Posted on 06/28/2005 3:35:14 PM PDT by Kimmers
Law Prof Worries Iraq War Views May Cost Him Chance at Tenure Jun 27, 2005, 7:32 PM Professor William Bradford
By Mary McDermott 24 Hour News 8
A law professor at Indiana University worries he's not going to get tenure and says his views on the war in Iraq are part of the reason why.
Professor William Bradford has degrees from Harvard and Northwestern Universities, and law students at Indiana University voted him the best new teacher of the year.
"I think he's one of the best professors around here. You can debate him on anything all day and he'll enjoy it,” said Brian Deiwert, an IU Law School graduate.
But four years into his career at IU, William Bradford is wondering whether he'll be asked to stay permanently. "I hope to be able to stay here but I don't think that I'll be able to for reasons not of my own making."
Bradford is a veteran of Desert Storm and will be eligible for tenure in a few years. But he says two tenured professors are trying to prevent him in getting it, partly because he supports the war in Iraq.
"Florence Roisman's trying to allege that because I have viewpoints that are different from hers in terms of the war on terror - she thinks it's an aggressive war; I think it's a just war, to liberate the people there and help enhance our security. Because of that difference of opinion, I am a bad person. I am an uncollegial person. I need to be politically cleansed,” said Bradford.
The issue is generating talk on the IUPUI campus. Students sent a letter of support for Bradford to the law school dean. There's also plenty of discussion about the topic on a law school blog.
The administration at IUPUI says Bradford will get a "fair shake….because there are many levels to the tenure process.”
"So there will be a number of people looking at it and a number of people beyond the law school that will be involved in the decision,” said Richard Schneider, IUPUI spokesperson.
Bradford says he's not sure of that and says he plans to see what options are available for him beyond the IU School of Law.
He's proven he can teach, based on the reviews of the students, but how's his research. Essentially, tenure decisions come down to whether or not you've published. Teaching is an afterthought in the process.
Is this possibly a preemptive strike to cloud the issue because he is not publishing?
I knew a professor who failed to get tenure because he loved to teach, but didn't care to do research. Imagine that -- not giving tenure to a professor because he loved to teach!
That is an excellent point...
Wasn't it IU that allowed a porn flick to be filmed at its dorms?
Well, perhaps it's time for the good professor to find another university...ahhhh Texas A&M, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama...ahhhh University of South Carolina...are some that come to mind.
He probably debated the tenured Professors and they didn't like it!
OF COURSE he can't have tenure! He thinks differently from a NORMAL college professor.
Actually, this guy has a great Hollywood face. If he can act, he'd be a natural. When I first saw the picture, I thought it was a scene from a movie.
That's entirely possible. Burned his proverbial bridges, so to speak.
Yes about the porn....my husbands last day at IU school of medicine is July 1....yes he is tenured....people have concerns if the medical school is going to be around much longer....no money in this state for medical care but we can build a new dome for the Colts....
I agree. It's pretty lethal to come out four years into the seven year process screaming that you're not going to get tenure. This is no way to win friends and influence people. It's also no way to get a shot at another university opportunity.
He may be a great guy and it may be true that he's being discriminated against, but this isn't the way to go about resolving it.
I thought that name sounded familiar
Talk about a university with the wrong set of priorities!
"Teaching is an afterthought in the process. "
This is true even in fields where there is very little to publish and excellant teaching skills can be a huge benefit to the students.
This is another system that is broken.
The system does not attract the best and brightest as a rule anymore, imho....
IU used to be pretty conservative for a Big Ten institution, until Myles Brand arrived in town from Oregon. He's the one who fired Bob Knight. The school hasn't been the same since. Michael Ledeen wrote a great story about it several years ago, writing how Brand fired Knight essentially to mask his failure as president. Now Knight goes to the Sweet 16 with Texas Tech. Screw IU.
The best and the brightest are leaving academics which leaves me to wonder who is doing the teaching?
Thank you for refreshing our memory...impressive
Florence Roisman Ping
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