USF FACULTY GROUP FOR PHI BETA KAPPA
February 18, 2002
Dr. Judy Genshaft
President, University of South Florida
4202 E Fowler Avenue, ADM 241
Tampa, Florida 33620
Dear President Genshaft:
In the course of several meetings, members of the USF Faculty Group for Phi Beta Kappa have discussed academic freedom and tenure. As early as January 10, we concluded that we “view the situation at USF with alarm” but we said nothing as a Group. We are trying to keep our focus on the issue for which we were organized – to work toward getting the Phi Beta Kappa Society to recognize USF as an appropriate institution to host a chapter. After additional reflection, we feel the need to add our voices to those who would counsel you. The institutional handling of the tenure situation in relation to Professor Al-Arian continues to worry us because we believe that it may adversely affect our application for a chapter. At our meeting of February 14, we decided to share our concerns with you.
The Phi Beta Kappa Society was established in 1775, even before the United States of America was founded. Phi Beta Kappa acts very slowly and deliberately. Our application for USF to host a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter will be submitted in 2003 and will not be acted upon until 2006. It may not matter how this particular tenure case is resolved. What will matter, however, is the process USF uses to safeguard academic principles.
Phi Beta Kappa is devoted to freedom of inquiry. In their view, a host institution “takes due precautions to prevent issues of governance, athletics, religion or politics from subverting the integrity of the institution’s dedication to liberal education” (Phi Beta Kappa, The Founding of New Chapters, 2000).
We are deeply concerned that the faculty have not been adequately involved in the process from its beginnings. Like other academic organizations, the Phi Beta Kappa Society sees faculty roles as crucial to academic institutions. As faculty at USF with a unique stake in our institution’s future, we are deeply concerned that decisions so momentous as the abrogation of tenure could be made with so little faculty involvement as has been the case here.
Whatever happens in 2002, we hope that by 2006 our application will be able to state that the University of South Florida does not permit the intrusion of governance and political convenience into proper academic process.
Sincerely,
Alvin W. Wolfe
Copies: S. David Stamps, Provost and Academic Vice President
Josue Cruz, Jr., Assistant to the President for Faculty Affairs