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Tenure Carries Both Privileges and Responsibilities

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Tenure Carries Both Privileges and Responsibilities Monday, July 31, 2017 — www.theintelligencer.com Page 3 Regional Tenure carries both privileges and responsibilities Politicians and many in the general public ask, “Why mount an attack on his research and character. He was in medieval times, but has undergone a metamorphosis. do university faculty need tenure?” One could give accused of scientific misconduct. He was cleared of Initially, academic freedom referred to a scholar’s guar- many reasons based on history or philosophy. But some- Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. those charges but not before his own home institution, anteed right to travel freely from one place to another in times examples prove the most powerful explanations. Letters from Academia the University of Pittsburgh, conducted its own investi- the interest of education. At the time, there was a great Two weeks ago, on July 18, one of the world’s aca- gation and locked him out of his own files, putting bars demand for people who could teach. Travel between demic heroes passed away. His name is not familiar being lead-based, and with lead pipes running water, on his file cabinets. urban centers was frequent. Later, the idea of academic to most, but thanks to his work we live in a healthier lead was, quite literally, nearly everywhere. It was espe- Despite the professional and personal attacks he freedom developed into the freedom to teach or research world. His name was Herbert Needleman. Born on cially present in urban areas. endured, he moved forward and was finally exonerated anything in any manner. Dec. 13, 1927, in Philadelphia, he came from a Jewish Needleman started to study the composition of teeth of all charges, and his research became the lighting rod Unfortunately, there are some cases where the priv- family of modest means. His father sold furniture, and shed by children aged 6 and 7 in Philadelphia and in combating the effects of lead and other toxic chemi- ilege of being tenured is abused by some faculty who, his mother, whose family owned a pickle business, ran Boston and found out that kids living in poor urban cals in the environment. after obtaining it, significantly reduce their academic the household. neighborhoods had lead levels five times higher, on Needleman also stood firm on many of his other activity or use that protection to engage in conduct He graduated as a medical doctor from the University average, than those of their peers in the suburbs. convictions – many that rattled the political and cor- unbecoming to their institutions. of Pennsylvania in 1952, specializing in pediatrics In 1979, he published a paper in The New England porate establishment. In the 1960s he went to jail for This is why the very notion of tenure is under attack. and psychiatry. He went on to be a faculty member at Journal of Medicine, wherein he and his coauthors participating in campaigns against the Vietnam war As recently as this year, legislation has been introduced Temple University and Harvard Medical School. In 1981 reported that children whose accumulated exposure to and became the head of a group called the Committee in Iowa and Missouri to remove tenure from professors he became of professor of child psychiatry and pediat- lead was at the highest level scored four points lower of Responsibility to Save War-Burned and War-Injured at state institutions. rics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. on an I.Q. test than youngsters whose exposure was at Vietnamese Children, which brought injured youngsters One of the big lessons of Needleman’s life is very After medical school and while working at a commu- the lowest level. to the United States for medical care. He brought one of simple. Without tenure academics will be unprotected nity psychiatric clinic in north Philadelphia, Needleman Further, teachers of those kids reported them as those children to live at his home with his family. from political and special interest attacks just because became intrigued by young patients who – while they having a host of issues, including attention deficit and When asked about how he was able to keep his job their ideas are inconvenient to some. By the same token, appeared bright – showed symptoms of lead poisoning, behavioral problems. A follow-up study by Needleman despite all these attacks he had a simple answer: tenure. faculty in colleges and universities need to make sure including difficulty in speaking. showed a correlation between high lead levels and Tenure is one of the oldest and most significant tra- that such a privilege in granted only to individuals who By the 1950s it was already known that high doses delayed reading abilities. ditions in academic life. Although some people today can demonstrate that they are not only worthy of it