The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 10, 1980, Page Page 8, Image 9
Editorial wmi
Outlaw
tenure
Tenure should be outlawed. It is an antiquated system that
scares off the capable and comforts the lazy. Too often it is an
excuse for an early retirement ? after a five or six year
stretch of hard work ? in which professors merely go about
their duties indifferent to the needs of their students.
Obviously not all professors fit this stereotype, in fact it is a
small handful, but they are there all the same. Tenure abuse
is a temptation that attacks all of them sooner or later like a
fit or the flu, and some never recover.
Originally tenure was to insure economic freedom and
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for random and strange ideas. But the days when the
universities were the bastion for forward thinking intellects
has largely passed ? there are any number of giant corporations
paying handsomely for researchers. And if anyone
is to be persecuted for his ideas it will probably come from
fellow academicians.
There is a way to cure tenuritis ? ban tenure. In its place
have contracts, as some universities are already experimenting
with, in which a professor's contract comes up
for renewal every five or ten years. Perhaps like high school
and elementary teachers the professors could form unions
and negotiate for their rights like any other class of workers.
It almost happened at USC. The South Carolina legislature
_ 11 l r i 1 * " ' '
anoweu proiessors wno were denied tenure the right to appeal
? several did, and were reinstated ? just like any other
state employee. Then the pressure mounted and the lid blew.
The general Assembly reversed itself and said the universities
could set up their own tenure boards and grievance
procedures. The professors won the right to protest their own
dismissals, an impressive victory, but tenure remained.
Once tenure is granted to a professor they are practically
immune from being fired. It is the academic golden apple
held out like the carrot to the dust-cart horse to keep him
moving along the right path.
Those who got, want to keep, and those who want lick their
chops waiting in line to get. It is a power play that is needless,
useless, demeaning and like a banned movie, totally without
redeeming social value.
Why does it go on? Perhaps in the belief that only under
pressure do Deoole Droduce. Mavbe those in rharfp shnnlri
iry to give those under them responsibility instead of
pressure and watch the results. They may be pleasantly
surprised.
So the system is passed on down the line to the students,
wnu aquu in anu iwisi uriuer me proiessor s tnumo mucti like
the professor under his department head's watchful eye.
Getting rid of tenure may not alleviate these problems, but
it may resore to professors the sense that they are grown
men in the business of teaching, and not truants who have
been caught with punishment awaiting the day of judgment
? the tenure hearing.
Like other professionals, let professors negotiate their own
contracts and return their dignity. It will result in better
professors and students.
Phew! SompfhirT
DUI T? I
iull^ii in rvnuu
To breathe or not to breathe. That is the question facing
patrons of the Russell House movie theater. The air is stale
It does not circulate. The carpets stink and are covered with
stains and spills from past accidents that have left their
pungent aromas to the theater.
It's almost futuristic ? the cinema has now evolved intr
thesmellies.
Please, whoever is in charge of the theater, spray aerosol
or turn up the air conditioners, or get a couple of the unused
fans dotting the Russell House sanitary engineers' closets
and point them down the aisles of the theater ? turned on full
blast.
Pamecock >
Founded 1 908
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Business Office; 777-3888 Production 7 77 2833
Stephon Riddell Editor Richard Meyers . Asst Sports Ed
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Kevin Johnson Asst. News Editor .Imn Hmcii?ii n.?:
ivionager
Ronda Templeton Ent. Editor Jerry Brewer General Manager
Ward Borden Asst. Ent. Editor Anthony Gray Advertising Managor
Mike Chibbaro Sports Editor William Tinsley ... Production Manager
Michelle Burchette . . . Asst. Sports Ed. Mark Ethridge Jr Adviser
C?ln -I-" A ... ' O * " - - 1
v/uiu ,uruuuvi.uii u>no uiomiiiu iu 11 ic r-?oo<jv>imu11 nosj ?ii omur material
contained herein may not be reproduced without the permission ot tho editor.
Opinions expressed in the Gamecock are those, if signed, of the writer, and if
unsigned, of the editorial page editor
Letters & Columns
The Gamecock welcomes letters and columns. All lotters and columns must bo
typewritten, triple spaced onatts space line.
Letters Should be no longer than 300 words and columns should be limited to one
newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and columns must be
signecj with the writer's correct name, telephone number, mailing address, class
standing or faculty position and major Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the
writer's name may be withheld on letters, upon request, if the circumstances
warrant it.
Wo reserve the right to edit columns and letters for space and style and we
reserve the right to reject any column for any reason.
