 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Jill Biden Shines a Global Spotlight on American Community Colleges
Speaking at a Unesco conference in Paris, the vice president’s wife stressed the importance of two-year institutions to the nation’s educational goals.
Connecticut Public Colleges Lose 200 Professors to Early Retirement
Administrators are scrambling to plug holes in their course schedules for fall, with most expecting to do so by hiring more adjuncts or increasing class sizes.
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five with houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
Faculty Members and Union Protest Staff Layoffs at Temple U. as 'Cruel' | 57
North Dakota Board's Vote Puts 'Fighting Sioux' Mascot on Thinner Ice | 57
Athletics
Community Colleges
Government & Politics
Information Technology
International
Money & Management
Northern Illinois
Research & Books
Short Subjects
Students
The Faculty
Prior days' news: By date | Search
This week's print issue
Back issues: By date | Search
July 6, 2008
Dispute Over Academic Freedom Roils Turkish-Studies Institute
Several members have resigned from the board of the Institute for Turkish Studies to protest what they characterize as an infringement of the board chairman’s academic freedom. The chairman, Donald Quataert, a professor of history at the State University of New York at Binghamton, resigned in late 2006, according to an article in The Washington Post, after writing a book review in which he used the word “genocide” to describe the mass killing of Armenians in 1915.
This past May, Mervat F. Hatem, a professor of political science at Howard University who is the president of the Middle East Studies Association, wrote to Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, requesting that Mr. Quataert be returned to his position and that funds for the institute be placed in a trust to avoid political interference. The institute is supported by a grant from the Turkish government. In her letter, Ms. Hatem wrote that Mr. Quataert had stepped down after refusing to accede to the Turkish ambassador’s demand that he retract his review, or face the loss of the institute’s funds.
But the Turkish ambassador, H.E. Nabi Sensoy, as well as the institute’s director, David C. Cuthell Jr., denied any infringement of Mr. Quataert’s scholarly freedom, according to the Post.
Critics have accused the Turkish government for years of trying to manipulate scholarly studies, conferences, encyclopedia articles, and even novels that discuss the mass killings. —Lila Guterman
Posted on Sunday July 6, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
Previous: U. of Evansville President Arrested on Drunken-Driving Charges
Next: Canadian Panel to Investigate University's Halting of Controversial Research
The Washington Post article and Professor Hatem’s letter, both referenced in this Chronicle article, are well worth reading.
Contextually, modern Turkey merits full membership in EU and other associations making up the European community. Its secular arrangements for the relationship between religion and politics should be a model, not only in the Middle East but also in the West; notably, the United States.
Sadly, that third rail—Turkey’s disinclination to acknowledge the 1915 “mass killings” for what they were, and its effort to suppress such recognition by others, especially scholars— remains, and that failure, more even than the long ago events themselves, continue to damage Turkey’s prestige and place. All great nations—certainly the U.S.—carry the onus of some awful events in their history. Turkey should acknowledge what happened in WW1, or at least not stand in the way of others who do.— Dave Jul 7, 08:56 AM #
All the spin in the world won’t answer The White Hotel.
If Turkey wants to be treated like a grownup member of the EU, maybe it needs to grow up. Admitting to wrongs done would be a good first step.
— dan Jul 7, 01:03 PM #