but of lead caused mental problems, even permanent brain His studies and those of other colleagues encouraged see it as a labor issue, the fact of the matter is that it also that they are going to use that privilege responsibly. damage and death. But what was not known at that time stiffer regulation of is rooted in the idea that one cannot be fired from an was how low levels of lead could affect children’s men- lead in gas, tin cans, paint, household pipes and other academic institution just because of unpopular ideas or Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is the Dean of the Weissman tal development. At that time, with the rapid increase in products. Today the federal health authorities consider research findings. Today this is what we call “academic School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College-CUNY. the number of automobiles running on leaded gasoline, lead unsafe at any level for children. freedom.” He can be contacted through his website at: http://www. with virtually all paint in homes and other buildings Needleman’s findings caused the lead industry to The notion of academic freedom was first developed aromerojr.net MOVIES Continued from Page 1 a new authority figure rises at Hogwarts. The third week of August will Directed by David Yates, the feature, “In the Heat of the Night,” film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 15. Watson and Rupert Grint. Canal said this movie will be It’s rated PG-13. this month’s classic movie, as the The last film of the month will Wildey shows a classic each month. be “American Graffiti,” at 7 p.m., The film tells the story of an Tuesday, August 29. African American police detective Canal said in addition to seeing who uncovers a murder in a racial- this film, the soundtrack is also ly hostile town in the south. worth listening to. Directed by Norman Jewison, the “(This film has) a lot of good 1967 film stars Sidney Poitier, Rod music – great soundtrack,” Canal Steiger and Warren Oates. said. “It’s about a bunch of people Next will be, “Harry Potter and leaving high school in the early the Order of the Phoenix,” – the ‘60s, I believe, to go to college.” fifth film in the Harry Potter series. Directed by George Lucas, the The show will debut at 7 p.m., film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Tuesday, August 22. Howard and Paul Le Mat. “We’ve been doing Harry Potter It’s rated PG. once a month, going through the Tickets for movies can be pur- series,” Canal said. chased at the Wildey Theatre one The 2007 film, based on J.K. hour prior to the showing. Cash or Rowling’s book series, portrays checks are accepted and seating is Lord Voldemort’s return as Harry general admission. For more infor- and Dumbledore are targeted by mation, visit the Wildey’s website Wizard authorities, all the while at www.wildeytheatre.com. For the Intelligencer Radiologic technology ECLIPSE Graduates of the Southwestern Illinois College Radiologic Technology program recently gathered at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville for the 2017 Health Sciences Pinning Ceremony. Radiologic Technology graduates from Madison County include: Continued from Page 1 astronomy and the universe.” from left, first row, Kaitlin A. Sturdivant of Collinsville, Desiree L. McMillen of Caseyville, Esther Diaz of Collinsville, Brida Klein Manning said that what has of Troy, Maria F. Ochoa of Fairmont City, Billie Schwartzkopf of Collinsville; second row, Lindsey Beyer and Meagan Wiles, He hopes to do Hawaii in the always excited him is the awe both of Granite City, Joseph Bartee of Collinsville, Emily D. McVey of Edwardsville, Dana R. Karpel of Collinsville, Brittany N. future. From there, the program and beauty of the universe, and Cripps of Granite City; third row, Hannah Hayes of Glen Carbon, William D. Hayden of Madison, Stefanie R. Phillips of Wood may expand to other countries. The being able to share that with the River, Morgan Caban of Edwardsville, Amanda Sospizio of Granite City and Ashley M. Klunk of Grafton. Wiles delivered the purpose of all this traveling and lay public. His aim is to encourage farewell address to her class and Sospizio won the Francis E. Bihss, M.D., Memorial Award for clinical education and related talking is to foster scientific literacy young people to pursue careers in compassionate patient care skills. Through the use of X-rays and other specialized technology such as ultrasound, MRI and CT and curiosity in science “to help science. scanning, radiologic technologists provide doctors with an internal view of the human anatomy to help them make a diagnosis people become aware of things.” “I know when I was young we and check medical progress. SWIC offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology. This year, But recently he was made aware were number one in the world nearly 200 students graduated from SWIC Health Sciences programs.
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