commentary.qxp 11/16/00 8:26 AM Page 5

From the Editor

the Society, who serves ex officio on the editorial board of Multiple Missions the Notices, has a dedicated part of the Notices in which to report Society business. Research, service, teaching: some permutation of these As magazine, the Notices prints a lively variety of three words is a familiar mantra at most American uni- items that include high-level exposition of contemporary versities. Presidents and provosts use the words to define mathematical research, obituaries of especially prominent the mission of the institution; deans and department heads mathematicians, communications about issues of concern base raises and promotions on the perceived contribu- to the profession, and opinion pieces ranging from tions of faculty members to each category; professors editorials to letters to book reviews. A necessary condition strive to fulfill a tripartite role. for publishing a contribution in the magazine part of the Yet research, service, and teaching are not wholly Notices is that the editorial board finds it interesting and separate activities. Supervising a Ph.D. dissertation is both well written. teaching and research; refereeing for a journal is both The three dimensions of the Notices overlap, just as the research and service; developing a new course on financial research, service, and teaching functions of a professor over- mathematics is both service and teaching. Publishing an lap. A report on the award of the Steele Prizes is both of- expository article about recent developments in contem- ficial Society business and news; an obituary is both news porary mathematics falls in the intersection of all three and a magazine article; a retiring presidential address is activities. both a magazine article and Society business. There is one The separateness of research, service, and teaching is case, however, in which the different aspects of the Notices such a widespread myth that some departments even tell are manifestly disjoint: statements of opinion in the mag- faculty members to spend, say, 35 percent of their time on research, 15 percent on service, and 50 percent on teach- azine are, by definition, never official pronouncements of ing. The specificity of such an assignment is an absurdity the Society. based on an illusory view of a professor’s job. The job is Some mathematicians excel at research, others at to be a scholar; learning, teaching, and advancing the pro- teaching, while others have a special dedication to service. fession are inseparable components of the job. A profes- Many mathematicians find that different facets of their sor indeed has multiple missions, but these can no more scholarship shine most brightly at different periods of be understood as individual pieces than can the faces of a their careers. Analogously, readers find that different parts diamond. Research, service, and teaching are all facets of of the Notices are most valuable to them at different times. the jewel of scholarship. The employment advertisements are interesting to recent The Notices too has multiple missions. As the new Ph.D. recipients but useless to retirees; a letter to the editor, I have learned that over the years the Council has editor leaves some readers cold but inflames others; an augmented the mandate of this journal. Originally an article on applications of partial differential equations ephemeral newsletter, the Notices subsequently became intrigues some readers, while others turn to an article also the journal of record for the Society. In 1995 the on number theory. visionary leadership of editor Hugo Rossi added a third We mathematicians choose a career of scholarship dimension to the Notices, that of an exciting scientific because we find the endeavor stimulating and rewarding. magazine, and outstanding efforts over the past three I am similarly excited about editing the Notices. Commu- years by retiring editor Anthony W. Knapp made expository nicating effectively with an inhomogeneous audience is a excellence the hallmark of the new Notices. Newsletter, challenge and an opportunity. The Notices aims to inform, journal of record, magazine: these are the missions of the to interest, and to enlighten. I hope that in pursuing its Notices today. multiple missions, this journal will help to illuminate the As newsletter, the Notices reports notable events in gem of mathematical scholarship. mathematicians’ lives: awards of Ph.D. degrees in American mathematics departments; professional honors, such as —Harold P. Boas major prizes and fellowships; deaths of members of the Editor Society. It also carries announcements of such items as upcoming conferences, professional opportunities, new books, and backlogs of mathematics research journals. As official chronicle for the Society, the Notices publishes such items as reports from the treasurer, registration information for the annual meeting, and materials con- cerning the election of officers of the Society. It also prints lists of financial contributors, of reciprocity agreements with other mathematical organizations around the world, and of members of committees of the Society. The secretary of

