Page Two
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Letters
Student Attacks
Tenure Policy
Dear Editor:
For those of you who haven't
heard, Dr. Phillip lobst, a
philosophy teacher at Behrend,
was recently denied tenure.
If you have never heard of
tenure, it is simply this: tenure is
awarded according to certain
university guidelines after a
teacher has served here for seven
years. It's a process by which the
university decides who it wishes
to retain on a permanent basis.
Ideally, this enables the
elimination of unqualified per
sonnel, and the protection of
qualified instructors. .
Because of the university's
policy of giving a teacher one
year's notice before termination,
the evaluation is done by the end
of the sixth year. The evaluation
is divided into four categories:
1. Teaching Ability.
2. Research competence.
3. Scholarship and Mastery of
Subject Matter.
4. College and Community
Service.
From my impression of the
four categories it seems the first
and third should be the most
important.
Let me reflect for a moment on
why Dr. lobst was denied tenure.
He was evaluated at two levels,
committees at Behrend, and
committees at University Park.
The committees at Behrend only
pass on recommendations, all of
which were favorable in this
case. His denial came from
University Park. As for his
teaching ability, the men at State
College have never seen him in
class. Specifically, he was denied
tenure according to points two
and three. On point three, the
committee and I differ on in
terpretation.
Research Competence: Dr.
lobst has done a small number of
research papers. They were sent
away to professional in his field
for critical evaluation. The reply
was "good work," i.e. competent.
The problem with number two,
according to the committee, is
that he hasn't done enough.
Scholarship and Mastery of
Subject Matter: To me this
sounds like "does he know
philosophy?" Let me give you
Webster's definition:
Scholar, a learned person, one
Dear Editor:
"Four Presidents Four?"
Editor's note: This new column
is devoted to viewpoints of the
supposedly lunatic fringe.
However, the author of each
letter, in order to protect a
certain staffwriter, will remain
anonymous.
Dear Editor:
It seems to me that the current
leaders in the bid for the
Democratic Presidential
Nomination: President Carter,
Ted Kennedy, and Gerry Brown,
could easily solve their political
problems. All we have to do is
divide the Executive Branch into
four governing categories: one
president for the Northern,
Southern, Midwestern and
Western regions of 'Mainland '
trained in a special branch of
learning, as literature, arts, etc.
Dr. lobst has a Ph.D. in
Philosphy.
Scholarly, having or showing
much knowledge, accuracy, and
critical ability. Professionals in
his field can't fault him on
quality.
Scholarship, the systemized
knowledge of a learned man,
exhibiting accuracy, critical
ability, and thoroughness;
erudition.
The committee at Penn State
interprets number three to mean
publications! There are a couple
of things I'd like to say about how
publications might affect the
teacher's relation with his
students. If you could find good
teachers who also publish con
sistently, that would be fine.
However, this strikes me as being
utopian. Secondly, we've all been
forced to write papers. The key to
any good work is inspiration! Dr.
lobst is capable of publishing,
and he'd say something worth
hearing. But instead, he says
something worth hearing
everyday in class.
What is the ultimate benefit of
having teachers who publish and
a system like tenture to get rid of
them if they don't? In the first
place, it adds stature to the
university to have publications
signed Dr. of Philosophy, Penn
State University.
Secondly, if they get rid of him,
there are plenty of young Ph.D's
looking for work people who
will work for less because they
have seven year's less ex
perience. This has a double ef
fect; the college saves money and
the students lose a man with
valuable experience as a teacher
and advisor.
Here is a man who devotes
himself to his purpose, the
education of students. He doesn't
act as if "I'm the teacher, you're
the student, therefore I'm always
right and you're wrong." He
knows that learning isn't cut and
dried; it goes both ways. He is a
dedicated and devoted man and
teacher exactly the kind of
professor a place like Behrend
ought to keep.
Not only does Phil lobst lose his
job, students lose tOOO. because
after this year Behrend students
will not have the benefit of such
U.S.A., (Alaska and Hawaii can
become resort states if they want
to). Ted Kennedy can have the
North, President Carter the
South, Gerry Brown the West,
and any of the many Republican
Presidential Candidates can take
care of the Midwest. Lets call
him "Whatshisname."
This new system would allow
each region of the country a
president to their liking.
However, they shouldn't be
allowed to occupy the same
capital building. Jimmy Carter
should have the White House (he
earned that at least). In Boston,
any of the Kennedy mansions will
do for Teddy. In Los Angeles, a
very.MOdest.shack could be built :
for Gerry. 'to accomModate his
Behrend Collegian
an exceptional professor. The
students are losing a great
motivational device, because
that's what he does, motivates
people. He motivates not only on
an academic level, but on a
personal level as well. He teaches
you "how to think" as opposed to
"what to think."
I recall the first time I had him.
I went in there not knowing what
philosophy was and convinced I
was going to be bored to death.
After the first two weeks I was
ready to declare Philosophy as a
minor, if they had such a thing.
To date I've earned 15 credits in
philosophy, all because of Phil
lobst. A good teacher makes any
course relevant to the student,
and that's what Phil lobst does
best.
After not receiving tenure at
Penn State, he can almost forget
another teaching job. He'll
probably change fields, but
whatever he does, he will be
missed by those who've known
him at Behrend.
When this kind of thing hap
pens, it's time for the students to
get involved. There is a petition
on campus; sign it and maybe we
can keep this unique personality
on Behrend soil.
Jim Greenman
Bth Term Political Science
A Word
Or
Thanks
Dear Editor
Friday, September 28, 1979 is a
day that will not be quickly
forgotten by the second and third
floor Lawrence residents.
