years, and 2 have been enrolled for 15 years.
Penn State Apologizes for Veteran Video
Pennsylvania State University has stopped using and apologized for a video prepared to help faculty members learn how to deal with students who could pose a safety risk. The video -- no longer available at Penn State but posted by critics to YouTube -- shows a veteran as being unwilling to accept the grades he receives and unwilling to accept responsibility for his work. He accuses his professor of giving him low grades because of her opposition to the war in Iraq and makes ominous statements. After veterans' groups said that the video stereotyped veterans, Penn State pulled it. A statement it gave to The Centre Daily Times said: “Unfortunately, in our efforts to also highlight in this video the potential services that are available to veterans, the portrayal of the student as a veteran may be viewed by some as unfairly stereotyping members of this important constituency. Penn State sincerely regrets any misperception."
Professor Stands Up to Animal Rights Extremists
Many professors attacked by animal rights extremists have taken the approach of becoming as invisible as possible. But a profile in today's Los Angeles Times looks at a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles who is taking the opposite approach -- organizing a campus protest against the violent acts being committed by animal rights extremists.
"People always say: 'Don't respond. If you respond, that will give [the attackers] credibility,'" said J. David Jentsch, a neuroscientist whose car was set on fire. "But being silent wasn't making us feel safer. And it's a moot point if they are coming to burn your car anyway, whether you give them credibility or not."
Arizona State Will Honor Obama, But Not With Degree
Arizona State University may not think President Obama deserves an honorary degree, but it will name a scholarship program for him. At Arizona State, commencement speakers aren't automatically offered an honorary degree, and the university announced that it was thrilled to have him give the address, but would hold off on an honorary doctorate, given that he is just starting his tenure in office. As bloggers and others found that Arizona State had awarded honorary degrees in the past to Erma Bombeck, Hugh Downs and others who arguably have not influenced American society as has President Obama, many have questioned the decision not to award the president a degree. On Saturday, Arizona State announced that it was sorry for any implied insult, and was naming a major scholarship program for the president. Knox College, meanwhile, is reminding people that it thought Obama was worthy of an honorary back in 2005, when he was just starting out in the Senate.
Crossing a Line to Protect a College's Image
Ohio Wesleyan University is apologizing for an incident in which an admissions officer -- who has not been named -- trashed issues of the student newspaper that might not have projected the image that would appeal to prospective students' families, The Columbus DIspatch reported. The university has apologized to the newspaper and pledged that it would take steps to prevent any tossing of papers based on their content. The admissions officer was apparently upset about an article about the "50 Day Club" in which seniors mark the 50 days prior to graduation with a daily trip to a bar.
LSU Ousts Controversial Hurricane Researcher
Louisiana State University has fired Ivor van Heerden as a research professor and deputy director at the university's Hurricane Center. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that van Heerden -- who does not have tenure -- was not given a reason for his dismissal, and that the university isn't talking, citing confidentiality requirements. Van Heerden played a prominent role in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, criticizing the Army Corps of Engineers, among others.
Time on Facebook Costs Students High Grades, Study Finds
Among the papers that will be presented at this week's annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association is one by an Ohio State researcher, Aryn Karpinski, that documents a decline in college grades for students who spend a lot of time on Facebook, as opposed to those who don't, The Times (London) reported. The gap is the equivalent of a letter grade, the research found. We would tell you more, but we need to share our feelings about this news on the walls of 829 close friends.
