Comments on: Andrea Smith denied tenure http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/ Author, Speaker, Professor, Shattering Gender Myths Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:44:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Punishing Radicalism: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Andrea Smith, and Due Process « Problem Chylde: Nerdy but Mighty (and Still Learning) http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17884 Punishing Radicalism: Mumia Abu-Jamal, Andrea Smith, and Due Process « Problem Chylde: Nerdy but Mighty (and Still Learning) Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:18:17 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17884 [...] as an example.) This trend of radical thought and activism, when considered along with the fact other women of color professors at the university being denied tenure, indicates a more invidious reasoning is afoot for these [...] [...] as an example.) This trend of radical thought and activism, when considered along with the fact other women of color professors at the university being denied tenure, indicates a more invidious reasoning is afoot for these [...]

]]> By: » Blog Archive » Andrea Smith, denied tenure from University of Michigan http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17883 » Blog Archive » Andrea Smith, denied tenure from University of Michigan Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:07:32 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17883 [...] Hugo Schwyzer, who teaches history and gender studies at Pasadena City College, recently blogged about Andrea Smith’s denial of tenure from the University of Michigan. It’s a strange case. Smith had been given a joint appointment in American Studies and Women’s Studies at the Ann Arbor campus; ’twas the latter department that nixed her promotion while the former supported her tenure cause. She’s also the director of the campus Native American Studies Center. Few of us are privy to the details of her file, and the Women’s Studies department at Michigan has not commented on why it has denied Smith tenure. But to those of us familiar with Smith’s published work, the decision is inexplicable. Her book Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide is a master-work of both advocacy and feminist scholarship, and is used in women’s studies courses across the country. (It’s on the short list of books I’m considering rotating in to my women’s history syllabus). [...] [...] Hugo Schwyzer, who teaches history and gender studies at Pasadena City College, recently blogged about Andrea Smith’s denial of tenure from the University of Michigan. It’s a strange case. Smith had been given a joint appointment in American Studies and Women’s Studies at the Ann Arbor campus; ’twas the latter department that nixed her promotion while the former supported her tenure cause. She’s also the director of the campus Native American Studies Center. Few of us are privy to the details of her file, and the Women’s Studies department at Michigan has not commented on why it has denied Smith tenure. But to those of us familiar with Smith’s published work, the decision is inexplicable. Her book Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide is a master-work of both advocacy and feminist scholarship, and is used in women’s studies courses across the country. (It’s on the short list of books I’m considering rotating in to my women’s history syllabus). [...]

]]> By: Unbelievable http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17882 Unbelievable Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:27:20 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17882 [...] students and others are rallying around this case, but it always takes a lot to have an impact on tenure proceedings. [...] [...] students and others are rallying around this case, but it always takes a lot to have an impact on tenure proceedings. [...]

]]> By: Professor Zero http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17881 Professor Zero Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:23:13 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17881 Karl, I know, and Donna, in cases like this, sure. The people I've voted down for tenure, though, had serious problems by any standard. Yet my institution is hard to work for and I am not sure these people wouldn't have done better in another situation. We hired them, after all, because we thought they had potential. That is why I would not want to publish the reasons for the negative decisions without their express permission - I don't want to destroy their chances of getting other jobs. Karl, I know, and Donna, in cases like this, sure.

The people I’ve voted down for tenure, though, had serious problems by any standard. Yet my institution is hard to work for and I am not sure these people wouldn’t have done better in another situation. We hired them, after all, because we thought they had potential. That is why I would not want to publish the reasons for the negative decisions without their express permission – I don’t want to destroy their chances of getting other jobs.

]]> By: Deanna Gao http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17880 Deanna Gao Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:46:20 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17880 * And I use liberty in its loosest most general sense, but more specifically above as a government accountable to the people it alleges to protect and serve. * And I use liberty in its loosest most general sense, but more specifically above as a government accountable to the people it alleges to protect and serve.

