CLS students meet with Simon
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Students in the Chicano/Latino Studies program said an almost yearlong battle with the program’s director is damaging more than CLS’ image.
Some CLS doctoral students said they fear for their futures every day.
José Moreno, an American studies and CLS doctoral student, said graduate students who support CLS Director Sheila Contreras’ removal face harassment, including threats to cut teaching assistant funding, from program officials. He said it can be difficult to separate the ongoing battles from his everyday life.
Contreras has been at the center of the CLS debate since last spring, when a group of students went to College of Social Science Dean Marietta Baba with complaints about how Contreras treated students. Contreras denies claims she and other administrators disrespected or harassed students.
“I would be interested to see the evidence (of harassment),” Contreras said. “I see the program making a lot of progress. We are moving forward in so many ways and I would prefer to focus on that.”
Moreno and about 15 CLS graduate and undergraduate students met with MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and other university officials Wednesday to ask for Contreras’ removal and a dismantling of the new CLS Faculty Policy Advisory Committee during a closed-door meeting. The advisory committee was created by Baba this year to provide guidance to Contreras.
“Sometimes, emotionally, it has been draining because I have to think about this stuff,” Moreno said. “You’re focused on this struggle, trying to do your teaching and trying to do your work. You feel the pressure at night when you’re sleeping.”
Simon spoke with students for almost an hour after the scheduled one-hour meeting ended.
MSU will continue to work toward finding a resolution everyone in CLS can support, Simon said.
“It’s important that students who are part of the program believe they have been well educated,” Simon said. “There are obviously a lot of issues and different perspectives on those issues. We’re going to try to sort those out in the best interest of the collective.”
But Moreno said the situation is worsening each day without administrative action.
“If we continue this process, it’s going to get worse,” Moreno said. “We need to come to some type of resolutions to resolve this issue. If the administration wants to keep her as director, she has to give us something.”
Felix Medina, a CLS doctoral student, said the administration’s lack of action continues to frustrate CLS students.
“We just want everything to go back to the way it was and (Simon) kept giving us the administrative run around, telling us that there was policy and procedure,” Medina said. “We’re just letting her know that we followed it once and she needs to step in and do something about it.”
Sara Vitale, a social relations and policy senior, said she felt betrayed by Simon’s responses during the meeting.
“What we got out of this meeting was another rubber stamp from the administration for Dr. Contreras, Rubén Martinez and all these other people put in charge of our program … to continue their corruption and harassment of students and basically the destruction of our program,” Vitale said. “(Simon) made it very clear the action she was going to take is nothing.”
Commentary
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ME!
(10/15/09 12:15am)Report
Did Dr. Contreras forget about her inappropriate behavior in Chicago toward MSU faculty and students?
ME2
(10/15/09 12:40am)Report
Did you all develop amnesia and forget about YOUR inappropriate behavior ALL year long?
Hey Jose, why does Contreras HAVE to GIVE you anything if the administration is going to keep her? If all you wanted was “something”, you could have saved everyone a whole year and used it to practice your spelling and grammar.
CLS Student
(10/15/09 1:07am)Report
I support my fellow Latino students 100%.
Grow Up
(10/15/09 8:45am)Report
Awwww poor babies. Not being able to sleep at night; afraid of losing funding for graduate studies. Perhaps you should think outside yourself for a moment. Do you understand that your actions affect other people? Do you understand that the poster calling a faculty member “Thief” is probably libelous and the defense of limited public figure probably won’t work?
The leaders of this “movement” are nothing more than immature children who are looking to make a name for themselves at other people’s expense. You have no ethics, you have no real cause.
True Colors
(10/15/09 8:59am)Report
This group’s true colors are showing. It is very apparent that this is not about the CLS program and more about a personal vendetta against the director. They have rejected the FPAC, they have rejected the Dean, they have rejected the Provost, they have rejected the multiple-dean oversight. It seems that no matter what the university does to help the program, this group only wants the director gone from the position. This isn’t the way to get what you want.
Why?
(10/15/09 9:21am)Report
I’d really like to know why the Administration keeps appeasing the people who are acting the most immature. It went from meeting with the Director to the Dean to the Provost and now to a meeting with the President that ran an hour over schedule!
You are rewarding this terrible behavior. While these childish students are to blame for their own actions, your act of rewarding them encourages future behavior.
What about THE BUDGET?!
(10/15/09 9:24am)Report
I really think the President should have bigger issues to deal with given the current budget situation than meeting for 2 hours with people throwing a year-long temper tantrum.
While before I was more unhappy with the way the students were acting, now i’m much more worried about our Presidents priorities…
Interesting
(10/15/09 9:50am)Report
Two points:
(1) It will be interesting to see how many of these Ph.D. students will finish their education. My guess is that faculty in American Studies will begin or have already have had discussions regarding the process to remove these students from the program.(HINT)
(2) If any remain and graduate, it will be interesting to see how many of the Ph.D. students will receive a tenure tract position.
