Minority faculty members perceive marginalization
When history professor Lillian Guerra entered a campus building in early February to administer a doctoral exam, she received an unintended compliment. The guard at the front door refused to believe she was a professor, insisting instead that she must be a graduate student.
“He thought I was joking when I said I was a professor,” Guerra said, laughing as she recounted the story over the phone. “It really took some convincing.”
Guerra does not attribute the guard’s mistake — a common one throughout her years of interactions with Yale staff — to youthful appearance. Instead,...
I think Alumni 06 is correct about the priorities, although I think that Yale has issues regarding tenure and junior faculty that cross race sex and other lines. Some science and engineering junior faculty have felt marginalized in the tenure process. These issues bear directly upon the quality of faculty and with the additional teaching load represented by the additional residential colleges is an issue perhaps not receiving enough attention.
How will departments handle the additional teaching load without compromising the quality of education? There appears to be reluctance to increase the number of graduate students and perhaps for sound academic quality reasons. Again, who will handle the additional teaching load.
I find this abosolutely disturbing. Instead of fully supporting our wonderful professors, Yale is choosing to construct 2 new residential colleges. This is evidence of where Yale's priorities are. For years students have been trying to create a stronger base for professors that are either ethnic minorities or are involved in the disciplines such as African American Studies, Asian-American Studies, Native American Studies, or Ethnicity Race and Migration. Requests have always been denied because of Lack of Funding. With these additional financial resources, Yale should focus on strengthening these departments and resources.