BASKETBALL PREVIEW INCLUDED ASHCROFT ON ELECTION EVE PAGE 3 ALWAYS ONLINE: Get the scoop on this season’s squads Former attorney general speaks in M.C. [email protected] The GW STARBUCKS HOURS THURSDAY PAGE 6 November 9, 2006 The end of Vol. 103 • Iss. 24 late lattes?

AN INDEPENDENTHatchet STUDENT NEWSPAPER - SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

THE SAHA CASE Prof. may 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

loseby David Ceasar tenure The administration argued Students gather Senior News Editor – and the hearing panel unani- mously found – that Saha The University administra- neglected many of his profes- tion is in the midst of an attempt sional duties throughout the past for race results to revoke the tenure of an engi- decade. The panel’s decision neering professor who has been stated that since at least 2000, by Victoria Fosdal teaching at GW since 1986. he attended no faculty meetings, Hatchet Reporter A hearing panel of the Faculty served on no committees, sub- Dispute Resolution Committee mitted no annual reports or stu- Two Marvin Center ballrooms were transformed into held seven sessions between dent evaluations, conducted no the “blue room” and the “red room” Tuesday night when January and April 2006 to deter- research and had little communi- students gathered to watch election returns after a day of mine if administrators met crite- cation with his colleagues. events celebrating the midterm elections. ria to revoke professor Debabrata “(P)rofessor Saha completely GW College Democrats, College Republicans and Saha’s tenure, according to the failed to meet all but one respon- Program Board sponsored the election festivities. When panel’s final report. Tenured pro- sibility – the teaching of his class- students in the “blue room” learned that Democrats had fessors sign an agreement with es,” the decision said of the 2000 gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the University allowing them to to 2005 period. the first time in 12 years at around 11 p.m., shouts of teach until they choose to retire. Saha testified before the victory from excited students could be heard echoing Donald Lehman, executive hearing panel that he did not throughout Kogan Plaza. Inside the Marvin Center, the vice president for Academic attend faculty meetings because chant, “Who’s House? Our House!” filled the Continental Affairs, and Timothy Tong, dean he wanted to distance himself Ballroom and students stood on chairs and jumped up of the School of Engineering and from professors who were part and down. Applied Sciences, began pro- of a heated dispute in 1996 CRs Chairman Gary Livacari and Vice Chairman ceedings to revoke Saha’s ten- involving exam grades. He said Brand Kroeger allowed CDs President Sean Smith and ure in September 2005 after what University President Stephen Vice President Damien Shirley to smash pies in their the University said is a decade’s Joel Trachtenberg suggested faces. worth of neglect of the instruc- this to him during a meeting in Livacari said the results were not unexpected. tor’s duties. Saha, who is on paid 1996, according to Saha’s post- “History shows us that the president’s party always administra- hearing brief. loses seats in the off-election year – especially in the tive leave, Trachtenberg is president’s second term. Tonight was no exception.” is appealing THE PROF. SAHA CASE in England this the decision. week and could See ELECTIONS, p. 9 T h i s GW claims: not be reached is the first for comment. instance in n no service on committees Saha joined the school’s n no communication with the Department Senior, alumni history that colleagues of Electrical tenure revo- and Computer n no student evaluations cation has Engineering in made its way 1986 and was win elections to a hear- Saha claims: granted tenure by Kaitlyn Jahrling ing panel, n not appointed to committees six years later. Metro News Editor according to The professor n avoided professional conflict the July 2006 worked with- While some GW alumni lost prominent races n never given evaluation forms decision of out any major in Tuesday’s midterm elections, a student, profes- the hearing incidents for 10 sor and alumnus will be serving in several public panel that years, according offices next year. reviewed the to hearing docu- Nick Gingold/assistant photo editor Senior L. Asher Corson beat incumbent Anne case. GW, which was founded in ments. Savage for a seat on the Foggy Bottom/West End 1821, has been operating for 185 In 1996, Saha found himself Advisory Neighborhood Commission with 63 years. Most cases of tenure revo- in the middle of a departmental percent of the vote. Corson, whose family owns cation nationwide never make rift over the qualifying exams a unit in the Griffin building at 955 26th St., said it this far, as professors usually given to students entering the Foggy Bottom Association President Joy Howell, (left) Freshmen (from resign when faced with these doctoral program. The expert in whom he called his neighbor and good friend, charges, experts said. communications and informa- left) Jennifer Carter, persuaded him to run. “Tenure is a cherished and tion theory disputed the fairness Zach Hunter and Ra- “I really did this to protect my own property,” important institution to the acad- of the test, and his disagreement chel Zetts celebrate Corson said Wednesday. emy and must not be revoked with department colleagues spi- Democrats winning The ANC advises D.C. government on resi- lightly,” the six-professor Saha raled into an enduring “scandal,” another Senate seat dents’ neighborhood concerns. This year, ANC Hearing Panel wrote in their deci- said Saha’s attorney, John F. Karl Tuesday night in actions have opposed GW plans to build an apart- sion. “Unfortunately, this panel Jr. the Marvin Center. ment-style dorm on F Street and the new 20-year must agree with the University Saha’s refusal to accept the (below) Members of Campus Plan, which dictates University develop- that this case represents such a results of an investigation into the the College Repub- ment over the next two decades. case of egregious and persistent exam triggered his professional licans watch the Corson said he wants to dispel beliefs some neglect of professional respon- neglect, which in turn led to the Missouri senatorial may have that he is against GW. Howell, his sup- sibilities ... With the privilege of first of three suspensions. Saha projections on CNN. porter, is known for openly expressing opposition tenure comes obligation as well, avoided contact with professors com on an overhead to the University. and to allow a tenured professor involved in the test incident and “I don’t intend to be anti-GW in any way,” to blatantly disregard the obli- began a period of “significant dif- projection screen Tuesday night in the Corson said. “I love GW. I’m not out to get GW gations of tenure to this degree ficulty engaging in academic life or anything like that; I mean, if I didn’t like it I severely blemishes the institution Marvin Center Grand of tenure.” See TENURE, p. 6 Erin Shea/photo editor Ballroom. See CANDIDATES, p. 9

