BI New Briefs

California Professor Launches Hunger Strike
Over Tenure Decision
POMONA, Calif. — A professor at Pomona College who says he was denied tenure because of race discrimination went on a hunger strike last month, hoping the attention would pressure the school to reopen the case.
Dr. Stanley O. Gaines Jr. worked as an assistant professor of psychology and Black studies at Pomona and had applied for tenure in 1998. The Black studies department, an intercollegiate board that has members from other of the Claremont Colleges, endorsed his promotion. The school's psychology department rejected the move by a vote of eight to one.  Gaines continued to work at the school until his contract ran out in June, and has received a Fulbright grant to teach in Jamaica in the fall.
Gaines says the official reason the review committee gave the denial was based on his teaching ability.  A heated debate in a 1996 Black studies class, which resulted in a White student leaving the room in tears, was cited by the review committee as evidence of Gaines' teaching deficiencies.
"The interesting thing about that is, the Black studies department looked at that incident, saw it as a one-time affair and concluded I rectified the situation," Gaines told Black Issues. "But my home department, the psychology department, used that as the primary offense and their sole basis for declaring me deficient."
He contends that his tenure was really rejected on the basis of popularity. He says he stepped on a lot of toes in his role as founder and president of the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and lost friends when he successfully challenged the denial of a contract renewal for an Asian American professor. He says he also was criticized for questioning departmental policies and procedures regarding research–subject pools.
"At one point, I received a letter from the chair of the board of trustees, Robert Tranquada, who was upset because I'd criticized the administration," Gaines says. "In the letter, he questioned my fitness for tenure. I filed a faculty grievance, and the panel concluded Dr. Tranquada had violated my right to academic freedom. Their immediate recommendation was for him to recuse himself from my tenure review. I don't know if he followed that. What I do know is that soon after that he posted a Web site commentary on the limitations of academic freedom.
"There is no doubt the denial for tenure was political, based primarily on my increasingly outspoken role throughout the campus."
Gaines has filed discrimination and retaliation complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is investigating the matter. He says he will continue the hunger strike until the college meets his demands.
"At this point, I have no income, and the bills are starting to pile up," Gaines says. "I couldn't afford a normal diet anyway."
So far, Gaines has lost 17 pounds, and he says he has incorporated fruit juice into his diet. Aside from some shortness of breath, he says he feels fine.
Meanwhile, the college, which issued a statement on the matter, is not likely to revisit the issue.
"There is no basis for his charge of discrimination, and the college's tenure decision is final," the statement said. "The college is aware of news reports that Mr. Gaines has decided to go on a hunger strike. We view this as unfortunate, and sincerely hope Mr. Gaines does not take any action that endangers his health."