EDITORIAL: Hypocrisy

The University's recentThe University's recentactions have demonstratedThe University's recentactions have demonstratedthat it is not committed toThe University's recentactions have demonstratedthat it is not committed tooffering students the bestThe University's recentactions have demonstratedthat it is not committed tooffering students the besteducation possible.The University's recentactions have demonstratedthat it is not committed tooffering students the besteducation possible.____________________________ In February, the University's decision not to promote English Department Graduate Chairperson Vicky Mahaffey from associate to full professor sparked a protest in front of Van Pelt Library. More recently, the University's failure to give tenure to Assistant English Professor Gregg Camfield and Assistant Geology Professor George Boyajian, two extremely popular faculty members, also outraged the University community. Many students have begun to question the University's commitment to top-notch teaching. The University attempts to quell these fears by awarding numerous honors to professors for their teaching ability such as the Lindback and Provost awards. These prizes supposedly demonstrate that superior teaching is a priority on campus. But the elimination of Urban Studies Lecturer George Thomas' Philadelphia Architecture class illustrates the University's hypocrisy. Yesterday, Thomas received one of the most prestigious teaching awards the University offers -- the Provost's Award. And this week he was also told that one of the courses for which he was praised will be cut due to budget constraints in the Historic Preservation Department. This decision completely undermines the administration's pledge to dedicate their efforts to improving undergraduate education. The University's actions should be consistent with the honors it gives. Instead, its recent decisions have turned credible words into hollow lip service. The University should have learned its lesson after it cut Frank Luntz's American Civilization course in 1993. Luntz, a Republican pollster and former adjunct professor, taught an enormously popular class that was also eliminated due to budget shortfalls. The University deprived students of an excellent course when Luntz left, and it has made a similar mistake again. When funding shortages are recognized, departments should go to extremes to preserve superb professors' classes, not simply swing the budget ax. We urge the administration to find the money to fund George Thomas' class and continue to offer similar stimulating classes in the future. That way it will send the message that good teaching does matter.