Editor,
I write to express my displeasure and concern about Provost Dasenbrock's decision rescinding professor Berthold's plans to teach a course in Greek history in the UNM Honors program.
It seems extraordinary that an administrator can make an academic decision at all and, moreover, one based upon the following allegations: not adhering to professional standards, not correcting deficiencies in performances and having a poor service record within the history department. Since Berthold is no longer a member of that department, the charge of rendering poor service to the department is irrelevant. As for the other two, without documentation, they stand as hearsay, not evidence.
The real reason for barring Berthold from teaching rests on his controversial comment about the Pentagon following Sept. 11, 2001. Although the comment, at best, was in poor taste, the behavior of that institution bears watching. Since 9-11, the Pentagon appears to have slipped the noose of civilian control. I refer not only to the horrific incidents of torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo but also to its noncompliance to the courts or Congress.
Two recent examples will suffice: Prior to filing an appeal, the Department of Defense ignored a federal court order to turn over a second set of photographs and video tapes of torture at Abu Ghraib to the ACLU, and several days ago it barred military personnel from appearing as witnesses before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Those prevented from testifying were involved in Able Danger, an operation that identified - in the early months of 2000 - Mohammed Atta and three other hijackers as members of an al Qaeda cell in the United States.
When I was attending UNM in the early days of the Vietnam War, a young, untenured sociology professor had the temerity to criticize U.S. policy. The usual suspects immediately denounced him. The American Legion called on President Popejoy to fire the young man. Instead, Popejoy defended the purpose and nature of the University - and, indirectly, the beleaguered faculty member - before the state convention of the American Legion in Carlsbad. He received a standing ovation following that speech. Administrators were once made of sterner stuff.
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I can assure Bob Cornelius that President Popejoy's description of the value and function of the University did not involve characterizing it as a business.
Edward Rickert
UNM alumnus
