tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post8649095408651508059..comments2023-08-25T05:18:29.312-06:00Comments on Madville Times: Catangui Dismissal Raises Academic Freedom Questionscaheidelbergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-35434799937024252282010-08-06T18:14:36.981-06:002010-08-06T18:14:36.981-06:00You might want to check into who got promoted and ...You might want to check into who got promoted and who didn't in the department involved.<br /><br />You might also ask why Ben Kantack, who is apparently not in very good health, had to sit for over a day before being allowed to speak...if he was allowed.<br /><br />I have wondered without any reason other than my normal skepticism if the contracts the President of the University has with Monsanto or whichever company has him on their board might have something to do with the firing of a professor/researcher who is not promoting chemical applications at high rates or multiple times.. whatever.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13822031428178023879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-20550965889728350932010-08-06T13:40:13.164-06:002010-08-06T13:40:13.164-06:00Indeed, David, the confidentiality of it all makes...Indeed, David, the confidentiality of it all makes it impossible for the press or blogs or the public paying the bills to understand what's really happening. <br /><br />John, good connection to the bigger issue: academic freedom is essential, among other things, to the innovation the I-29 corridor study group says we need to drive economic growth.caheidelbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03261598066395322681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-91657963976457975432010-08-06T13:24:56.246-06:002010-08-06T13:24:56.246-06:00I used to be amazed at how quiet DSU (and other SD...I used to be amazed at how quiet DSU (and other SD faculty) were about important, possibly controversial topics in my assumption they were safe to speak their mind. Thought it was their role even, but when pressed I would hear teachers felt intimidated to do so. A stifling part of our Midwestern culture. We have a good work ethic, yes, but we are expected to do as we are told and avoid conflict to the detriment of what greater openness would bring. SD is ranked near the bottom in the category of Innovation for a reason.JohnSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01232529806415462712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-43145190849558382462010-08-06T11:26:05.024-06:002010-08-06T11:26:05.024-06:00I have a very hard time believing that he was dism...I have a very hard time believing that he was dismissed over a position he took on an issue. What probably happened is that he had a disagreement with his supervisor, supervisor asserted his authority, and then he didn't follow his supervisor's instructions.<br /><br />Even the HR drones know what needs to be in place to dismiss someone. It's always a fight and they won't let it go forward unless it's an obvious slam dunk.Tony Amerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00926509220711589398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15329279.post-40689662171402446142010-08-06T09:31:04.267-06:002010-08-06T09:31:04.267-06:00As one who negotiated the COHE contracts and wrote...As one who negotiated the COHE contracts and wrote portions on academic freedom and the reasons and procedures for just cause actions, I find many problems with this case. As a matter of full disclosure, I should state that I was also involved in attempting to get the AAUP censure removed from NSU and the Regents for the firing of a political science professor. I wss both a local and state president of COHE, and eventually dropped my membership when COHE and its parent organization were unable and unwilling to require that the provisions of the contract be followed.<br /><br />The current contract provides explicit procedures for due process, but is undercut by two factors: it is, I believe, an imposed contract which the faculty have not approved; and it is rendered useless by a statement in it that says the Regents do not consider performance standards for professors as negotiable. <br /><br />That old bugaboo that personnel matters are confidential and cannot be discussed publicly makes it impossible to know what is actually going on. The probable article being used for the firing in this case is refusing to follow a lawful order by a superior. And I suspect that what is at real issue is a personality dispute with some superiors. While the contract contains lofty language about academic freedom as it pertains to teaching and research, the fact is that the contract has been shystered into a document that conforms to the at will employment policies which are the official law of the state, which gives employees no official rights. <br /><br />The only organization that has ever been effective in upholding basic standards of academic freedom and the integrity of research and teaching is AAUP. South Dakota is a place where faculty jobs are ensured only by dutiful obedience and conforming to an authoritarian rule which does not value actual academic freedom.<br /><br />The contract as imposed contradicts all the protections that it seems to offer in terms of due process. At this point, it is an obscene sham.David Newquisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04937837001343753140noreply@blogger.com