Address letters and columns to: Editorial Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawe* A, (JSC,
, Columbia, S C. 29208.
*- " - - ? - - - -
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11 A Better Worl
Hote
' To the Editor:
This letter is in response t<
1 the widespread coverage or
' Wednesday, September 3
1 concerning mice in the Wad<
1 Hampton Hotel. According
to Willis Bennett (previously
quoted in the Gamecocfe) th<
problem had already beer
taken care of before the
reporter contacted him
however, he was unaware ol
that fact. Mr. Bennett ap
predated the fact that Mr
Wilson alleviated the
problem so quickly, he tolc
these writers. Mr. Wilsor
has also told these writer*
that the problem was knowi
before President Holder ma i
Book re:
rnnfi 1 cii
111 M.OU
To the Editor:
I don't understand this boo
line, got only one used book.
three wrong books. It appeal
getting my own books. I d
seems childish.
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?- Believe
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= SNACK BAR.! |
Lett
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I Am A Fon Of John Denver
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d Through Awor?n*s*^^^: '
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C
V
I misre
was notified and that
> measures were taken to get h
j rid of the mice and ac
cording to previously quoted C]
I sources, it had been taken C(
\ care of. di
' Many residents in the v
a Hotel have grown to resent &
J the poor representation n,
, given to our dorm by the rj
' Gamecock writers. Has 0I
anything ever been written
V*
about the squirrels in ti
"other" dormitories or
> about the birds flying in and
j out of windows in other areas
of campus? J
Why is nothing evpr
* written about the ad1
vantages and benefits *
connected with living in the ?
serve
"23 i
V
ci
k reserve deal. I had to stand in c
was missing two books, and had t
*s that I would have done better t
on't want any more reserves,
Dan Grey
media arts junior
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I CAFETERIA JjS&wk
;ens
breatn
John C
in conc
'o the Editor: .
In regard to your article on
ohn Denver, which ap eared
in the August 27
ssue, I would just like to say
hat the only one who is
lisillusioned is Mark Platte.
The "writer" (and I use
he term loosely) obviously
lid not attend the recent
)enver concert. Platte
laims that "a dejected
)enver is alone" while on
flay 18 thousands of people
[athered to see John Dener.
He made Denver out to
>e a tired old man who lost
ill his fans and livelihood,
lowever, 1 was at the
oncert and the man I saw
vas full of vitality and gave
prese
otel, including: plush
arpeting, private baths,
ustom wall coverings,
entral heat and air,
raperies, a spectacular
iew of campus and
owntown, and to say
othing about 24 hr visitation
ghts and the convenience
I downtown shopping? We,
le writers, feel that because
le mouse problem was
^bortic
nfft>r?ci
ro the Editor:
I am quite impressed with
chool newspaper and think
loing an excellent job. Ho\
lisenchantod with vmir
...v.. J VHV/iV
ocal abortion clinics, Lack
lignity of human life is 01
lecaying society. It is rather
if unborn children advertise
K)rium or a motion picture.
> "
uc wiinurawai 01 meseads.
US
i ^HJMm
* " ?
? AN INMOVATIVE
' SOLUTIOM 7t> USC $
VfWHG PRoOfM
SU6MITTTEP BY USC'S
I BOARD OF TKllSTeeS !
ess is
?enver
:ert
everything he had to make
the evening enjoyable for so
many adoring fans.
I not only enjoyed this
evening, but I also am one of
fhn /xf tn?l*A
uiv. iiiiuiuiia ui mild wiiu nub
not "panned" the album
"Autograph."
Platte also seemed to think
we were tired of Denver's
message, which he called
"love, family and garden."
All I have to say about this
ludicrous statement is that if
lim AirAV* >*nr* " ? ! 1 - -
nv tYU 1 Ull OUl U1 litlllliy,
and if we ever run out of
love, there will be nothing
left worth having.
Shannon Lackey
future US student
nted
promptly taken rare of by
the Hotel administrators,
and because all the facts of
the story were not told, that
the stance of the Gamecock
towards the Hotel residents,
1 ? * - - *
oum, anu mice, neeas 10 De
upgraded.
(Names withheld by
request)
Wade Hampton Hotel
Residents
>n ads
v irfc
vc
i the style and quality of our
mat you and your staff are
-vever, I am also extremely
le to print advertisements for
of concern for the value and
ne of the symptoms of our
disgusting to see destruction
tl as glibly as a fast-food em
I would sincerely appreciate
Lawrence 8. Lamb, Jr., R.N.
IC Graduate Nursing Program