An open letter in response to a question about Roosevetl University. I agree that the school does offer an excellent education. However, recent actions by those who represent the University is threatening that excellence.
Mike,
Understand that I am not fighting against Roosevelt, I am fighting FOR Roosevelt! I am very fond of Roosevelt University. My wife is a Roosevelt graduate, B.A. and M.A. I know and admire the many excellent and dedicated instructors there. The students are some of the brightest and best I have encountered in my years of teaching. It is this excellence that I am struggling to defend!
Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 to continue the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. It was based on the principles of academic freedom and the equality of all students, regardless of social or economic class, racial or ethnic origin, sex, or age. Roosevelt University has provided equal access to a quality education to many. That proud tradition is currently being trashed by three people who care more about their personal agendas than the University community they are supposed to serve. Those three people are NOT representative of the rest of the Roosevelt faculty or the student body. Yet, their actions are affecting the University and all of its members. Those actions can not be allowed to stand.
Does Roosevelt University offer an excellent education? Well, excellence is in the doing. Roosevelt needs to decide if it will only say it is excellent or actually be excellent. Is excellence allowing a department chair to let her personal hatreds dictate what is spoken in a classroom? Is excellence denying members of one religion an opportunity to equally participate? Is excellence firing professors who refuses to censor thier students? Is excellence orchestrating a cover up and ordering employees not to reveal the truth? Is excellence about winning a fight with a faculty union regardless of how much damage is done to the school and its reputation?
Of course we shouldn't try to make Roosevelt the "university model" for all other universities. Yet, Roosevelt MUST live up to the standards and model that apply to all universities.
Douglas Giles
Michael Boros wrote:
> Mr. Giles,
> Roosevelt University offers a excellent education. Since, almost all universities have problems similar to this one we should NOT blame Roosevelt or make it the "university model" for all colleges/universities.
> Best,
> Mike