University Daily Kansan / Thursday, March 29, 1990
WILLNER DECISION
Willner
Continued from p. 1
Regents might review the findings of the committee. The Regents are not obligated to accept the appeal.
He said he would review the Regents policies on the issue with Ted Avers, Regents general counsel.
Regents policy requires that tenured faculty have one year notification of dismissal, Koplik said. But this case was unusual because Willner had been suspended with pay from her-academic duties since August 1988.
Wilner said during the hearings that the committee repeatedly violated the procedures established in the University faculty handbook.
William Scott, chairman of the Faculty Executive Committee, said faculty members frequently graded each other.
"I think we should accept the intentions and professionalism of the committee," he said. "It would have been painful, whatever the decision."
The committee began detailed deliberations Jan. 10 and issued its decision 11 weeks later.
The hearing cost $16,954, according to University government documents.
These costs include copies of the 3,467-page transcript, which went to committee members and other individuals. In addition, court reporters were paid $10 an hour for the 120 hours of hearings.
Keith Thorpe/KANSAN
Margaret Arnold, left, associate professor of English, consoles Willner.
KU prof says tenure doesn't provide lifetime employment
By Bryce J. Tache Kansan staff writer
More than 250 years ago, the average academic tenure term was about three years. The basis of tenure changed in 1721 when professors at Harvard University were appointed for life.
Now, according to two American Association of University Professors representatives, a tenured professor is subject to dismissal only with adequate cause.
E. Peter Johnson, president of the KU chapter of the AAPU, defined tenure as an appointment made by an institution that guaranteed
academic freedom to the appointed individual
"It requires the institution in terms of dismissal or misconduct to bear the burden of proof," he said. "It was created to protect individuals dismissed, censored or suspended without due process."
Johnsen said two common misunderstandings were associated with tenure.
"One is that tenure is a lifetime job no matter what," he said. "That is a myth at best. Instead, it guarantees the right to equitable treatment.
"The second myth is that tenure
shelters people who are incompetent. Tenure is portrayed as a cover or shield for a person's deficiencies."
Jordan Kurland, associate general secretary for the AUP in Washington, said he knew of no national organizations against tenure.
Anan Cigler, associate professor of political science, said he recognized tenure's values but also its threats.
"The system depends on good will and a personal sense of responsibility on the part of the person granted tenure," he said. "Not everyone has those qualities. The system can be abused, and it takes an extremely abusive situation to get someone to retract tenure."
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