[lbo-talk] Chicago Tribune on Finkelstein

[Miles Jackson]

Doug Henwood quoted:
>
> According to the norms of academia, a professor denied tenure has the  
> right to a final year of teaching at the university that turns him  
> down. The watchdog of those rights is the American Association of  
> University Professors, the umbrella organization of college teachers,  
> which can censure a school found in violation of its ground rules.  
> Such a finding also can be the preliminary to a lawsuit against the  
> university by the faculty member.
>
>   
This "norm" surprised me: at every college or university I'm familiar 
with, if you don't get tenure in the Spring, you're gone.  You don't get 
a "lame duck" year.  Is this lame duck year common?
>
> Finkelstein said that, rather than filing a lawsuit, he intends to  
> fight the university's action with a hunger strike, and the attendant  
> publicity.
>
> "In the court of public opinion, I can win," Finkelstein said. "I  
> say: 'Let the people judge.'"
>   

As much as I disagree with DePaul's tenure decision, I just can't 
support Finkelstein here.  Academics shouldn't earn tenure via political 
theater. 

Miles