Research Bias Hurts Quality Lecturers

Dear Editor,

In light of the recent UC compensation scandals, it has become apparent that the administration places little value on the position of educators within the system. Issues of recognition, compensation and job security for lecturers tend to be overlooked. Patterns show that UCSD prefers to hire part-time, temporary lecturers rather than lecturers with full-term, continuing employment. Many superb lecturers have been let go instead of being given long-term employment. UCSD also chooses not to renew the contracts of lecturers when they deem it is favorable to their own political and budgetary agendas. Faculty lecturers who are not members of the Academic Senate, as opposed to full-time faculty professors, are usually left in a subordinate position to tenured faculty — receiving fewer benefits, lower salary and lack of job security. These conditions undermine the work of lecturers and maintain an atmosphere of hierarchy within the university, with faculty professors above lecturers. Lecturers are treated as disposable as their commitments to research, committee work and academic accomplishments are overlooked and uncompensated, despite their necessary role.

Raymond Clemencon is a lecturer in the political science department and the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. He brings to UCSD an extensive background working on issues regarding the environment as the section head at the International Affairs Division of the Swiss Environment Agency and consultant for various international clients such as the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, the Swiss government and the International Task Force on Global Public Goods.

Although his research experience is limited compared to many of the full-time UCSD professors who provide the university with its reputation as a top-notch research institution, the experience and teaching ability he brings to the classroom are superb. However, the contract security and salary funding is better aimed toward the brand-name academics — those who have established themselves in their respective fields for their research accomplishments but not necessarily for their firsthand professional experience or teaching skill.

Professors receive payment by the university not only for the in-class instruction provided but also for their own research. But classroom teaching is the only contribution the university recognizes for lecturers, despite their outside accomplishments such as consulting. Lecturers such as Clemencon inspire the question of where the university ought to place its emphasis — upon providing quality teaching and experienced faculty or on building up its reputation through attracting and holding onto individuals whose careers are marked by research distinction in their scholarly circles. If the University of California wants to pride itself on excellence, it should not only aim for research distinction, but also to provide lecturers whose teaching quality is enhanced by their professional experience. At a time of global competition among universities when students can choose international educational institutions, the University of California should aim to keep its competitive edge by holding onto its quality teaching faculty.

—Erica Kermani and

Akaash Gupta

Alumni, UCSD

Biblical Passages Promote Cannabis Use

Dear Editor,

The original prohibition was harmful to America and the sequel is worse (“A War on Drugs Is a War on Ourselves,” Oct. 12, 2006); at the very minimum, it is time to re-legalize cannabis.

Another reason to end cannabis prohibition, persecution and extermination is because it is biblically correct, since Christ God Our Father indicates that He created all the seed-bearing plants, saying that they are all good. (See Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30.) The only biblical restriction placed on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness (see 1 Timothy 4:1-5).

It’s time to stop caging humans for using what God says is good.

—Stan White

Dillon, Colo.

Hospital’s First Priority Should Be Public Service

Dear Editor,

I was concerned to read the editorial and continued coverage in your paper regarding UCSD’s decision to close the UCSD Medical Center at Hillcrest. The situation is a disaster! It appears to me that UCSD has forgotten that health care is not just about helping those who can afford it, but everyone who needs it. As UCSD students, we’re constantly told to be active in the community. We are asked to participate in service opportunities in greater San Diego and to represent UCSD in many ways outside of our campus. We even have a public service minor at UCSD. This mentality to go out into San Diego and show the community that we are a university committed to the public good has been lost on those advocating for the closure of the Hillcrest hospital. How are we helping the San Diego community by taking one of its most important health care resources from one of the poorest neighborhoods and moving it up here next to our campus?

I fully agree with your editorial’s stance that nothing can overshadow the importance of public service, not even an expanded Thornton Hospital. We all know that the people who need our help are in south San Diego, not in La Jolla, and UCSD should practice what it preaches. Keep our amazing health care resources, programs and students out in the areas where people from a diverse set of backgrounds need health care, and stop plans to close the Hillcrest hospital.

—Kim Follmuth

John Muir College senior