10A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2003
Petition
contiueur FROM PAGE 1A
Dan Nelson/Kanzan
Dan Carey, Graduate Teaching Assistant Coition president, hands a petition to Carol Prentice, assistant to the provost, in Strong Hall. Yesterday GTAC tried to reverse the firing of Abdel-Rahmen Al-Gibaly, a graduate teaching assistant in the department of African and African-American Studies.
The petition came after GTAC delivered a letter to Provost David Shulenburger in February that requested a review of Al-Gibaly's termination. That letter asked the University of Kansas to pay Al-Gibaly for the spring semester, reimburse tuition, for the spring semester, provide health care and erase any record his termination from his personnel file, said Brian Lindaman, grievance chairman for GTAC.
"Our goal is to bring it to the attention of the appropriate parties," Lindaman said. "We believe the provost can do something about this. We're just asking for a thorough review of this matter, not anything beyond that. There are lots of documents and student evaluations that AI is an excellent teacher."
The provost will respond to Carey before the end of the school year, said Jeannette Johnson, assistant to the provost.
"Any matters related to graduate teaching assistant discipline are taken in accordance with memorandum of agreement between the University, the Regents and the Kansas Association of Public Employees," Johnson said. "Any action that the University takes in regard to any graduate teaching assistant has to be taken in a manner that is consistent with that agreement. It is a legally binding document."
Johnson said, "Any action that the University takes in regard to any graduate teaching
Al-Gibaly quietly watched the delivery of the petition, holding a blue three-ring binder where he keeps all the letters and documents pertinent to his case. Al-Gibaly has taught at the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and
Middlebury College in Vermont. His binder is full of letters of recommendations from these universities.
Al-Gibaly was teaching Arabic 210 last semester under Naima Omar, assistant professor of African and African-American Studies, when he was dismissed. Omar gave
Al-Gibaly his negative evaluation.
"What was striking was there was nothing positive." Al-Gibaly said. "Absolutely nothing. Basically she said I was unfit to teach. I have been teaching for 15 years, and all of the sudden she says I'm unfit."
Since his termination last November, Al-Gibaly has continued his pursuit of a doctorate degree while caring for his two children. This termination compromises his chances of being hired by another department at the University and teaching is his only means of income, he said.
"I'm hoping the provost will show leadership and part of being a leader is making tough choices," Al-Gibaly said. "He needs to address this injustice. The evaluation was false. It's just crazy. What am I going to do with two small children?"
"It's been a big challenge." Al-Gibaly said. "I am borrowing money, but I don't have a lot of sources left. I have no family in the U.S., no support system. Without a job, my children and I will basically starve."
Al-Gibaly is in the United States on a scholar exchange visa and the visa prohibits
Al-Gibaly said he wanted the University to consider his case so he wouldn't have to resort to legal channels.
him from working outside the University setting, he said. He said he considered applying for a government job but it would require full citizenship, and he was still waiting for that.
GTAC will wait for a response from Shu-lenburger and hope he decides to review the case. Lindaman said.
"We don't think this is fair to graduate teaching assistants," Lindaman said. "It doesn't help us become better teachers. We'd just like to see due process here."
— Edited by Brandon Gay
Senator
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Zahn, for the first time, publicly explained her experience in the class, saying Dailey made inappropriate comments and gestures in the class as well as showing female genitalia of 5-to-10-year-old girls and pornographic videos. Zhan said she had been sexually harassed by Dailey.
"We have the right to be educated without being personally violated," she said at a press conference yesterday afternoon. "We have the right to sit through a class without being the subject of sexual innuendos."
Host Bill O'Reilly asked Zahn why she didn't leave the class. She said she wouldn't get her money back if she dropped out, and she wanted to give a voice to others who were offended by the class content.
O'Reilly interrupted her asking, "So you're basically helping the senator out in her quest here?"
The show lasted approximately five minutes and ended with Wagle stressing that taxpayers should not fund Dailey's class.
"I assumed that if I didn't stay in the class this would continue because I didn't know if there would be anyone else to come forward," Zahn said.
After watching the interview, Leon, the professor emeritus, told students coverage would be given to those who made the biggest public splash. And, with that, coverage of minority opinions could go a long way.
"We have the right to be educated without being personally violated."
Jessica Zhan Linwood senior
"It means that books like this and their voices can overwhelm thousands of students" voices who know by direct experience that all of this is a tissue of lies," he said.
He encouraged students to organize, meet with Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Provost David Shullenberger, school deans and to hold press conferences.
"Those of you who are interested in the concept of resistance," he said, "now is the time."
The University is investigating Dalley's class as a result of Wagle's allegations. Wagle said she was confident the University would confirm her allegations against Dalley and his class. The House and Senate would overrule Sebelius's veto of her bill, she said.
"My challenges will be verified," she said.
The Legislature will reconvene today, and Wagle wants the Senate and House to override the veto soon. Three to four students from the Student Legislative Awareness Board will greet legislatures with pamphlets to lobby for academic freedom outside of the chambers.
Edited by Jason Elliott
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