I hope you like teaching in a community college because NO department will hire Ph.D students that create pejorative posters (e.g. “Thief” or “Dear Chicano Students”). Don’t be surprise if these students who created the posters have to appear in front of a an academic review panel which decided the future of their education.(HINT)
Academic Politics are Vicious! Their faculty mentors are doing a poor job of mentoring and advising these students.
This is a classic case study of what to do if you do not want to achieve your goals!
Tsk..
(10/15/09 9:54am)Report
“Sara Vitale, a social relations and policy senior, said she felt betrayed by Simon’s responses during the meeting.
“What we got out of this meeting was another rubber stamp from the administration for Dr. Contreras, Rubén Martinez and all these other people put in charge of our program … to continue their corruption and harassment of students and basically the destruction of our program,” Vitale said. “(Simon) made it very clear the action she was going to take is nothing.””
It is not (y)our program. You are RCLS. Simon did not betray you. The president, the administration, Drs. Contreras and “Martinez and all these other people put in charge” are representatives of the University, as are (unfortunately) you. The program belongs to the broader community off and on campus not just the 12 of you and the RCLS faculty. A “rubber stamp”? Imagine that – the university actually holding all programs to the same standards. Wow!
Dr. Contreras was willing to meet with RCLS. You tried to bully her the same way you tried to bully the Provost and deans and other administrators. Results? Maybe you all should be looking for different leadership than the strategists you have directing you. You might just learn what your current leaders (RCLS faculty, graduate students..and Rainer) really need from you: fodder to feed the “la lucha” at undergraduate expense.
malinali
(10/15/09 2:07pm)Report
I said it once, and I’ll say it again: where are the RCLS faculty in all of this? Remember, most of them are tenured, some are near retirement. They have nothing to lose. Grad students may delay their time to degree, but they are likely on fellowship, and in the current economic climate they will have opportunities to teach once their fellowships run out, so it won’t cost them the way it will cost undergrads, many of whom are likely the first in their families to go to college.I am not suggesting that Chicano and Latino undergrads should only focus on their studies, neglecting important political struggles to improve campus climate, but RCLS faculty allies have a responsibility to use their experience and their knowledge of the system to guide undergrads toward the most effective solutions to their problems with the institution. They also have a responsibility to insure that student tactics/strategies lead to enlightenment NOT mystification. The nationalist rhetoric I’ve seen bandied about in these comments sections is not only ineffective in terms of building coalitions between students, faculty and staff (Chicano and non Chicano), they have invoked class and gender hierarchies that are extremely retrograde and sexist (suggesting, for example, that a librarian doesn’t read books). Faculty and advanced graduate students have waged this battle in the most wrong-headed, self-serving and irresponsible manner, and they have sacrificed the program in the service of their egos and hang-ups. Shame.
Tezcatlipoca
(10/15/09 2:32pm)Report
Interesting,
Again, more not so veiled threats.
_Two points:
(1) It will be interesting to see how many of these Ph.D. students will finish their education. My guess is that faculty in American Studies will begin or have already have had discussions regarding the process to remove these students from the program.(HINT)
(2) If any remain and graduate, it will be interesting to see how many of the Ph.D._
Why!
_It went from meeting with the Director to the Dean to the Provost and now to a meeting with the President _
Isn’t this, “following the process”?
FB
(10/15/09 4:31pm)Report
Classy facebook pic, Todd. Would expect nothing but class from you. I wonder if the President feels menaced by you?
Interesting
(10/15/09 4:32pm)Report
Tezcatlipoca,
My two points are related to the pejorative posters (e.g. “Thief” and “Dear Chicano Students”). Once faculty, department chairs, and upper administration associate a name to the creator of the jpegs, then they will need to ask themselves if these posters constitute “free speech.” My guess is that the “Thief” poster of RM will be the test case for academic freedom.
If I was a chair, and I found out that one of my students created a “Thief” poster of a faculty member from another department, I would ask for an independent committee to review the case. Not only would my academic integrity be on the line but the integrity of the department, that houses the creator of this poster, would be on the line. The responsibility of the chair is to protect the department and university from student misconduct. Two years ago, we dismissed a Ph.D. students because his classroom conduct was viewed detrimental to the department. Student misconduct is not tolerated.
BTW, I am not making “veiled threats.” I am just curious how this will end for the Ph.D. students given the unorthodox strategy to humiliate and defame MSU faculty and administrators in public spaces.
