EDITORIAL: No more Secrets

We strongly urge theWe strongly urge theUniversity to open tenureWe strongly urge theUniversity to open tenurerecords to the public.We strongly urge theUniversity to open tenurerecords to the public.__________________________ As a result of these curious tenure decisions, we urge the University to open tenure records in order to remove the mystery behind the process. Open records make tenure decisions more democratic and allow assistant faculty members to counter gossip and lies that may be used as grounds to deny them permanent faculty positions. Removing the secrecy from the process means revealing who sits on the tenure committees and holding them responsible for their statements. This way, committee members' defamations must be based more on substance than on personal, perhaps unjustified, criticisms of the opinions of the tenure candidate. In opening tenure records, it is important to let the professor seeking a permanent position have the choice over the disclosure of these documents. If the professor fears embarrassment, let the records remain closed. In that case, he or she cannot complain about the fairness of the process. But if a professor worries that his or her teaching record will not be considered, then allow the process to be open so that committee members can be held accountable for their choices. This will allow the University community to see for themselves whether the administration's emphasis on teaching is supported by its actions. We propose the administration take strong, swift measures to open the tenure process. The Ohio court system recently forced Ohio State University and other state schools to open their tenure systems. We hope the University will voluntarily follow suit before the next unpopular tenure decision. Open tenure records will promote healthy discussion of critical teaching issues, are in the best interest of the University and will lend more credibility to a process that is constantly under fire. Failing to open the process will only confirm that the deans of the twelve schools at the University have something to hide.