Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

Page 32 text:

Grosser: Publish or Perish The Great Tenure Controversy The Baton Rouge Enterprise called the dispute the great LSU tenure controversy ; George Cot- ton of the Morning Advocate dub- bed it the publish or perish poli- cy ; and political science professor Paul Grosser quietly conceded it was a rip-off. What was the dispute? In late spring of 1977, the University administration announced its plans to terminate Assistant Professor Paul Grosser of the Political Sci- ence Department for allegedly fail- ing to meet publication require- ments in his department. The department had been under pres- sure from the administration to improve its academic standing, as the Board of Regents had discov- ered severe weaknesses in the department. Among the weaknesses were the publication records of the department ' s professors. Grosser ' s record was apparently the first to be questioned in the upgrading of the department. During the summer, the Student Government Association passed a resolution supporting Grosser as a professor of higher education. By August, after the administration and the College of Arts and Sci- ences failed to adequately act on the issue, the subject was brought before the Board of Supervisors for a final decision on Grosser ' s future at the University. A number of Board members were absent from the meeting. The attending mem- bers voted to terminate Grosser. Horrified at the decision, stu- dents rallied to support the profes- sor. Letters to the Reveille poured in and discussion of the firing was rampant on campus. The Reveille investigated tenure applications at the University. In a copyrighted story, the newspaper revealed that tenure policies at the University were highly inconsistent. While one professor may be required to pub- lish, another might not be asked to do anything more than teach. About the requirement of profes- sors to publish, one professor said, Out of 1500 professors, perhaps 500 have never published a single work. With the Political Science Department ' s and the administra- tion ' s failure to act on the issue of the Grosser case, the Board had been forced to enter into the con- troversy. Ironically, the administra- tion would come to condemn the Board for participating in the case. The Board made an educational issue a political issue, said admin- istration spokesman Otis Wheeler, vice chancellor for academic affairs. By late September, the contro- versy had mushroomed and local newspapers and stations had given the issue community-wide atten- tion. SGA President Jay Dardenne jumped on the bandwagon. Dard- enne, a nonvoting member on the Board of Supervisors, lobbied behind the scenes and managed to ally with board member Camille Gravel of Alexandria to bring the Grosser issue back before the Board for reconsideration. Boyd Professor T. Harry Williams said that the students had no business 1. When the Board gave Grosser the choice of returning in the fall or spring, Grosser chose a fall return. The assistant professor scheduled his popu- lar Political Science 1001 class and a senior course on United State political parties. (Zietz) 22 Roux

Page 31 text:

fr The second largest department in arts and sciences, the zoology department, boasted of a fall enroll- ment of 215. In fact, since 1961. the ear that Walter Harman, chair- man of the department, first came to LSU. enrollment in the depart- ment has more than doubled. According to Harman. however. The majority of the undergradu- ates in zoology are pre-professional. that is. pre-med, pre-dent. or pre- vet. There is not much of a job mar- ket for an undergraduate degree in zoology. Harman said. The mar- ket for a graduate of Med School or the other professional schools are. of course, fantastic. How is the job outlook for politi- cal science majors? According to Cecil Crabb. chairman of the politi- cal science department, many go to graduate school or law school after graduation. According to Crabb. Vocational orientation is one of the least important reasons for studying political science. The emphasis here is on education, on learning per se. No matter what kind of job you hold, you are still a citizen. A political science educa- tion is extremely valuable as it makes one an informed, enlight- ened citizen. Governments have broadened their activities in the last 50 years and are involved in even program, into virtually every sphere of life. Just as every individual must deal with the government, so must he deal with people. According to Lau- rence Siegel. chairman of the psy- chology department, a psychology degree is a good liberal arts degree for preparation for living. Even- one has to deal with people. Siegel said. An undergraduate degree in psy- chology, however, is not a profes- Dr. John LarVJn photographed bacteria for use in his microbiolog) classes. (Badeaux) 2. Journal- ism instructor Robert Sheldon, a former National Enquirer reporter, gate students creative ideas for effectite newspaper layouts. (Meredith) 3. A in sactch and hearing correction offered through the Speech Department is one of the most excellent assurances for a good job in the college, according to Dean Berg. (Tbomassie) sional degree and a student cannot get a job as a psychologist, which demands a Ph.D. According to Sie- gel. about l 3 of the psychology graduates go on to get some addi- tional training. About 10% get a Ph.D.. a number go to law school, and a number go to medical school. The most positive employment opportunities for an arts and sci- ences student with an undergradu- ate degree exist for students in the Geology Department and the Geography and Anthropology Department, according to Dean Berg. A liberal education can afford the student valuable knowledge for a lifetime and a broader scope nec- essary for any job. according to Berg. As a matter of fact. Berg said, the president of Proctor and Gamble has a degree in English. Anna K Born Sharon B roe f Paul B- B;!i f Darlen Bo. . Su an B Slevcn Boutl Arts and Sciences 21

Page 33 text:

getting into personnel issues of the University. They (the students) don ' t understand tenure, Williams said. Otis Wheeler explained that the real question behind the tenure controversy was the existence of the tenure system itself. The definition of tenure was found in a document the adminis- tration labeled Policy Statement 36. Here tenure was defined as the condition of indefinite appointment to a faculty rank. The administra- tive guideline stated: The candi- date ' s (for tenure) education record, evaluations by qualified col- leagues of his performance and future potential in teaching and research of creative activity, as well as his commitment and dedication to the goals of the University and the department should be the prin- cipal grounds for judgment. The document proved to be extremely complicated and confus- ing at various points but eventually the point forced its way into focus: the department was the key element in tenure consideration. In the Grosser case, the department neg- lected to act and by passing the issue along, the case finally ended with the Board of Supervisors, where it would remain an item on the Board ' s agenda. Finally in late September the Board met again and on its agenda was the reconsideration of Gros- ser ' s termination. The impact the firing had had on the University and the community was evident as the room was filled with Grosser supporting students and Boyd pro- fessors outraged at the reconsidera- tion. The question of reopening the Grosser case was submitted to the Board. In a series of parliamentary maneuvers. Camille Gravel skill- fully guided the reconsideration vote and avoided discussion of the issue a second time. Grosser was rehired. The Board of Supervisors reinstated him and Grosser returned to his faculty posi- tion in the fall. Pi- Boudreai; Thomas Bou rei- Janet Boudreaux J taper Boudreaux Kjm Boudrea.;! Mari DahlBourj PanlaBowg OKTV: Bourgeois Dana Bourgeois Danieiie Bourgeon Kath Bourgeon Keith BourgN .s Slever Bo rgeo.! Yves Bourgeois Bar ra Bccr. Kathleen Bower, Jenifer Boers Mar Bowman Carter Boyd Dan Boyd DonaJd Boyd Jr. Joseph Boyer Tammy Boyeti Mart Bozeman John Briddoci. Rrbecci Braci;c DnBndy ss. Ikna Brady John Brands Anirias Brani: George Brsr:fi- CraigBnud Don Brand Thomas Bra ad Dcr.r,2 B ' z i; f Mirkne Bronx Mciindl Bream Joseph Breilhaupt Jr. Janet Brian Bridget Bnckson day Bnehn David Bngnac Donald Bngnac Pam BnEnac Roxanne Bngnac Monica Bnle Virginia Bnngaze Richard Bnody AlcxaBrncoe .Arts and Sciences 23