Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.40.0201082342490.14475-100000@panix2.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>,
"WRYTING-L : Writing and Theory across Disciplines" <WRYTING-L@LISTSERV.UTORONTO.CA>
Subject: open letter
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 23:44:44 -0500 (EST)
open letter - I'm sending this out, somewhat for protection. I have told my students about what happened - I felt I owed them this - and that the new media area of the school is closing down - what the Dean said when he termin- ated my contract. Now the head of the department is insisting I not pass on negative information, that the area will continue. This woman has also written a letter of recommendation for me which will be required, I'm sure, if I'm to be hired elsewhere. She's lied consistently to me, as far as I'm concerned; she wants me to lie to the students. Fact: There's no one to teach new media, no money for hiring even adjuncts. Fact: There's only one video camera still, 2 G4 stations, one half-working Sony station - and I have a total of 26 students. Fact: There's no budget for more equipment, the new media line has been taken away, there's no budget for visiting artists, there's no budget for software. I spend half the time dealing with students groaning - in spite of which I get good recommend- ations. There's no budget for technical support. There's no budget for lab monitors. The students are barely getting an education, and I'm the only one who can teach new media or Internet in the Art / Art History area. I'm afraid of lying; I don't want my better students to lose their own chances at careers because the department head puts the university ahead of the truth. This woman has also threatened me, telling me I don't want to know what the real reasons for the termination are - "Don't go there" - and "I'm married to a lawyer, so I know when to keep my mouth shut." How in hell am I to get another teaching job? I've been getting physically sick with stress at this point; I can't cope. I feel like a victim in someone's paranoid fantasy. I've spoken to the union who want to publicize things (and probably will) because the situation is so unusual (and they want to prevent it from happening again) - but that will make it even harder for me to get work elsewhere, student evaluations notwithstanding. I keep a partial paper trail, but so much of what's gone on has been verbal - the meeting with the Dean, the woman's threats, etc. I've never seen such an insane situation in my life. What does one do? I'm a damn good teacher. I'm applying to various schools. The first thing they'll notice is the one year termination. How do I protect myself? How do I survive? Alan