Ohio Journalism School Struggles With Tenure Fight

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President Roderick McDavis of Ohio University on March 29 overturned earlier decisions by the dean of the Scripps College of Communication to deny tenure to popular journalism professor Bill Reader.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/03/31/reader

For the Record of OH 2:33PM March 31, 2010

The article can be found here:
http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/main.aspSectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=30629
The committee ruled in favor of granting Reader tenure and said there were issues with the procedure in which he was denied tenure by the school. McDavis now has 30 days to make his final decision. I want to thank publications such as US News and World Report for keeping this issue in the public eye.

Alex L of OH 12:27AM February 16, 2010

Well, the time has come for OU students to hear what Reader's fellow faculty members think of this case. This Monday is the deadline for the faculty committee appointed by Faculty Senate to release their findings and their recommendations to President McDavis.
Regardless of what that committee says, I believe President McDavis MUST keep in mind a few very important facts that seem to have been overlooked in much of this process:
1. Bill Reader is not just "supported" by the students of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He is LOVED by them. Loved doesn't do this justice - Bill gets us jobs, Bill asks how are horses are when he knows we've got a big rodeo coming up and Bill inquires about where our heavy metal or punk bands are playing. He not only cares about his students to make him seem like he gives a shit, HE REALLY DOES. He doesn't ask about us to brag to his cohorts in the administration about how exemplary his students are, he talks to his friends and family about his students because we really matter to him and are a huge part of his life. My classes with Bill, and there were many, have been the shining light in this Jschool, and I absolutely credit my time with Bill for putting me in the position I am today - a self-starting individual who is in an amazing position to get a job.
2. Bill Reader's scholarly work on community journalism is NECESSARY to the Scripps' school's existence. If we do not have such an accomplished community journalism scholar, we will not have the successful journalists we hope to. Community journalism IS 95 percent of journalism in this country and in this world, and we have to have Bill teaching it. He doesn't just teach covering the town hall meetings and pancake breakfasts, he teaches using Flash and iMovie to create multimedia projects to keep a community engaged, AND he teaches business sense by inspiring students to get to know a community and learn what that community wants. Bill is a journalist and a crucial member of this community, on top of being a community journalism scholar.
3. Err on the side of compassion, Dr. McDavis. Compassion for YOUR students, compassion for Bill Reader, who has so vehemently countered every argument against him with hard facts. Dr. McDavis, students in one of your most highly touted programs are considered some of the best and the brightest OU has to offer. We will be heartbroken, hundreds and hundreds of us, if you dismiss Bill. To grant him tenure would be to trust humanity - trust those with no power - to know what is right. And, I promise you, in this instance, we the students know what is right far more than those administrators whose minds are clouded by politics, salaries and rivalries.
Please, Dr. McDavis, do what is right.

Scripps Senior of OH 9:03AM February 14, 2010

We are organizing a group to express support for Professor Reader. This is a group filled with alumnus, students and friends who want to make it known that they stand with academic freedom and against the real bullies. If you're on facebook, feel free to join!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=288795867179&ref=mf

Alex L of OH 8:57PM February 07, 2010

So ... Professor Reader is a champion for open records (a common cause for TRUE journalists -- the ones who actually worked in the field, not just those fuzzy-headed PhD's who spout of about it). Seem Professor Reader has served the people of Ohio well by not only being a good professor, but also by pointing out that Ohio University and other public schools aren't so keen on being held accountable by the public.
And: the current president of the University, Roderick McDavis, and at least two members of the Board of Trustees also are opposed to releasing public documents (one trustee said releasing public records "sickens" him): http://www.athensnews.com/component/content/article/4-letters/22773-mcdavis-explains-why-he-opposed-records-request
Maybe what really "threatens" those in power at Ohio University is that Professor Reader is that rare professor who stands up for the rights of the taxpayers to be able to keep track of how Ohio U. administrators are spending their money (and the money students spend on tuition)?
We need more professors like him at Ohio U., not less. And I think it's high time somebody in Columbus goes down to Athens to investigate the Ohio U. "mafia" and expose the widespread corruption there.

