CLC Faculty Studies Controversial Book by Vivian Lake College a Major Influence on Ancient Greek Culture and He Said
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OBSER VER Volume 15, Number 10 College at Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York November 13, 1991 CLC Faculty Studies Controversial Book By Vivian Lake College a major influence on ancient Greek culture and he said. "I learned this teaching with people from "Here at [CLC] we take multiculturalism very society, and is the foundation of western civiliza- other disciplines. We all thought about the same seriously," said Associate Dean Edward tion. He also contends that racism and anti- things in very different ways. Bristow. Semitism were responsible for the rejection of In writing Black Athena, which will total four Council CLC faculty have been invited to participate Egyptian and Semitic influences on ancient Greet volumes when completed, Bernal expects to in the latest source of debate in multiculturalism, civilization. Spanning archeology, ancient establish a plausible theory to challenge what he Dr. Martin Eternal's book Black Athena: The languages, religion, art, geography and ancient- calls the "Aryan Model" of ancient history. Update Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization. history among other disciplines, Eternal puts forth "Thus debates in these areas should not be In preparation for Dr. Bernal's lecture here on a staggering amount of research to support his judged on the basis of proof, but merely on com- By Clarisel Gonzalez November 8th, interested faculty members were thesis. petitive plausibility. ...I cannot, and therefore do New policies on faculty evaluations and ABS provided with copies of the book. The African- Although the debate is new, the theory has not attempt to prove that the Aryan Model is and INC grades were passed at the November American Studies Institute and the dean's office been put forth by black scholars since the 19th 'wrong'. All I am trying to do is to show that 6 College Council meeting. Another issue rais- who are sponsoring the Jecture had also spon- century, said Watkins-Owens. it is less plausible than the Revised Ancient ed at the meeting was the creation of the new sored a faculty seminar in September to discuss "This theory had been a part of African- Model..." writes Bernal. position of Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences issues raised in the book. "A sizable percentage American studies for many years ... there has "I read him a while ago and was very excited which was suspended for the current year for of the faculty [attended]," said Dean of CLC been great interest in Egypt's impact - not just with his thesis," said Dr. Clara Rodriguez, Pro- CLC. Gerald M. Quinn. on the rest of Africa, but on the Mediterranean fessor of Sociology. She used his thesis in a The Curriculum Committee revised the ques- Dr. Irma Watkins-Owens, Director of the world," she said. course she taught on social change. tions on the narrative portion of the evaluation African-American Institute said she found the As a scholar in Oriental Studies, Bernal "That Afro-Asian roots were deleted from form to make them more specific and omitted seminar "fascinating" because "both the specific realizes he is not the most qualified person to history because of racism sounds fairly plausi- some questions because they were considered to content of the subject matter and the implications rewrite ancient history. In the introduction to ble to me," Rodriguez said. be redundant. of Bernal's ideas were discussed." Volume I, he admits that he may have made "I though this might be a fascinating new The College Council further revised the ques- The seminar attracted professors in disciplines "many errors of fact and interpretation", but he theory that might de-center theories of Western tions in order to make them more "neutral" for as diverse as philosophy, history and sociology, feels it is important that the established theories education," said McBride. both faculty and students. An example of a revis- media, literature, religion and languages. be challenged. "I tend to be somewhat skeptical ... I think ed question on the evaluation form was: "What Black Athena had incited debate in academic "Fundamental challenges to disciplines tend it's a very valuable contribution to stimulate circles across the country, and has received at- responsible feedback can you offer to the instruc- to come from outside," he states. debate and to re-examine some of the things one tor which might help improve teaching effec- tention from the national press. In the book, Eter- Dr. Jumes McBride, Professor of Religion and takes for granted," said Quinn. nal presents the theory that ancient Egypt was tiveness. Be specific." Gerald M. Quinn, Dean Social Ethics, agrees. "I think that's very true," continued on page 3 of CLC said this question was rephrased because it "implies that a student may be irresponsible." The question now reads: "Comment on the in- ABS and INC at Fordham stuctor's strengths and weaknesses. Please be By Scudder T. Fowler ed, the examination will be administered at an were pretty much at their leisure to take the make specific." Students and professors at Fordham, the Col-. announced time, approximately one month after up examination. In some cases, according to Bot- "As an instructor, I feel it [the narrative por- lege at Lincoln Center, are divided regarding the the end of the semester. If a student fails to take ton, the students had all summer to study for ex- tion] is more important than the numerical," said November 15,1990 College Council resolution a deferred examination on schedule, he or she aminations *-. from previous Spring semester Dr. Leonard Cassuto, Assistant Professor of concerning a loophole in current absent (ABS) will receive an F for the course. " courses. English. "[I'm] generally in favor of essays on and incomplete (INC) grade policies for courses. the-front side and the statistical side on the reverse One member of the College Council, who •INCOMPLETE COURSE WORK "Soine faculty thought that we side [of the form]," said Fr. John Adam, Pro- wished not to be identified, recalled that Dr. In extraordinary instances when some require- were co-opting to their respon- fessor of Philosophy. The council's decision to Mark L. Botton, Assistant Professor of Biology ment of a course (except the final examination) put the narrative portion in the front and the quan- and member of the College Council, ignited this has not been met prior to the final examination, sibility, which is the last thing titative in the back was unamrjious. debate last year, when he thought that some of students will be given the temporary grade of INC Both the numerical and the narrative will be his students were abusing the ABS and INC (Incomplete) if, in the judgement of both the in- we want. We have enough to used in personnel decisions, according to the policies. The policies, stated on pages 95 and 96 structor and the dean, they merit such considera- Council. When asked if both were going to be of the Fordham University The College at Lin- tion. Upon completion of the requirement, the do." published for use by students, Quinn said that coln Center Bulletin 1990-92, were as follows: INC will, with the approval of the dean, be Due to the November 1990 resolution, if a stu- "publishing an edited version depends on a deci- removed and replaced by a permanant grade. The dent misses the examination and wants to make sion [by the Curriculum Committee and the Col- 1 DEFERRED EXAMINATIONS FOR ABSENCEfee for the removal of an Incomplete is $25.00. it up, the current policy requires the written lege Council]. The professor is not obligated to provide the If the requirement is not completed by the date documentation within five business days of the "The instrument that will be used this fall is make-up examinations for students who miss a specified in the academic calender, the INC will examination, explaining the reason for the the revised version [of the evaluation form]," scheduled examination or quiz during the be changed automatically to an F." absence. If the student was sick, he or she is re- said Quinn. semester. However, if a student is absent from quired to provide a doctor's note. This documen- As for the ABS and INC grades, "faculty have a final examination due to some serious reason, The significant loophole in these policies is tation, along with the application for the defer- accepted the proposals of the Council and it he may apply for a deferred examination at the that, were students to miss the final examination, red examination will be handed in to the ap- would be put into effect in the spring semester." Office of the Registrar no later than a week the professor had no choice but to hand in an propriate assistant dean, who will determine Quinn added that the resolution adopted by the following the date of the examination. If the ap- ABS, and, with the "approximately one month whether approval of the application will be Council giving assistant deans the authority to plication for a deferred examination is approv- after the end of the semester" policy, the students continued on page 3 approve a student's deferment of a final examina- tion will be added in the Fall catalogue, but will be announced in the Spring. Another issue raised at the meeting was that New Assistant Director of Student Activities of the Dean of the Faculty, of Arts and Sciences. "We want to protect as much of the autonomy of our [CLC] dean and our school," said Dr. By Anastasia Damianakos Anne M. Mannion, Chairperson of the Social Linda Salavarria recently became a new Science Division and a Faculty Senator.