Dive Summary:
- Cathy DeSoto, a psychology professor at the University of Northern Iowa, was approached by a student whose National Guard duty conflicted with an upcoming test date; DeSoto said she would have to check university regulations and supported the student's plan to file a grievance.
- Without contacting DeSoto, President Benjamin Allen issued a public statement in which he criticized DeSoto's decision to penalize the student for missing the test; DeSoto was given police protection after receiving threatening messages and her car was vandalized.
- Rudy Fichtenbaum, national president of the American Association of University Professors, publicly criticized President Allen's rash characterization of DeSoto's actions and called for a formal apology.
From the article:
"A professor and student at the University of Northern Iowa have, according to all involved, "amicably" resolved a question over whether the student -- a member of the National Guard -- could get an accommodation for missing a class (due to his service) in which a test was scheduled. While all details haven't been released, the university has confirmed that the student's grade was never cut, and won't be hurt in any way because of the missed class.
But while the issue of the student's test make-up request has been resolved, faculty leaders at the university (and nationally) say that the university's president, by criticizing the professor before talking to her, left her vulnerable to unfair accusations that she was anti-military and, as a result, to harassing e-mail messages and vandalism. And to faculty leaders, it's not a coincidence that the professor was among those who have clashed in recent months with the administration. ..."