JANUARY 2001 NOTICES OF THE AMS 5 commentary.qxp 11/16/00 8:26 AM Page 6

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor when I was appointed, protected me has been evolving since academies from reprisals for expressing my were first organized, but little views, which lately have become very beyond the AAUP’s principles has Post-Tenure Review unpopular with some of my col- been written down. In mathematics A description and panel discussion of leagues, including ones sitting on the the only part in print is the AMS’s post-tenure review at four universi- panel now accusing me. formal Ethical Guidelines, for which ties was held at the Joint Mathematics “And what are the views that have I was in effect the scribe. They should Meetings on January 19, 2000. (For a brought me here? When I was granted help to prevent repetition of the report, see the MAA newsletter Focus tenure, the university prided itself on abuses that led to their formulation. for August/September 2000.) As a the strength of its research in mathe- It will be harder but more important former chair of the AMS Committee matics, and my department was in the to write guidelines preventing abuse on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and forefront. It was willing to accept my of post-tenure review. January’s panel Employment Security (CAFTES), I performance as a teacher because was a start, but if the matter rests, a would like to add some comments. grant money flowed freely and I cap- real case like the hypothetical one Nasty tenure cases generally end in tured my share. Now that stream has above will quickly make it urgent. court, where the heavy fees always all but dried up. The university is try- put the individual teacher at a severe ing to raise money from industry with —Murray Gerstenhaber disadvantage to the institution. Some- its biotechnology licenses and is sac- University of Pennsylvania times the teacher wins only because rificing mathematics research, but it the court is persuaded that the insti- is advertising how great its math (Received September 1, 2000) tution has breached some possibly teaching is in preparing students for unwritten canon of the teaching the dotcom world. My very vocal point Another View of PSSM profession: in courts’ words, the “com- of view, which rattles some of my Joan Ferrini-Mundy offered a de- mon law of the profession”. colleagues, is that research must still scription in the September 2000 issue Tenure may seem like a property come first. Although I try, I’m not a of the Principles and Standards for right, but it is still a contract. It good teacher, but that wasn’t the main School Mathematics (PSSM), the year gives the teacher the right to contin- consideration when I was tenured. 2000 rewrite of the 1989 Curriculum ued employment subject to satisfac- Now it is, and the ‘great teachers’ of and Evaluation Standards of the tory performance of certain duties. my department are trying to oust me. NCTM [National Council of Teachers However, unlike contracts in most The university offered me a ‘second of Mathematics]. Her article concluded ordinary businesses, the terms of chance’ with its program for ‘profes- with “the carefully crafted ideas and tenure contracts have never been sional development’, but I missed responses of the ARG [Association completely clear. To resolve ambigui- some sessions because of manuscript Review Group] members enriched our ties the court may turn to this “com- deadline pressures. Besides, the whole effort immeasurably.” As one of the mon law”. Teachers’ rights can be thing resembles a penal ‘reeducation’ AMS ARG members, I feel, to the con- enlarged by legislation (as in the program. This wasn’t the contract that trary, that our responses did not sig- uncapping of retirement age), but the university tacitly made with me. In nificantly affect the document. generally neither the employer nor fact, the whole process of ‘post-tenure A pretty good summary is given the legislature can withdraw rights review’ of which I am a victim wasn’t by Ferrini-Mundy herself after a dis- already granted, even when they are part of my contract. The university is cussion about circles to which one only an unwritten part of the common now trying unilaterally to change it.” ARG member (not me) had responded law. The problem with “post-tenure The professor has a winning argu- with the criticism, “A definition is review” is that despite any original ment if the judge agrees that the com- not something that can be discovered good intentions it could be used to mon law of the profession protects in a bull session.” The PSSM authors do just that. his or her tenure when there is a revised the discussion to read: The common law of the teaching change in university policy. There are profession should not be underesti- cases that suggest that it does. It At the beginning of a mated. Judges have looked to it for would be the same if a school rising tenth-grade unit on circles, guidance. Consider, for example, a in research ranks tried to oust some- for example, a teacher professor contesting dismissal after one whose strength was in teaching. might ask students to tell a post-tenure review in the following While on CAFTES I testified in some her everything they know words: difficult cases where although the about circles.…In this way, “When I was granted tenure, there university had a good argument, I the students’ knowledge was no such thing as post-tenure thought that the common law favored becomes a starting point review, to which I have now fallen the teacher. for instruction, and the victim. It just wasn’t part of my One can’t decide the form in which teacher can establish the contract with the university. I’m not post-tenure review should exist for idea that the students are arguing against dismissal ‘for cause’— mathematicians, if at all, unless we ac- expected to have reasons we all know that is part of the bargain cept some basic common rules. The for their mathematical and always has been. But tenure, common law of the teaching profession opinions.