Jackie P. of OH 5:17PM February 07, 2010

I've read a lot of different stories on this, from the Post article mentioned herein, to other Post articles, to Inside Higher Ed, which first broke this story, as far as I can tell. Going through the stories and the comments, I have some observations.
On all the other sites, there are a number of rage- and hate-filled accusations against Reader, all of which take the false accusations as truth, but I don't see them here.
Is that perhaps because those who would lie and make such damaging accusations, seemingly just protect their status or get in good with the administration, are comfortable there but not here, at a site that is more likely to cause a buzz?
Is it because they know that if this story gets more coverage, then their accusations won't stand in the light of day?
That's pretty sad, but not as sad as what they're doing to this poor professor, who is getting so much support from so many others--especially boatloads of students--even though that's unlikely to help him against the administrators, who, from what I can tell, are just acting like tyrants.
It's eerily similar to the comment C.V. made here, which shows Ohio University--a public institution that has open records laws--simply doesn't abide by them, probably because they don't want people to see how they act. It's more than a reason to dislike the school and those falsely accusing; it's a reason to demand this be covered a lot more so that the truth will come out.

Ron V. of IN 2:52PM February 07, 2010

What about the students?
Bill is one of the best professors Scripps has ever had. I know most the faculty members at Scripps. I had a lot of them teaching my classes. So I can say, with experience, most of the senior faculty can't even compare to Bill. He's a great man, a wonderful teacher and a caring individual. I guarantee he cares more about his students than almost all the senior faculty. And isn't that what should count? The students? Aren't we the ones paying for an education? Aren't we the ones that will suffer if Bill Reader is gone?
I can state with full confidence that I will no longer be a part of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism if Bill is denied tenure. What's the point of getting an education from such a "highly accredited" school if there are no good professors left? It would be worthless. The school would be worthless without sound professors like Reader.
He doesn't make students cry, unlike a certain director, and he sure in hell does NOT use past student evaluations to publicly humiliate current students.
The 3 female profs that complained about Bill are full of it. Not one of them can teach half as well. Why don't we look at how they got tenure? It sure wasn't because they were outstanding professors. They should be ashamed of themselves. I wish there were more male professors that treated women with as much respect as Bill does- unlike a certain amount of male professors at the Scripps school who are sexist, racist and shake students in wheelchairs. You know who you are.

Brit of OH 12:43PM February 07, 2010

http://www.spj.org/rrr.asp?ref=26&t=foia

C.V. of WI 10:47AM February 07, 2010

One thing to note is that this article misrepresents is the situation that took place at the hearing in which Hodson interrupted Professor Dashiell during her closing statement with finger pointing and a raised voice.
The Athens Post describes the so-called "shouting-match" in their Feb. 1st, 2010 paper:
"Her [Dashiell] speech provoked an outburst from Hodson - whose frustration finally boiled over from pen snapping and fist clenching to vocal interruption.
" 'We're not here for the history!' Hodson interrupted. 'We're here to discuss the history...'"
If this issue hinges on the collegiality of Professor Reader, than I believe it is important to present an accurate representation of his actions. Professor Reader NEVER raised his voice during this hearing.
And furthermore, I have never heard him raise his voice over anything. As opinionated and animated as he can be, he is by far one of the gentlest me I have had the pleasure of knowing. He is also the greatest teacher I have ever had.
Let's try and keep the record straight.

W.L.C. of OH 2:04AM February 05, 2010

We have all read that three female faculty members have been said to be afraid of Professor Reader. Though these faculty members are anonymous. Anonymous, like in Reader's ex-wife being one of these woman scared to death of this wonderful educator. Was not aware that Reader's ex-wife was a tenured faculty member within the same University. Makes one say, "HUM!" Why was all of this information brushed under the rug? Do you smell a rat, well we do.

Katherine of NY 6:48PM February 04, 2010