Provost to teach course next semester

To teach, or not to teach -- that is the question. For University President Judith Rodin, the answer is not right now, according to Jodi Sarkisian, Rodin's executive assistant. But for Provost Stanley Chodorow, the answer is yes -- in fact, he will be involved in teaching two classes next spring, according to Executive Assistant to the Provost Linda Koons. His class will be a History honors seminar entitled "The Origins of Constitutionalism," according to Undergraduate History Chairperson Bruce Kuklick. He added that Chodorow's interests lie in medieval law. "What he's going to do is talk about the notion of the constitution as being the organic form of law which limits the power of the state," Kuklick said. The class will have 15 openings, divided between students in the General Honors program and junior or senior History majors, according to Kuklick. Kuklick added that the class's focus will be timely in today's academic community. "The notion of constitutionalism is a big-ticket item," he said. "With the collapse of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, people are interested in the role of the state and how state power is circumscribed. The class will be a look at the historical origins of that question." Chodorow is in Italy and could not be reached for comment about the class. Rodin, who is considered part of the Psychology Department faculty, will not teach any classes this school year. According to University spokesperson Barbara Beck, Rodin's decision stems from the heavy demands on her schedule. "There are other things on her list of priorities to take care of before she teaches -- but she wants to teach," Beck said. "She will be teaching soon." Beck added that Rodin likes to teach, but wants to have enough time to be a quality professor. "It takes an incredible amount of preparation to teach," Beck said. "She wants to be able to have the time to devote to that kind of preparation for the kinds of lectures that she's well known for." Rodin was a psychology professor at Yale University for 19 years, before eventually becoming Yale's provost in 1992. And she was one of two finalists to head the National Institutes of Health under President Clinton. Rodin's respect for the University faculty is motivated by her knowledge of the amount of time professors devote to their classes, Beck added. Rodin is not alone among Ivy League university presidents in staying out of the classroom this year. According to the newspaper staffs at the other seven Ivy League institutions, only the presidents of Princeton and Harvard universities teach courses. But former University President Sheldon Hackney taught several classes in the History Department during his tenure, and is still a full member of the faculty. Kuklick said his department is honored that Chodorow will be working with them. "He's the provost, and he wants to teach a course for us," he said. "We're delighted. No one has questioned him on what he's going to do, but I'm assuming that like most faculty, he's devised a syllabus and will be ordering books."