6NOTICES OF THE AMS VOLUME 48, NUMBER 1 commentary.qxp 11/16/00 8:26 AM Page 7

Letters to the Editor

Ferrini-Mundy comments, “No doubt The Wen Ho Lee Case and Lee case in particular and on the fair this revision will not completely sat- Chinese-American treatment of Chinese-American isfy the reviewer, because the defini- Mathematicians mathematicians in general. tion is not stated.” In other words, During the past decade the U.S. math- the PSSM authors ignored the re- ematical community has offered —Charles Bu viewer’s point that mathematics significant opportunities to Chinese Wellesley College teachers must provide precise defin- students and scholars in mathemat- itions. This is just one example of ics. After the Tiananmen Square (Received September 20, 2000) how the PSSM is an inappropriate massacre, Congress enacted the Chi- guide for designing and evaluating nese Student Protection Act of 1992 On the Disappearance of Boris mathematics education programs. (CSPA). An estimated 2,000 Chinese Weisfeiler in Chile Fortunately there is an excellent students received Ph.D. degrees in It is well known that on January 5, alternative for concerned mathemati- mathematics from U.S. institutions. 1985, Boris Weisfeiler disappeared cians to use and to recommend to Many of them settled here, landing while hiking in Chile. A Russian-born others nationally and even interna- academic or industrial positions. U.S. citizen and a prominent mathe- tionally. It is the California Mathe- Quite a few other Chinese graduate matics professor at Pennsylvania State matics Framework of 1999. The students in mathematics switched University, Weisfeiler had arrived in their major to computer science and original drafting committee was Chile on December 25, 1984, to found jobs in that area. They all chaired by Deborah Tepper Haimo spend a couple of weeks on a solitary believe the American dream of of UC San Diego, and the final draft backpacking trip. On January 15 liberty and justice for all. was overseen by Hung-Hsi Wu of UC Weisfeiler’s backpack was recovered The Wen Ho Lee case smashed that Berkeley and R. James Milgram of near the Nuble River. Some items, such dream for many of them. They look Stanford. The document is entirely as his American passport, his return at Lee as someone who devoted nearly built around the California Mathe- ticket, and some money, were missing. all his life to this country, yet was sin- matics Content Standards (Chapter Several searches were made by Chilean gled out for prosecution due to a com- 2), in which the involvement of the officials, including ground searches, bination of American politics, his eth- Stanford mathematics department helicopter searches, and a search in was instrumental—most especially, nic background, and his own error. the Nuble River by navy frogmen. Al- Carlsson, Cohen, Kerckhoff, and They saw that the U.S. mainstream though no body was ever recovered, Milgram, but others as well. Chapter media, led by the New York Times and Boris Weisfeiler was declared dead on the Washington Post, essentially con- 10 (“Criteria for Evaluating Instruc- March 6, 1985, and the inquest was victed Lee with those sensational “Chi- tional Resources”) is especially closed. The conclusion of the Chilean nese Spy” headlines. With the threat helpful guidance to ground-level courts was “probable death by [acci- from the Soviet Union dissipating, decision makers. Contrast PSSM dental] drowning.” Friends of Weis- China has become the next enemy. A with the third bullet in the checklist feiler, with the help of the Chilean lot of Chinese-Americans were dis- for evaluators, which states, “Mathe- Math Society, hired a Chilean private mayed to see the Cox Report, which matical terms are defined and detective. His report, dated March 4, did not contain much evidence yet used appropriately, precisely, and 1985, arrived at the same conclusion. announced that there were quite a accurately.” Moreover, the report ruled out “the few spies for Beijing who might be possibility that Dr. Weisfeiler entered Although a great deal of hand- Chinese-Americans. The unjust treat- wringing, procrastination, and even Dignidad Colony…since it is more ment of Lee at the hands of the U.S. than 100 km from the place where he stonewalling remain, the decades- media and some agents of the U.S. was last seen.” long bull session in California is government is a troubling indication More than 250 documents, declas- over, and we invite the country to of current prejudice against Chinese- sified by the United States State follow our lead. Copies of the Cali- American scientists. Department on June 30, 2000, tell a fornia Mathematics Framework are I was heartened by the comments far different story about the facts available for $17.50, plus shipping from U.S. District Judge James Parker. surrounding Weisfeiler’s case. A mem- and handling. Call the Sales Office, But it would take more than a coura- orandum dated April 10, 1985, states 800-995-4099, or see detailed order- geous judge to allay those grave con- that “at the time of his disappearance ing information at http://www.cde. cerns of Chinese-Americans. Recently Weisfeiler was either on or very near ca.gov/cdepress/download.html. in an open letter to U.S. Attorney to the Colonia [Dignidad] property.” General Janet Reno, presidents of the Colonia Dignidad was described in a —Wayne Bishop National Academy of Sciences, February 1991 article in the New York California State University, National Academy of Engineering, Times as “a secretive settlement of Los Angeles and Institute of Medicine complained German immigrants that has been that Lee appears to be a victim of un- linked to human rights abuses and (Received September 18, 2000) just treatment. The AMS should take accused of being a detention and a strong stand on the Wen Ho torture center under the former

