River-Rat Reflections

Sunday, September 24, 2006

COLLEAGUES RESPOND?

As we were getting ready to go to church this morning, husband John was wondering what colleagues might say when asked about my situation. I surmised that they would probably try to make it short—and that they probably wouldn’t defend the administration by saying: Truth be told, she actually was profoundly deficient. Rather, I imagine their best defense of the administration would be something like: It’s a terrible thing that she went public.

2 comments:

Sarah2:28 PM
But we public don't think so...
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Pat Gundry10:10 PM
If they were asked, they would not necessarily be free to give the answer they'd like to give.

You are an object lesson to all faculty members at CTS, present and future. If they defend you they are in danger of the same kind of treatment you received. If the administration has behaved as you indicate, and remember, you are well documented that it did, then other faculty members have no reason to believe such administrators would behave any more gently with them.

You have done too good a job of telling your story to have open supporters among the faculty.

However, the most telling silence is not that the faculty are silent toward and about you, but that so many are silent about the administration.

Silence speaks more than one language.
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About Me

I am married to John Worst and have a son and granddaughter, Carlton and Kayla Tucker (now married to Ariel Sosa) as well as two step-daughters, Laura and Sarah and three more grand-kids, Mitch, Ashley and Zach. I did my doctoral degree in history and have written more than twenty books and have taught at colleges and seminaries for more than 30 years. John taught music at Calvin College for 35 years and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Besides reading and folk-art painting, my favorite activities (with John) are hiking, biking and kayaking. Most of our days are spent at our shop, Carlton Gardens, which we refer to as a "hobby gone wild."

My Calvin Seminary Story

I began teaching at Calvin Theological Seminary in 2000--the first full-time woman professor in the school's 125-year history. In 2003, less than 3 months after Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. was installed as the new president, I was, without warning, removed from tenure track and given a terminal appointment. I have repeatedly asked that all the evidence be opened only to be blocked by a dishonest cover-up. When independent mediators were retained by the seminary board in 2005, they called for "retroactive pay to 2003" and my appointment as full professor. They also stated that the charges against me were inflammatory and should be removed from the record. That report was buried. I finished my second terminal appointment on August 31, 2006, and shortly thereafter published my story here.

A Provocative Poem

PEDESTALS

Thousands
cheer,
chant,
and clap
as one of their own
is proudly carried toward the
lofty pedestal.
The audience
urges him
up the stairway,
step by step,
higher and higher,
far above the masses
on the prominent platform.
The media is there
with lights,
cameras
and prime-time coverage.
Publishers huddle
around the base,
for they know
pedestal-people
sell well.
The crowds
on satellite hook-ups
hang on
every last word,
for he seems
so close to eternity.
Yet he feels
unsure,
unworthy,
afraid
and very alone . . .
But at that height
no one notices,
no one questions,
no one confronts.
And so,
in a split second,
the trap door swings,
the noose tightens,
the crowd gasps.
Undeterred, the mob moves on
to build more pedestals;
to encourage another
of their own
up the starlit steps.
But mostly
to wonder
why those
at the pinnacle
keep falling
from the heights.
© 1988 James N. Watkins