Student rally behind Economics professor

and Lisa Levenson Students and faculty members have shown strong support for Economics Professor David Cass, whose appointment to the position of acting Economics graduate chairperson was turned down last month by University administrators. But University administrators maintain their opposition to Cass's nomination, due to his sexual relationship with former Economics graduate student Claudia Stachel and other rumored romantic relationships with graduate students. In a Sept. 22 letter sent to the editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian, 50 graduate students voiced their outrage at the administration's actions and expressed their continued support for Cass, both personally and professionally. "Having reviewed the documentation made available to us, we are appalled by the administration's actions," the letter states. "The administration's behavior was prompted by questionable and incomplete information drawn from rumor and hearsay." Donald Fitts, associate dean of graduate studies for the School of Arts and Sciences, said last night that the students may not "fully understand the situation." "It's an administrative appointment," he said, citing the importance of having ideological agreement between department chairs and their administrative supervisors. "If we can't communicate effectively with members of the administration, we simply can't appoint them." SAS Dean Rosemary Stevens said although she finds the students' appreciation of Cass "gratifying," she agrees with University policy forbidding professor-student relationships that are sexual in nature. "I think that both the policy of professional etiquette between professors and students and the appearance of that etiquette are essential elements in University governance," she said. Cass, however, characterized Vice Provost for Graduate Education Janice Madden's invocation of the policy in relation to his appointment as "vigilante moralism." "I've never heard of anything so outrageous as the procedure they followed," he said. "I don't think [the students' petition] by itself will have much effect, but this administration has behaved in such a bizarre fashion with respect to me that I don't know what to think." Madden could not be reached for comment last night. Economics Department Chairperson Andrew Postlewaite reiterated departmental support for Cass in another letter to the editor of the DP. "Professor Cass did not seek this job," Postlewaite's letter states. "Rather, because of his commitment to graduate education, he reluctantly agreed when pressed by the department." In their letter, the graduate students confirm Postlewaite's assessment, calling Cass "an excellent researcher and teacher." "He remains one of the teachers we most appreciate, admire, and respect," the students' letter states. "As his past tenure as Economics Graduate Chairperson has shown, he would have been a capable and innovative Chair." According to sixth-year Economics graduate student Sadiq Currimbhoy, the students' letter was a group effort. "We wrote the letter [Thursday evening]," he said. "We brought it into school Friday morning, and Friday afternoon we got people to sign it." Currimbhoy added that only students in their second year or above were asked to sign the letter, since first-year students have not yet worked closely with Cass. Second year Economics graduate student Morris Davis said graduate students in the Economics Department get to know Cass well because they are required to take his General Equilibrium class and pass his comprehensive exam at the end of the year. Davis said many students who signed the letter object to the way Cass has been treated throughout the appointment process. "Human beings shouldn't be convicted without trial, and his personal life has been brought into the public forum and declared unfit by the University," he said. "[Cass] has never been given the chance to defend his actions or to ask why his personal life is relevant for the position that most people in the department would like him to take," Davis added. Third year Economics graduate student Stefania Scandizzo said she is sure that more than 50 percent of students in the program signed the petition. "I'm a foreign student, and we don't have these kinds of rules where I come from," she said. "From what I understand, there was no violation in this case. I don't see [involvement between professors and students] as a problem." Postlewaite said he understands the students' feelings. "I'm very sympathetic to them," he said. "The graduate students are the biggest losers in all of this." Cass said he appreciates the support students have shown for him. "I couldn't ask for more support [from students]," he said. "But I always expected them to support me." But Cass said even if he were now offered the position of acting Economics graduate chairperson, he would not accept it. Cass added that he now does not have the time to invest in the position to do a proper job, nor does he feel he could "possibly now work with Fitts or Madden." "It's a matter of principle. I have been so deeply insulted that my pride wouldn't let me stay here if [the administration] doesn't react." He has issued three demands of the University, and has said he will resign from his post if they are not met. They are: a public apology from Provost Stanley Chodorow, the firing or resignation of Madden, and "a tangible indication that the University cares about intellectual matters including graduate education or research."