I would be very surprised if the name of the creator of the “Thief” poster has not surfaced in a faculty meeting because that poster questions the academic integrity of RM, and, in my humble, this poster does not fit within the criteria of free speech established by the U.S. Supreme Court. I don’t have all the facts and maybe the “Thief” creator is right to use his/her free speech to describe RM, but I would definitely seek legal counsel ASAP to make sure that poster fits the legal definition of “FREE SPEECH.” I am just giving you my $0.02.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/cases/topics/tog_freedom_of_speech.html
http://larazalawyers.net/
Tezcatlipoca
(10/15/09 5:03pm)Report
Interesting,
In my equally humble opinion I do not believe that the originator of that flyer has too much to worry about. It is clear that they are characterizing RM’s comping of lunches as “thievery” and question whether this is being done in the context of personal or MSU business. An audit would clear up the matter. I believe FOIA requests have already been submitted to the University to shed light on this question.
Qin Shi Huandi
(10/15/09 7:53pm)Report
How do I get through to these kids?
RCLS
(10/15/09 8:08pm)Report
98 signatures and counting…
Soon we will break 100 signatures on our petition, and after only three weeks online!!!!
um, yeah
(10/15/09 9:31pm)Report
Todd: Keep telling yourself that the flyer isn’t libelous. You really should consult an attorney (one who actually has experience in defamation cases) not just someone who learned about it in law school.
audit
(10/15/09 9:34pm)Report
careful how you point fingers, call for audits, and FOIA requests. Those sorts of things can be double-edged swords.
Rainer (lets drop the Tezcatlipoca ok?) We all know it's you.
(10/15/09 10:39pm)Report
“_It went from meeting with the Director to the Dean to the Provost and now to a meeting with the President _
Isn’t this, “following the process”?
You’re being managed. Follow the timeline instead of relying on what you are told.
What happened was this: they kept blowing off the director, they went to the Dean (remember YouTube?) then tried to meet with the President, were punted to the Provost (remember the shouting meeting) went back to the dean and had a press conference (see YouTube) while she was out of town (real brave!) then met with the President yesterday. No. That is not following procedure. That’s A.D.D.
You’re off in your ATT cubicle fielding questions by phone, buey. You’re only “virtually” around. You are remotely relying on what Todd tells you. Others have seen him for what he is…dump the disciple role, the hero worshipping AND the overall bibs. They are all unbecoming for an old guy your age.
Noto
(10/15/09 11:49pm)Report
Tezcatlipoca,
The only way you can truly find out if the posters are legitimate acts of free speech is to send the posters to:
Robert A. Noto
General Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs
494 Administration Building
(517) 353-3530
notor@msu.edu
If you are a true Xicano solider then you will send Noto the posters.
You know you will not send the jpeg files because deep down inside you know the outcome!
YOUR ACTIONS WILL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
We will be waiting for your email or letter! Don’t keep us waiting!
FYI
(10/16/09 8:32am)Report
people might want to look at this article in Inside Higher Ed. It is about a university that sued a blogger for libel www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/10/16/butler
Tezcatlipoca
(10/16/09 12:08pm)Report
“Noto”,
Actually, as this is the United States of America I’m willing to take my chances relying on this document and this organization.
http://www.aclu.org/crimjustice/gen/10084res20020304.html
General counsels are not the supreme arbiters of these types of things. Your zealous attempts at suppressing expression speak for themselves.
As for the person making guesses…thanks a lot. You’ve broken my irony meter. Hiding behind a pseudonym to make claims about another pseudonym followed by some subjective blathering and then the building of a straw man. That’s quite a lot of hand waving. I can feel the fetid breeze from here. I’ll help you out a bit though cabron. If your going to throw out ephitets in another language at least get it right. Buey is correctly spelled guey.
Audit, so far your double edged sword has proven to be no more than a safety blade. Quite a useful tool when used properly.
Tezcatlipoca
(10/16/09 12:30pm)Report
FYI,
Thanks for the link but the story is about Butler suing a blogger. So far there is no resolution either way as far as Butler University vs JOHN DOE a/k/a Soodo Nym a/k/a thetrubu@gmail.com is concerned.
libel
(10/16/09 2:58pm)Report
Todd:
Nice appeal to authority. However, it neglects to mention two centuries of case law on the allowable limitations of free speech. Your zealous attempts at libeling people who disagree with you speak for themselves.
I read the FYI link too. Interesting, but seems like everyone regardless of viewpoint on this issue should be interested in reading.
Tezcatlipoca
(10/16/09 4:59pm)Report
Libel,
I don’t know if you were addressing my post with the ACLU and Bill of Rights link but if you were then I believe that appealing to the authority of the Constitution of the United States, specifically the Bill of Rights, is appropriate since Um, yeah, said this, You really should consult an attorney (one who actually has experience in defamation cases) not just someone who learned about it in law school.
I believe the ACLU has quite a bit of experience in defamation and free speech cases.
To clarify my comment on the Butler link that case is ongoing. So they have sued the blogger. Many have sued and many have lost. Many have one. The Butler example is a non-issue until it is resolved.