What started as a town hall meeting to discuss issues affectingstudents of color, turned into a debate about women’s studiesprofessor Pat Washington’s fight for tenure.
Monday night’s forum, hosted by the Afrikan Student Union, groupeda panel of six representatives from student organizations who spokeabout Washington’s impact on their organizations and personal lives.
Members of ASU and other student organizations rallied on campusNov. 27 after they were informed Washington had been denied tenure inthe first two levels of a university review process. If Washington isnot tenured by the end of the sixth review, she will lose herposition at San Diego State.
Panelists unanimously agreed that Washington has supported eachorganization in numerous ways.
“Allies on campus are hard to come by,” said Manny Lieras, memberof the Native American Student Alliance. “And when you find one suchas Pat Washington, it’s really important that students and facultysupport people like that.”
Women’s Resource Center representative Debbie Singer saidWashington is supportive and encourages her classes to attend eventsof the group. She also said people in the WRC have met Washingtonmore than their own advisor.
“Pat Washington was the glue that held us together,” said BetweenMy Sistas President Remy Abraham. “She has done so much for BetweenMy Sistas, for any student here on this campus — not just people ofcolor, but she reached out to all people.”
Ron Gochez, chair of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan saidWashington is open and willing to go against the “status quo” –something that students need on this campus.
ASU president Liza Plummer talked about how the loss of Washingtonas a professor and advisor on campus would affect the group.
“The loss of Dr. Patricia Washington would mean losing a leg forthe Afrikan Student Union,” Plummer said. “We’d be able to function,but it would never quite be the same.”
Students from the audience also were able to give testimonialsabout Washington’s teachings.
Lucia Acevedo, a representative from the Association of ChicanaActivists said Washington doesn’t limit her teachings to the black orEurocentric women’s studies. Washington incorporates every color andevery group, including men, women, gays and lesbians and disabled.
Washington attended the panel Monday night and decided to speak tothe group, even though she intended to only observe, she said.
Washington said that seeing the students’ support gives her vigorbecause what she has been fighting for is worth it.
“I don’t have any regrets about sticking my neck out,” she said.
Washington was hired at San Diego State in the Fall of 1996 and isthe only black tenure-track professor in her department.
The fight to retain Washington started when she was notrecommended for tenure by two levels of a university review process.
Currently there are 10 tenure-track employees in the women’sstudies department. Of those, there is one Asian American, twoLatinas and one African American (Washington). There are eighttenured faculty members in the department — only one being Latina.
There are a total of 13 lecturers — faculty members that teachone subject at more than one school and do not receive the samebenefits as tenure-track employees. Of those, two are AfricanAmerican, one American Indian and three Latina.
Tenure-track employees are reviewed every year during theirprobationary period. During their sixth year, employees are reviewedfor tenure.
Dean Popp, associate vice president for faculty affairs, was atthe meeting and explained the tenure process to the audience.
Tenure indicates that, after a probationary period, a facultymember’s position or employment is permanent at the university.Professors must endure a six-level review before they are approved ordenied. Each department reviews the professor, which involvesevaluations by both peers and previous student evaluations. SDSUProvost Nancy Marlin makes the final decision.
A letter of rebuttal can be sent in after each review level if theemployee chooses to do so. The letter is added to the review file andconsidered at each level, too.
