River-Rat Reflections

Saturday, March 03, 2007

TENURE MATTERS

Cornerstone University here in Grand Rapids recently announced that it was phasing out tenured positions at the school--a move that will allow the university to more easily shuffle professors in and out of teaching positions. In light of this breaking news story, the Calvin College CHIMES published an article on Calvin's perspective on tenure. The new provost Claudia Beversluis commented: “A tenure track appointment is the most highly sought appointment,” said Beversluis. “People will leave other places if they can get a tenure track appointment. It’s longer term job security.” Well, duuuuhhhhhh. That's not rocket science. But when I spoke of my being removed from tenure track in an email to Henry DeMoor as being punishment of "extreme severity," he wrote back: "It is not clear to me what you refer to when you speak of 'punishment of . . . extreme severity.'" (March 8, 2005) Claudia has been in her position less than a year and she understands the system. Henry had been in his position some 3 years and he pretends not to know what tenure track is all about. Will someone please ask him about this? Will some of my colleagues come forward and ask how he could pretend that removing someone from tenure track is a routine procedure?

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