The rain began during the night
and by 5 A.M. the first early
risers were greeted by an un
believable sight. Water, pouring
down the walls and out of the
ceiling tiles, was quickly turning
the halls into rivers. Students
began grabbing cans and buckets
to catch the deluge and stuffing
towels underneath doorsills in a
vain attempt to prevent seepage
into their rooms.
Throughout the long morning
the residents never quit working
in order to help control the
amount of water on the floors,
some even cutting classes or
giving up valuable study hours, to
assist the Housing and Food
Service staff.
Housing and Food Service
wishes to acknowledge the
assistance of this cheerful crew
and to thank them for lending a
hand to our staff. The damage
would have been far worese if not
for their diligence.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Taylor
Bill McGee
Susan Hansen
Carl Miller
Spartan leanings. And as for
Whatshisname, the Republican
Midwesterner, we should let him
fend for himself.
Each member of the "Four
Presidents Four", arrangement
could serve for at most eight
years. At the termination of their
terms they could shift positions
- and start all over again. That
way we could have a continuous
supply of presidents and not
worry about elections.
The major responsibilities of
the four presidents would be to
make speeches .at college
graduation ceremonies, prove
they are Physically fit by jogging
in scuba gear, and pose sideways
often to see which president
would look best on a coin.
Of course this is just my own
view, but I think history will
prove me right. Thank you and
God :Bless. .
Arionymous , , ..., t,—• - '
Leaders
Conference
continued from page 1
Collegian was represented by
Laura Seman-Editor-in-Chief,
Melvin Andreson-President of the
American Black Collegians, and
Wilbur Walls-President of the
Power Volleyball Club.
At this conference, student
leaders were allowed a unique
opportunity to question Behrend
administrators: During one of the
sessions Dean Fox revealed
many impending changes for
Behrend. Tuition will increase
next year by at least 5 per cent,
the Commuter Cafeteria will
undergo a major renovations, all
campus buildings (with a few
exceptions) will be kept at a
maxium of 65 degrees F. during
the, winter, and at present the
renovating of Erie Hall is a
distinct possibility. He indicated
that Behrend's Advisory Board
could be motivated into action if
Behrend students are willing to
act with them.
In regard to Penn State's
controversial tenure policy, Dean
Accounting
Club News
Sunday was a perfect Autumn
day and the Accounting Club
made good use of it by holding a
"getting-acquainted" picnic.
There was plenty of food, and
good company to go with it.
Football, frisbee, a campfire and
free food on a great Fall day
added up to one thing: fun!
Earlier in the week the club
presented its first speaker for the
term, Terry Kestle. Terry, the
assistant controller at Union
Bank, discussed accounting job
opportunities and functions in a
modern banking system. Terry
also talked about the controller's
vital influence for the bank's
future success. Bank accounting
seems more interesting and
important after hearing Terry's
talk.
Now that first exams have been
given in Accounting 101 and 201,
more students are interested in
the tutor program. The hours are
as follows:
Monday, sth period, Behrend
143, M, T, TH, 7-8:30 p.m. Turn
ball 205.
. If you need help come on down
and give us a try. That's what
we're there for.
Sehrtuti t ellt4iau
glis Press Asserhatint
Russ Miller
Photography Editor
Mary Miseta
Daie Clingerman
Kris Karmazon'
Ann Karmazon
Michael Callaghar
Lonnie Gilbert
Tom Tyne
Mailing Address-Behrend College, Station Road, Erie, Pa. 16563
Office-Student Offices, Reed Union Building
Office Hours: 9'oo a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mon., Wed., Fri.
Phone 898-1511 Ext. 238
Opinions expressed. by the editors and staff of the Behrend
Collegian are not necessarily those of the University Ad
ministration, faculty, or the student body.
Fox mentioned that a committee
had been set up to review this
policy. However, any findings of
this committee will not be con
sidered for at least eight years.
A main concern of the student
leaders, was the lack of com
munication between students,
organizations and the ad
ministration. They hoped to
bridge that gap by frequent
contact with the various student
media. (i.e. the Behrend
Collegian, the 5.1.5., the Radio
Station, WBCR, and the SUB) ,
but more importantly, person to
person communication. They
view this as the key in getting
students involved and thus
moving. their organizations
forward.
The comment of Christopher
Warren, a member of the Joint
Resident Council, sums up what
most of the participants at the
conference felt, "I found it to be
an informative experience in the
sense that the process of leading
a group was into a much clearer
focus."
Unquestionably
continued from page 1
numbers, and innermost
thoughts of listeners. He uses
hypnotism to unleash his sub
ject's inhibitions—within the
bounds of good taste and while
showing respect for the privacy
and dignity of his audience.
Gil Eagles was born and raised
in Tanganyika, East Africa, then
later educated in London. It was
while living in Africa that Eagles
is said to have discovered, at age
- 13, his sensitivity with clair
voyance. Fluent in Swahili,
Eagles was able to practice his
mental abilities with the natives
of East Africa before moving to
the United States in 1960.
For over twelve years Mr.
Eagles has been an avid exponent
of the use of Hypno-therapy in the
medical and psychiatric
professions. His Self Hypnosis
and Mind Control seminar
workshops also have been
receiving wide attention.
Lambda Sigma
continued from page 1
Halloween, a 30 hr. Dance
Marathon tentatively scheduled
for November; and Valentine
Singing in February. The society
also prepares CARE packages,
sponsors mug sales, and plans to
offer a scholarship contest.
Member of
Laura Seman
Editor-in-chief
Pat Sedlak
News Editor
Ron Williams
Karen Tyler
Joy Savage
Dena Spence
Marc Woytowich
Joe Holman
Eugene Grygo
September 4, 1979