LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Defending Rosemary Stevens

To the Editor: In addition, Dean Stevens has received some of the highest honors awarded to historians of medicine in recognition of her excellent scholarship on the economic, social and political history of American medical institutions. The book she completed shortly before becoming dean, In Sickness and in Wealth: American Hospitals in the Twentieth Century, published by the prestigious press Basic Books, garnered her the Welch Medal for distinction in the History of Medicine from the American Association for the History of Medicine, the James A. Hamilton Book Award of the American College of Healthcare Executives for the best book of 1990, the Baxter Foundation Prize for distinction in health services research, the American Board of Medical Specialities Special Award for unusually important contributions to specialist certification in medicine, and the Arthur Viseltear Award of the American Public Health Association. While the attacks on her credentials may have been prompted by ignorance, DP columnists, seldom being known for checking the accuracy of the "facts" they present, the characterization of Dean Stevens as a holdover from the days of the English Colonial Expire is nothing short of libelous. In contrast to Nadel's own employment of ethnic and gender stereotypes to discredit Rosemary Stevens, during the ten years I have know her, she has never referred to any group of people in a condescending or racist way. Rosemary's most noted personal qualities are her respect for heterodoxy, coupled with her quiet, diplomatic efforts to achieve non-confrontational means of dispute resolution if at all possible, her blindness, her empathy and her personal and ethical integrity. Dr. Stevens was one of the most marvelous teachers I encountered as a graduate student, and I was delighted that she agreed to be my dissertation advisor -- a role she continued to play after becoming dean, despite the increased demands upon her time. As anyone with an institutional memory will know, I have by no means been always in accord with Dean Stevens' administrative decisions. I vehemently and publicly opposed the decisions to replace Smith Hall and to dissolve the American Civilization department, where I received my undergraduate degree. Although most graduate students would have been leery of so publicly opposing their advisors, I knew that Rosemary would never allow our political disagreements to spill over into our mentoring relationship. The opinions of a single faculty member whose assertions are swallowed whole and regurgitated by a columnist in need of material should not be accepted as a valid or universal evaluation of the character and abilities of Rosemary Stevens. Julie Johnson-McGrath History of Science Department Harvard University n To the Editor: The column about Dean Rosemary Stevens, disrespectfully entitled "Rosemary's Time," is a shocking example of license not freedom of the press. I wish to tell those in the Penn community who do not know Rosemary Stevens that this nasty portrait of her and her tenure as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences is false and misleading in every respect. I wish to tell those in the community who do know Rosemary Stevens that I share your dismay at the baseless charges against her. This diatribe fails any standard of fundamental fairness and decency. Sadly the attack on Dr. Stevens is not unusual at universities and colleges in the United States. Meanspiritedness is out of place at a great university. No code of speech or conduct can legislate civility. Rather it derives from a respect for the rights and dignity of others without exception, not merely when it is convenient or self-serving. President Rodin and Provost Chodorow, strongly supported by all the deans, are building an educational model at Penn for the twenty-first century. In their vision, residential life at Penn will serve as a paradigm for living harmoniously in a diverse community. Achieving that goal will require a unified effort by the faculty, administration, trustees and students. LET US BEGIN!! Natalie Koether College of Women '61 Law '65 University Trustee Board of Overseers for the School of Arts and Sciences, Chairperson n To the Editor: I have read The Daily Pennsylvanian with interest and enjoyment for many years but this is the first time that I have written a letter to the editor. My reason for writing now is the column by Mike Nadel on "Rosemary's Time," a column from which I learned that "Suddenly, Dean Rosemary Stevens finds herself facing charges of incompetence, dishonesty and racism." Having known Dr. Stevens for many years I was startled to learn of these charges and read further in Mr. Nadel's column to find out what she had done. The only thing that turned up was a description of a letter that Mr. Nadel had recently received from a faculty member who, among other matters, described to Mr. Nadel "his many concerns about what he calls Stevens' 'bumbling, insensitive incompetence.'" I couldn't find any other basis for the charges and Mr. Nadel did not mention whether he had discussed this matter with Dr. Stevens or anyone else. I know very little about Dr. Stevens' performance as dean but I have known her as a woman of great integrity, an outstanding scholar and a person who wants very much to be a good dean. None of this fits the picture that Mr. Nadel paints of her. Perhaps she is as guilty as he says she is, but, if things are this bad, his obligation as a journalist surely goes beyond reporting the allegations contained in a single letter. I am sure that readers of the DP would like to learn what other members of the community, particularly Dr. Stevens herself, think about these charges. It is not too late to find out. I look forward to the column that contains this information. Albert Stunkarf Psychiatry Professor