SMPA EVENTS Experts discuss Rumsfeld, BLAZINGBBALL by Karelia Pallan it clear that he wouldn’t be intimi- Infantry from 2003 to 2004 in Iraq Panelists discussed how the and Eric Roper dated out of the job,” said Sesno, and has been a critic of Rumsfeld. leadership shift in Congress may Hatchet Staff Writers referring to numerous demands “The executive branch has run have affected Bush’s decision. for Rumsfeld’s resignation by his amuck and set us up for failure in “Certainly today’s actions Hours after the resignation critics. “Obviously when some- the future.” have suggested that reality has of Defense Secretary Donald thing like this happens it has been Batiste said military forces in settled in,” said David Sanger, the Rumsfeld, journalists and mili- in the works for a while.” Iraq are under-funded and under- White House correspondent for tary experts discussed his career Members of the panel debated equipped and new leadership is . “By bring- and the future of the on how the change in leadership necessary. ing in Bob Gates, they at least in the Jack Morton Auditorium may affect the fate of the war. “What we need now is a kind have a Secretary of Defense that’s Wednesday. “We need a compelling strat- of leadership, commitment and not invested in the old strategy.” The event had been planned egy now to take us forward and sacrifice that we haven’t seen in Sanger said Bush’s chosen for several weeks, but the res- win (the Iraq war),” said Batiste, this country since World War II,” successor to the position will ignation announcement shifted who commanded the First Batiste said. bring in a fresh look. the focus of the discussion to the “Gates is certainly somebody future of the U.S. involvement in whose views do not seem to line Iraq. School of Media and Public up perfectly with this administra- Affairs professor Frank Sesno tion,” Sanger added. screened his CNN documentary Sesno’s film highlighted about Rumsfeld’s career, which Rumsfeld’s aggressive personal- aired last month on the network. ity and faults in the planning of About 80 students and pro- the Iraq War. One of the panelists’ fessors attended the screening major points was that the U.S. had of “Rumsfeld: Man of War” and no strategy after the moment that afterwards posed questions to the Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, panelists, which included former was taken out of power. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste The documentary, a special of and New York Times White House “CNN Presents,” debuted Sept. 30 correspondent David Sanger. and took six months to complete. President George W. Bush It also re-aired in early October. announced Rumsfeld’s resigna- “The most controversial, tion Wednesday and nominated outspoken, polarizing, fascinat- former CIA Director Robert Gates ing person in Washington is as his successor. The announce- Rumsfeld. At a time of war, a ment came just one day after the divisive war, it seemed like a Republican Party lost a majority good time to take a look at him,” in both houses of Congress. Sesno, who interviewed Sesno said in September. Rumsfeld extensively in August Sesno offered his thoughts on Nick Gingold/assistant photo editor for the CNN documentary, mod- how Rumsfeld will remember the Alex Ellis/Hatchet photographer Head men’s basketball coach Karl Hobbs waves peace signs erated the event and said he was war and his tenure as Defense at hundreds of fans in Kogan Plaza Wednesday night during surprised by the resignation. Professor Frank Sesno, former Washington bureau chief for CNN, Secretary since 2001. the “Spirit of the Night” pep rally. SEE STORY, p. 10. “He said he had served at the discusses former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s resigna- Sesno said: “I don’t think pleasure of the president and made tion Wednesday night in the Jack Morton Auditorium. there will be any apologies.” n