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January 11, 2005
To Columbia Students:
As most of you are aware, the University recently established an ad hoc faculty committee to enquire into and evaluate student concerns, complaints, and grievances about faculty conduct in their role as teachers. President Bollinger and Provost Brinkley asked me, as Vice President for Arts and Sciences, to form this committee as one of several steps the University is taking to help ensure that we are doing everything necessary to protect the rights of students and faculty and to create an academic environment that promotes the frank and open discussion of ideas without the threat of intimidation, discrimination, harassment, or censorship. Letters from the President and the Provost announcing the formation of the ad hoc committee are available at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/president/communications%20files/adhocfacultycommittee.htm. Information about University grievance procedures is available on the Provost’s Web Site at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/provost/docs/grievanceprocedures.pdf.
I strongly urge any students and faculty who have pertinent concerns that they feel require attention from the University to bring those concerns to the committee. It is important that the committee have the benefit of open and honest discussions with all the relevant parties, including those who may have already registered their concerns. I want to assure you that all conversations with the committee can be kept confidential if the student so desires. Additionally, no punitive action can be taken in retaliation against students who come before the committee. To do so would constitute a serious violation of University policy. All grievances brought to the attention of the committee will be treated with the utmost professionalism, impartiality, and respect.
I have asked Assistant Vice President for Arts and Sciences, Margaret Edsall, to provide administrative support for the committee. To arrange a time to speak with the committee, please contact Dr. Edsall at me2@columbia.edu or at 212-854-8298. The committee will begin meeting on Friday, January 21, the first week of classes, and hold regular sessions every Monday and Friday until its work is complete, scheduled to be the end of February. The committee itself will provide more information about the procedures that will guide its work.
Finally, I wanted to provide some brief background information on the members of the ad hoc committee, all of whom were chosen based on their professionalism and their stature as scholars and citizens within the Columbia community and their understanding of and sensitivity to student concerns. They include:
- Ira Katznelson, Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History (Chair): Professor Katznelson’s eminent academic career has focused on studies of race, ethnicity, urbanism, and American political development. He has decades of experience dealing with issues related to academic integrity and professional conduct. At Columbia, he has chaired a faculty committee on ethnic studies, and served, in 2003-2004, as Acting Vice President for Arts and Sciences.
- Lisa Anderson, Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs: As one of this country’s most prominent scholars of the Middle East and North Africa, Dean Anderson presides over one of the most diverse groups of faculty and students in all of academia dedicated to bringing greater understanding to important global issues. She has advised more than two dozen doctoral students in political science of the Middle East and North Africa, including students currently teaching in Israel, Turkey, Egypt, England, Canada, and the U.S.
- Jean Howard, William E. Ransford Professor of English and Vice Provost for Diversity Initiatives: A leading scholar of Renaissance literature and a leading feminist theorist, Professor Howard has held numerous administrative leadership positions dealing with gender and diversity issues in higher education. In that capacity, she has demonstrated a commitment to making institutions of higher learning places where people of diverse backgrounds are equitably treated.
- Farah Griffin, Professor of English and Comparative Literature and Director of The Institute for Research in African-American Studies: A distinguished scholar of African American literature, music, history, and politics, Professor Griffin has worked through both her academic and a dministrative roles to advance our understanding of and sensitivity to diverse cultural perspectives.
- Mark Mazower, Professor of History: Professor Mazower is considered among the most accomplished scholars of the modern history of Greece and the Balkans and has written extensively about the Nazi persecution of Jews in occupied Europe. As the program director at Columbia’s Center for International History, Professor Mazower leads the Center’s efforts to provide a forum for discussion and to foster historical perspectives on international issues of contemporary concern.
In addition, Floyd Abrams, who has been described as the most significant First Amendment lawyer of our age, is serving as an advisor to the committee. He will work closely with committee members to ensure that everyone’s right to free speech and to an impartial inquiry is upheld.
Further communications from the ad hoc committee will be issued in January. If you have any questions about the committee, please feel free to contact either Margaret Edsall or me at nbd7@columbia.edu or at 212-854-8296. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nick Dirks
Vice President for Arts and Sciences
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