JANUARY 2001 NOTICES OF THE AMS 7 commentary.qxp 11/16/00 8:26 AM Page 8

Letters to the Editor

government of General Augusto other documents can be found committed to hiring women, special Pinochet.” Recently declassified on the Web site http://www. opportunities are created on all records include indications that Boris weisfeiler.com/boris/. levels for women to develop, and was detained by Chilean soldiers and there is a growing number of women may have been held in Colonia Dig- —Victor Kac in decision-making positions. This nidad. The documents show conclu- MIT is not to say that the path to a sively that his death was not acciden- —Olga Weisfeiler successful career in mathematics tal, but rather that he was one of the contains no hurdles. In all, we still 1,100 “desaparecidos”, persons dis- (Received September 22, 2000) should encourage young people, appeared at the time of General male or female, with talent and Pinochet’s military rule and still un- interest to go into mathematics accounted for in Chile. There remains Opportunities for Women: A rather than scare them away. a slim possibility that Weisfeiler may Different View still be alive after fifteen long years of A letter in the October issue of the —László Lempert captivity. The declassified documents Notices comments on the low per- Purdue University include various testimonies and eye- centage (6%) that women accounted witness accounts during the first six for among the speakers of the meet- (Received October 6, 2000) years following Boris Weisfeiler’s dis- ing “Mathematical Challenges of the appearance in Chile. The truth these 21st Century”. This low percentage documents reveal is painful and stun- is contrasted with the 25% that ning: within days of his disappear- women represented among domestic ance, a Chilean source told one em- recipients of Ph.D.’s in the period bassy official that he was still alive. 1989–98, and the organizers of the Over the next several years U.S. gov- meeting (plus others) are faulted ernment officials received “persistent for the discrepancy. One conclusion reports that Boris Weisfeiler was or is that the letter writer draws is that detained in Colonia Dignidad.” Ac- women have bleak opportunities in cording to some eyewitness accounts, mathematics. Weisfeiler was kept in Colonia Dig- I would like to offer a different nidad in “animal-like conditions” and perspective. Firstly, the speakers was “treated like a Jewish dog.” Sev- invited to the “Challenges” were, eral documents contain accounts that understandably, all very senior in he was still alive some years after his the sense of accomplishments, and disappearance. On the other hand, a such seniority is typically achieved CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] mem- at a later point in one’s career, if ever. orandum suggests that a Chilean army Given this, no recent graduate could patrol had mistaken him for a “sub- possibly be a presenter. Indeed, the versive”, killed him, thrown his body Ph.D.’s of the speakers date more in the river, and then covered up this from the 1970s or earlier than the crime. 1990s or even 1980s. The breakdown A State Department memorandum of Ph.D.’s awarded in the years dated February 1990 indicates that 1989–1998 is not really relevant here. the U.S. embassy could not get ap- Secondly and more importantly, proval from the State Department to life—professional or otherwise— officially pursue an investigation would be scary if every step we take through the Chilean courts. “At the were policed and publicly decried present time there are no funds should it fail the test of some piece of The Notices invites letters available for this project,” was the statistics. We have to make complex from readers about mathemat- explanation. As early as May 1986, decisions all the time—for example, ics and mathematics-related according to one cable, the American when organizing a meeting—and topics. Electronic submissions Mathematical Society offered “to pay these complex decisions should are best. Acceptable letters are the cost of whatever help they can not be judged by a sole and exclusive usually limited to something get.” But that offer appears to have criterion. under one printed page, and been forgotten. There are many signs that right shorter letters are preferred. The case has now been reopened now prospects in mathematics in Accepted letters undergo light in Chile by a lawyer working on general and the prospects of women copyediting before publication. behalf of Weisfeiler’s sister, Olga. in mathematics in particular are not See the masthead for electronic This letter is based on a detailed bleak at all. The numbers of women and postal addresses for sub- memorandum written by Olga in graduate schools are up, many missions. Weisfeiler. This memorandum and academic institutions are strongly

8NOTICES OF THE AMS VOLUME 48, NUMBER 1