]]> By: Deanna Gao http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17879 Deanna Gao Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:36:50 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17879 Professor Zero: thanks for the sentiment of solidarity. And of course, I understand and completely respect one's entitlement (although what is anyone really ENTITLED to these days?) to anonymity, what have you. So I'm more redirecting the burden of responsibility to the bureaucratic committees; those [white men]who speak under the guise of justice. And if justice is not being enacted, then it is not only to the subject of review that an explanation is owed, but to everyone, I think. Otherwise without the liberty we are, at least constitutionally (that is to say, contracted on paper) guaranteed, these micropolitics (but really reflective of the greater suprastructures) degenerate into despotic regimes... right? So yes, Karl, it's not just about Andrea Smith, though I think her case poignantly illustrates the absurdity of tenure review processes. It's about the attitudes that pervade UM, state institutions, state ideology. And THAT, at the macro level, needs to be changed. Professor Zero: thanks for the sentiment of solidarity. And of course, I understand and completely respect one’s entitlement (although what is anyone really ENTITLED to these days?) to anonymity, what have you. So I’m more redirecting the burden of responsibility to the bureaucratic committees; those [white men]who speak under the guise of justice. And if justice is not being enacted, then it is not only to the subject of review that an explanation is owed, but to everyone, I think. Otherwise without the liberty we are, at least constitutionally (that is to say, contracted on paper) guaranteed, these micropolitics (but really reflective of the greater suprastructures) degenerate into despotic regimes… right? So yes, Karl, it’s not just about Andrea Smith, though I think her case poignantly illustrates the absurdity of tenure review processes. It’s about the attitudes that pervade UM, state institutions, state ideology. And THAT, at the macro level, needs to be changed.

]]> By: La Chola » Blog Archive » Thinking about WAM and a bunch of links. http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17878 La Chola » Blog Archive » Thinking about WAM and a bunch of links. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:54:27 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17878 [...] via Karl The situation at Michigan is NOT only about Andrea Smith. Other five women of color (3 in women stud... [...] [...] via Karl The situation at Michigan is NOT only about Andrea Smith. Other five women of color (3 in women stud… [...]

]]> By: Karl http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17877 Karl Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:24:21 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17877 The situation at Michigan is NOT only about Andrea Smith. Other five women of color (3 in women studies) have been denied tenure last semester. Is this a coincidence? I don't believe it is. Nor do I believe it is only departmental inability to understand and engage with the work of women of color. Racism operates in subtle and numerous ways and not being able to value interdisciplinary scholarship because it departs from canonical thought is a form of racism. UM flaunts itself as an emancipatory top-ten university; the department of Women Studies and the university at large have a duty to inform students and other professors about their exact tenure criteria. The hush-hush around tenure cases only encourages cases of racism and sexism. The situation at Michigan is NOT only about Andrea Smith. Other five women of color (3 in women studies) have been denied tenure last semester. Is this a coincidence? I don’t believe it is. Nor do I believe it is only departmental inability to understand and engage with the work of women of color. Racism operates in subtle and numerous ways and not being able to value interdisciplinary scholarship because it departs from canonical thought is a form of racism. UM flaunts itself as an emancipatory top-ten university; the department of Women Studies and the university at large have a duty to inform students and other professors about their exact tenure criteria. The hush-hush around tenure cases only encourages cases of racism and sexism.

]]> By: Professor Zero http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17876 Professor Zero Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:47:34 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17876 P.S. Deanna, I agree in general but remember that one also wants to protect the candidate from having to discuss things exhaustingly and repeatedly with the public - and from having the exact wording of a negative evaluation exposed to the world when they might rather keep it in a drawer. You know? P.S. Deanna, I agree in general but remember that one also wants to protect the candidate from having to discuss things exhaustingly and repeatedly with the public – and from having the exact wording of a negative evaluation exposed to the world when they might rather keep it in a drawer. You know?

]]> By: Professor Zero http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17875 Professor Zero Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:32:44 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2008/03/04/andrea-smith-denied-tenure/#comment-17875 This Warren appears to be a troll. It's hard to guess what really went on, or to figure out whether there was some legit. reason for this or not, without inside info. The conservatives are saying that any publication not indexed in Web of Knowledge can't count. I disagree. The best discussion I've seen of tenure decisions in general (using her case as a jumping off point) is at slaves of academe: http://slavesofacademe.blogspot.com/2008/03/no-cross-no-crown.html This Warren appears to be a troll.

It’s hard to guess what really went on, or to figure out whether there was some legit. reason for this or not, without inside info.

The conservatives are saying that any publication not indexed in Web of Knowledge can’t count. I disagree.

The best discussion I’ve seen of tenure decisions in general (using her case as a jumping off point) is at slaves of academe:
http://slavesofacademe.blogspot.com/2008/03/no-cross-no-crown.html

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