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Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1631
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 10:41 am: | 
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Boston Globe story here--http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/blog/2007/02/mit_professor_a.html?p1=MEWel l_Pos3 Also, Dr. Sherley is keeping a web site about his strike here--http://pgen.us/Sherley.html
African-American stem cell scientist James L. Sherley started a hunger strike this morning, demanding that MIT offer him tenure, begin to address racism and censure the provost for his role in his case.
"How can we accept that we have so many well-trained people and so few are tenured?" he asked a group of about 30 professors, former students, family and friends who gathered just outside the offices of MIT President Susan Hockfield and Provost L. Rafael Reif this morning. "What I have discussed here is that if you are African-American, part of a minority group, it is acceptable for you to have insufficient lab space ... and it is allowable for your accomplishments to be ignored."
Sherley vowed to stand outside the president/provost's office daily between 9 and 12 until the administration meets his demands.
MIT has said that a committee convened to review the tenure process for Sherley found that it was fair.
Supporters held signs and distributed fliers this morning listing his accomplishments and demanding "End racism at MIT."
Chancellor Phillip L. Clay called on the MIT community to respect Sherley's right to disagree publicly.
"We take seriously, and are gravely concerned by, Professor Sherley's intentions," he wrote in an email to students. "While we have encouraged him to seek other means to express his views, the Institute will respect his right, as a member of our community, to publicly express his disagreement in a manner that does not disrupt the work of the Institute or put others in the community at risk."
Noam Chomsky and 10 other MIT professors are asking for further examination of the situation.
"Because charges of conflict of interest and racial discrimination cut at the very core of MIT’s community values, it is imperative that they be thoroughly pursued, wherever they lead," they wrote in a letter called a "Plea for Fairness at MIT."
Sherley, one of 28 black professor at the time of the tenure decision, has been battling the university for two years. MIT has said repeatedly the decision is final. Sherley has also been controversial because he opposes using embryonic stem cells in research, believing it takes human life; he works with adult stem cells only.
"One of the things we have to recognize in America is that when we
are all free, we are all better off," Sherley said in closing this morning.
-- April Simpson and Elizabeth Cooney
Chancellor Clay's email:
To MIT Students:
This morning, Professor James L. Sherley has begun a fast to express his disagreement with the decision not to promote him to tenure and with the outcome of his grievance process. Three reviews have concluded that the tenure process in his case was fair and proper and that there is no evidence that race influenced the process. The Provost has reviewed the history of the case in a recent letter to the faculty, which is available at .
We take seriously, and are gravely concerned by, Professor Sherley's
intentions. While we have encouraged him to seek other means to express his views, the Institute will respect his right, as a member of our community, to publicly express his disagreement in a manner that does not disrupt the work of the Institute or put others in the community at risk.
I am writing to you for three reasons. First, I ask all of you to respect Professor Sherley's right to disagree publicly, regardless of your own views about the case. I also ask you to respect each other's views about the case. Respect for free expression is an important value in our community, and benefits all of us.
At the same time, I am aware that many members of our community do not
understand how the tenure process works. Over the next few days, we will provide a number of venues to discuss the tenure process and related matters. I invite those of you with concerns about the process to take advantage of these opportunities to take part in an important community dialogue.
Finally, I urge you to consider our community values. We are committed to creating and sustaining a community that is diverse in many important ways: in race and ethnicity, in gender, and in economic, cultural, and national backgrounds. While we have much to celebrate in these domains, we must continue to explore how we can do better and how we can maintain an environment in which we can all thrive and in which we can take pride. Your efforts to advance diversity, in your student communities and in your relationships, are important contributions to our community.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Clay
Chancellor
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3575
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 02:32 pm: |
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I'll bet this is one of those Black Conservative, Republican Negroes.
Now he's getting screwed and it's racism.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 8281
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 - 07:29 pm: |
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Yvettep,
It might prove informative to observe MIT's criteria for offering tenure. Then an observer can discern whether or not Sherley is being treated fairly.
I will say that on first blush I find his going on hunger strike primarily to get PROMOTED to be self-serving. |
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1634
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 10:05 am: |
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Chris and ABM: I am guessing there is definitely something more going on in this case. On paper her certainly looks more than qualified to earn tenure. In most departments there is a (largely unspoken) category of criteria called "collegiality": Could you see yourself working with this person as a colleague for the next 20+ years? That is where he could have gotten zapped. I'm sure more info will emerge.
I sure hope I get tenure when I get to that stage. If not, I'll just be moving on. I ain't giving up food for no jay-oh-bee LOL! |
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1635
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 10:08 am: |
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On another note, I have also heard than many "ivy league" schools routinely treat junior faculty this way (not just minorities). They will higher folks at the assistant prof stage, but would rather get their tenured folks from other universities instead of home-growing them. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3379
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 01:18 pm: |
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I sympathize with the Brother's cause, but I don't agree with the hunger strike/fast. Why jeopardize your own health? Why doesn't he stop playing the victim and take control? Find other employment, get better offers, quit the damn school, stay at home and sell furniture at eBay? LOLOL!
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Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1773
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 01:54 pm: |
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Because it's much easier to play the race card and proclaim victimization status. |
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