University of South Carolina Libraries
Wednesday, June 2,199 Letters to t 250-300 w Handwrittt for Editorial contains errors, falsehoods To the editor: Your editorial piece (April 28), "Teacher Evaluations Need Improvement," contains a number of gross errors and falsehoods. Publication of those falsehoods in the campus newspaper, and possible re-publication in any state or national newsnaner will have serious and negative effects on the reputation of USC, and specifically on the College of Liberal Arts. One wonders: where did the editorial writer get such a false and jaundiced picture of the actual situation in the College of LiberalArts and the university as a whole? Examples of errors or falsehoods: 1) A diversity of measuring-instruments in different departments does not mean that each instrument is defective. It may, in fact, be a good idea. 2) The statement, "Many professors are tenured and are not affected by the outcome of these evaluations," is plainly false. These evaluations now do actually affect post-tenure review. I 2 Be< imrnm Private bedroon Individual lease; Computer lab Alarm systems Reserved parki Fully equipped Washer & drye Fitness center, Swimming poo 9 he editor are welcome from all members of ords and must include name, phone nun :n letters must be personally delivered to R el, style and space. Call 777-7726 for more That is a state government mandate. And it is currently in effect at use. 3) The next sentence: "For those on tenure track, evaluation is nothing more than a formal critique that isn't taken into much consideration." This is so ridiculously false that it beggars belief. The fact of the matter is as follows: faculty spend hours collating, examining and discussing the evaluations. They do so with the responsibility and knowledge that fairness to all parties is a demand of natural justice. The future employment of tenure-track faculty is most dpfinifplv affprtpd hv thpsp pvaln ations. Further, in our experience, faculty are very much aware of this. Are students generally aware of the powerful consequences of their evaluations? 4) The next sentence is also false: "Professors also don't see their evaluations for about a year." In fact, they see them after the final grades have been turned in to the registrar's office, and at the latest in the following semester. 5) "Writing in the best way..." etc. Not necessarily. Anecdotal re marKs may or may not oe oojective. Ul UUI II / ^ I is and baths : 5 " > A ng an 1MLVI IV^I I ir I Rec room ' http VIEWPOINTS the Carolina community. Letters should b iber, professional title or year and majo H 333. The Gamecock reserves the right t information. At the very least, they need interpretation. 6) So, while ignoring the valid role of the objective evaluations, you suggest some kind of "people's committee" to make spot checks, reminiscent of the actions of a "politburo" approach. And then you go to everyone's unedited pubhe showcase: the Internet Of course, at this stage, the faculty member or the other students in the class will have no recourse. A good reputation may have already been destroyed by a "committee." Members of the USC community have a right to more responsible reporting and comment A.. _ TT? iiurn tiic tampuj iicwapapci. nave you any idea of the damage to the reputation of USC which this editorial may have already accomplished? Further, it gives fake ammunition to irresponsible critics of the university, who can then go about their way and spread more falsehoods with the fake claim that the evaluations do not work. David W. Baird, Chair, Philosophy Department, USC Jeremiah M. Hackett, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, USC id I Bath Furn TNIVERSnV m?n i \ iiuui1 PARTMENTS 800 Alexander Rd. ://www.capsto _ r* I Woodstock s WOODSTOCK continued from page 4 mote change, love and peace start- g ed on a small street corner in San o [ Francisco. Within no time, the hip- t: pie movement had reached Greentirinh \7illorro Ponnlo nf on nnfirn no. T TT1V11 T X U1 Oil bllbUV/ iiU X tion were involved in current events. 1 They were aware of what their gov- t< ernment was doing, and they weren't o happy. a With the help of musicians like tl Bob Dylan, music in the '60s moved n from the typical pop theme of love I: and cheery goodness to include F themes of the time. Dylan paved the o way for subject matter to expand a radically. Music soon began to speak s< out about what was happening. No longer would the common music p lover be completely oblivious to si the world around him or her. Now, II by being tapped into the music cul- g ture, they could be tapped into the tl political culture, as well. T The crowning glory of this new h age in music was the Monterey Pop a Festival. People gathered to cele- c< brate music and nothing else. This w was the first time an American audience saw The Jimi Hendrix Ex- vi perience. This also was the same fes- d tival at which The Who destroyed b the stage at the end of their set, a li first in rock history. Not to be topped b was Hendrix, who set fire to his gui- n tar thus establishing himself as a "t New lished Apartn behind Parkl Shoppii I.e1 LfcHoi tor Tall (939-044 i ne-dev.com 1 Page 5 mint fsnnp %y \s ^ v/ i 1/ v/ od of rock. Ravi Shankir was the nly act paid to perform at this fesival. Soon to follow was Woodstock, 'olitical action groups ranging from he Black Panthers to feminists atanded this three-day event. All were elebrating their willingness to get long and celebrate good music in tie face of such trying times. Acts anging from Arlo Guthrie and Richie lavens to Santana and Sly and the 'amily Stone were present to lash ut against the world around them nd embrace the love among all preant. It certainly is sad to see the same eople who celebrated love and muic in 1969 try to exploit it in 1999. i/ & a sign ui uie limes. ilie spun is one. Profit and gain are now the irust behind the American culture, he spirit of *69, Woodstock and Mon?rey are gone and will never be rewered. Nowadays, people are more mcerned with social status and realth. For the people who attend this ear's installment of Woodstock, on't expect to hear, "Don't eat the rown acid." Instead, you'll more kely hear such warnings as, "The ottled water might be contamiated." As Bob Dylan prophesied, he times they are a-changin'." II. "1 dents | land Plaza ig Center i 1 4)mmm