2008 Woodie Awards
Letter:Recent tenure denial contradicts stated university ideals
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Opinion
To the editor:
Those of you who have asked, especially the several hundred on Facebook, deserve to know why I'll be moving on from St. Joe's at the end of this semester.
The main reason is that I have been denied academic freedom at Saint Joseph's. Lack of academic freedom resulted in my being denied tenure.
Saint Joseph's Board of Rank and Tenure denied me tenure because, in their judgment, my publications do not make a contribution to the fields of anthropology or sociology.
When the entire sociology department protested the decision, they were told my book is too theological, and therefore not in my "field." This book, on which I've worked for years, and which was never questioned by chairpersons or deans, was suddenly judged "too theological."
The redefinition of my "field," narrowly constricting what I can think and write about to the social sciences alone, is a myopic and intellectually deficient understanding of what cultural anthropology actually is.
Such a redefining of my "field" constitutes a grave injustice to all professors who strive to integrate theological reflection and Catholic concerns into their academic work.
Although I have two advanced degrees in theology, Saint Joseph's tells me I can earn tenure by contributing only to the fields of anthropology or sociology. The oft trumpeted goal of bringing the Catholic intellectual tradition into our teaching and research is ignored in my case.
It is curious that St. Joe's rejects the value of my work, while Dr. John J. DiIulio at Penn, one of the nation's most prominent political scientists and public intellectuals, highly praised my paper on cultural practices and Catholic Social Teaching.
DiIulio's office at Penn published the paper and gave me a $5,000 grant for my work. "A Jesuit Reader in Education," a recently published set of essays on the Jesuit mission in universities, contains two of my essays.
Still Saint Joseph's insists such work is not in my "field." If cultural practice, Catholic social teaching, and Jesuit education are not my "field," what is?
Those of you who have asked, especially the several hundred on Facebook, deserve to know why I'll be moving on from St. Joe's at the end of this semester.
The main reason is that I have been denied academic freedom at Saint Joseph's. Lack of academic freedom resulted in my being denied tenure.
Saint Joseph's Board of Rank and Tenure denied me tenure because, in their judgment, my publications do not make a contribution to the fields of anthropology or sociology.
When the entire sociology department protested the decision, they were told my book is too theological, and therefore not in my "field." This book, on which I've worked for years, and which was never questioned by chairpersons or deans, was suddenly judged "too theological."
The redefinition of my "field," narrowly constricting what I can think and write about to the social sciences alone, is a myopic and intellectually deficient understanding of what cultural anthropology actually is.
Such a redefining of my "field" constitutes a grave injustice to all professors who strive to integrate theological reflection and Catholic concerns into their academic work.
Although I have two advanced degrees in theology, Saint Joseph's tells me I can earn tenure by contributing only to the fields of anthropology or sociology. The oft trumpeted goal of bringing the Catholic intellectual tradition into our teaching and research is ignored in my case.
It is curious that St. Joe's rejects the value of my work, while Dr. John J. DiIulio at Penn, one of the nation's most prominent political scientists and public intellectuals, highly praised my paper on cultural practices and Catholic Social Teaching.
DiIulio's office at Penn published the paper and gave me a $5,000 grant for my work. "A Jesuit Reader in Education," a recently published set of essays on the Jesuit mission in universities, contains two of my essays.
Still Saint Joseph's insists such work is not in my "field." If cultural practice, Catholic social teaching, and Jesuit education are not my "field," what is?
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
SJU student
posted 4/10/08 @ 2:25 AM EST
I have talked with Fr. Malloy exactly once in my four-year St. Joseph's career. I have never had any of his courses. I am graduating and will never have him as a teacher. (Continued…)
rch
posted 4/23/08 @ 11:34 PM EST
I recently read Father Malloy's book, A Faith That Frees. It was a salve on the sores of my overindoctrinated catholic soul. In the faith journey of my adult life, I have sought to balance and reconcile the catechism of my childhood with the critical thought of my mature years; significant portions of my efforts have been futile. (Continued…)
Disappointed Alum
posted 5/19/08 @ 3:24 PM EST
This is just one in many step that the University has taken in the past few years that leave me scratching my head. I am more ashamed of my school now than I ever have been in the past. (Continued…)
Pat
posted 6/11/08 @ 10:06 PM EST
Why write to the editor you were denied tenure..very un professional
Post a Comment