A Disturbing Lack of Commitment
Daniel Feild
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Opinion
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When I came to Hendrix College, I came under the impression that this school was committed to the best educational experience possible. I was told that I would be challenged, that I would be exposed to new ideas, and most of all that the faculty would lead me to think differently about the world I live in. Most of this is true.
I was challenged. I was exposed to new ideas. And the faculty did help me gain a new and better understanding of the world. And until this past week I would have believed that Hendrix as a whole was committed to giving me the best educational experience in the world. But the de facto firing of Dr. Angela Gulielmetti brought this crashing down.
Dr. Gulielmetti is one of two professors in the German department and has been at Hendrix for six years; she was coming up for tenure this next year. I say 'was' because last week she was informed that her position on the faculty is being terminated at the end of her contract next year.
How does this stack up against the image that Hendrix College attempts to portray to the rest of the world? The Student Senate asked Provost Dr. Entzminger to come and abate this concern at Tuesday's meeting. Yes, Dr. Entzminger came. No, I do not feel any better about the situation.
The apparent reason behind the administration's decision revolves around the fact that enrollment is down in the German department, but Dr. Entzminger stated that numbers of the department have not only been "stable" over the last 6 years but that they are actually up this year over last year's enrollments (double in some classes).
Dr. Entzminger said that Hendrix was committed to having a German Department and ensuring that there would be adequate courses to complete a major in that department. But this just begs the following question: how can one be committed to the German Department and the students that participate in its program and terminate a very gifted and compassionate professor like Dr. Gulielmetti? You cannot.
It is just that plain and simple. This short sighted and stupid decision in the name of a'"prudent commitment of resources," as Dr. Entzminger poetically put it, undercuts the entire claim of the Hendrix academic mission. While Entzminger was evasive about the future of the department one can easily conjecture that what he is actually saying is that adjuncts are cheaper. How can this school commit to the program when it cannot commit to its professors?
Hendrix does not care. If it did Dr. Gulielmetti would still be here and on her way to becoming tenured. This decision sets a dangerous precedent. As I look around at these individuals that are helping me prepare for the rest of my life I wonder which one will be next to fall prey to the need for "prudence." I doubt in my heart that this will be the last of these terminations and that more people who are our friends and enrich our lives will be lost to this uncertain and arbitrary system here at Hendrix College.
I was challenged. I was exposed to new ideas. And the faculty did help me gain a new and better understanding of the world. And until this past week I would have believed that Hendrix as a whole was committed to giving me the best educational experience in the world. But the de facto firing of Dr. Angela Gulielmetti brought this crashing down.
Dr. Gulielmetti is one of two professors in the German department and has been at Hendrix for six years; she was coming up for tenure this next year. I say 'was' because last week she was informed that her position on the faculty is being terminated at the end of her contract next year.
How does this stack up against the image that Hendrix College attempts to portray to the rest of the world? The Student Senate asked Provost Dr. Entzminger to come and abate this concern at Tuesday's meeting. Yes, Dr. Entzminger came. No, I do not feel any better about the situation.
The apparent reason behind the administration's decision revolves around the fact that enrollment is down in the German department, but Dr. Entzminger stated that numbers of the department have not only been "stable" over the last 6 years but that they are actually up this year over last year's enrollments (double in some classes).
Dr. Entzminger said that Hendrix was committed to having a German Department and ensuring that there would be adequate courses to complete a major in that department. But this just begs the following question: how can one be committed to the German Department and the students that participate in its program and terminate a very gifted and compassionate professor like Dr. Gulielmetti? You cannot.
It is just that plain and simple. This short sighted and stupid decision in the name of a'"prudent commitment of resources," as Dr. Entzminger poetically put it, undercuts the entire claim of the Hendrix academic mission. While Entzminger was evasive about the future of the department one can easily conjecture that what he is actually saying is that adjuncts are cheaper. How can this school commit to the program when it cannot commit to its professors?
Hendrix does not care. If it did Dr. Gulielmetti would still be here and on her way to becoming tenured. This decision sets a dangerous precedent. As I look around at these individuals that are helping me prepare for the rest of my life I wonder which one will be next to fall prey to the need for "prudence." I doubt in my heart that this will be the last of these terminations and that more people who are our friends and enrich our lives will be lost to this uncertain and arbitrary system here at Hendrix College.