The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 54, Issue 24 - May 2, 1977

los angeles loyolan Vol, 54, No, 24 Loyola Marymount University May 2, 1977 Doubts .cast on official reasons for dismissing LMU professor BRECK PETERS, assistant professor of Sociology, has questioned the LMU Grievance Committee on reasons for his dismissal, but has failed to bring to light any plausible explanations for the, Sociology department’s action. The evidence indicates, however, that personality conflicts with department members may be more of a reason for his departure than any alleged professional inadequacies. (Loyolan photo by Bill Carero) By Gene Gable A group of students supporting Dr. C. Breck Peters, assistant professor of Sociology, have been frustrated in their attempt to keep Peters at Loyola Marymount. Peters, who has taught at LMU for the last two and a half years, was first told in March 1976 that his contract was not being renewed. Peters, and many of his student supporters, have been trying to find out why ever since. Officially, Peters was charged with not meeting the academic needs of the students and with having a difficult time relating to his colleagues. During the past several months, however, evidence has surfaced that indi¬ cates Peters’ dismissal probably resulted from two Sociology faculty members’ personal disputes with Peters and from unsubstantiated and slanderous rumors about him. No one seems to have questioned his competency as a teacher. In fact, Peters apparently h^s the support of a large group of students who say he is a tough but good teacher. Even during a formal grievance hearing in February and March 1977, Peters was never told about much of the evidence presented against him, was never afforded the opportunity to present a defense on his behalf, and was unable to obtain written documentation of any of the charges brought against him. Peters was hired in a temporary position in the Spring of 1975. He was notified in June of that year that he would be rehired for the school year 1975-76 in a full-time tenure track position. At that time, Sociology Department Chairwoman Dr. Loretta Morris wrote on a request-to-hire form to Dr. Theodore Erlandson, dean of the college of Liberal* Arts, that “Although only at Loyola Marymount for the Spring term, he [Peters] has excellent ratings, from the students and faculty/’ During the Fall 1975 term Peters and Morris had discussions in which Peters criticized the lack of rigorous teaching in the department and the quality of its students. In December, according to Peters, Morris told him that she didn’t think he was happy at LMU. There was no further discussion on the matter until March 1, 1976 when Morris told Peters that his contract for the next year would not be renewed. At this tjune a confusing barrage of charges were levelled at Peters. Morris, Peters claimed, indicated that his classes were “excellent” and students generally reacted positively to him, but that he “wasn’t contributing to the Sociology department as an Urban Sociologist. ’ ’ When he asked Morris exactly what that meant, she reportedly told him that the fact he was asking meant he was not qualified. Morris has refused to comment on her statements to Peters at that time . When Peters was hired, his specialty was Metho¬ dology, not Urban Sociology. He recalled being asked in June if he would mind teaching some Urban Sociology courses in the department. At that time he said he would not mind. Besides the vagueness of the charges, Peters was apparently improperly notified of his dismissal. According to the LMU Faculty Handbook, when a teacher’s contract is to be terminated, he must be notified in writing by March 1. Otherwise he is automatically hired for the next school year. Peters did not receive written confirmation of his March 1 discussion with Morris until March 3, 1976. On that day he found a letter dated February 28 from Liberal Arts dean Theodore Erlandson placed on his office /desk. Although the letter was marked for campus mail, Peters did not receive the letter through the campus тай and suspects the letter was placed on his desk between the tinfe he left his office at 5 pm March 2 and when he arrived at 8 am March 3. Normally such notices are sent by registered mail. Peters then wrote a letter to Academic Vice President, Rev. John Clark, S3, pointing out the missed deadline. Although Peters did not hear from Clark, dean Erlandson informed him that the Sociology Depart¬ ment was reconsidering his position and he would be rehired for the next academic school year (1976-77). Later that March, the tenured members of the Sociology Department— Morris, Dr. Nicholas Cur- cione, and Rev. Alex Humphries, SJ, — asked Peters to submit a proposal to them on his role as an Urban Sociologist. Peters submitted a report which was, he claimed, not much more than a description of everything he had already been doing. Peters’ report was accepted by the tenured faculty on April 5 after only one addition. Because he heard nothing more about the matter, Peters felt his role as an Urban Sociologist had been clarified. In the middle of the Fall 1976 term, Morris visited several of Peters’ classes. She called him in for a discussion and informed him about a student complaint that he was unwilling to help students outside of the classroom. Peters thought the isolated complaint was a misinterpretation but he told Morris he would again make it clear to his classes that he was available for help outside the classroom. Peters estimated that he spends at least eight hours a week (Continued on Page 2) New Minor in Women's Studies receives O.K. A new Women’s Studies Minor for LMU was unanimously ap¬ proved at the April 28 University Council meeting . The new program will most likely become active by the Fall, 1977 Semester. The minor will use existing courses from several departments, including the Psychology, History, Political Science, English, and Philosophy Departments, Two new courses, “Introduction to Women’s Studies” and “Senior Seminar in Women’s Studies,” will be re¬ quired as part of the 18 semester hours in the program. A Woman’s Studies Minor is necessary to “bring to people’s consciousness the imbalance in both men’s and women’s roles,” said Dr. Loretta Morris, chairper¬ son Pro tem of the Committee on Women’s Studies and Sociology Department Chairman. “The new minor is especially needed now that there’s a very strong evidence that the Equal Rights Amendment will not be passed,” Morris added. Dr. Theodore Erlandson, dean of the college of Liberal Arts, called it an ‘‘extremely worthwhile, ve^y carefully thought-out program.” The new minor would be part of the College of Liberal Arts. In the proposal, the backers of the program stated that such a minor would create “deeper con¬ sciousness of what it means to be a human person by exploring a (Continued on Page 3) Brodka narrowly elected Director; amendment passes Mark Brodka won last week’s election for ASLM Director, captur¬ ing 252 out of 904 votes cast for that office, or 27.9 per cent. He finished ahead of candidates Leonie Nelson, Mark Durkin, Tom Dalrymple and Len Ryan, who placed second through fifth, in that order. Brodka, who is » currently Assist¬ ant ASLM Director for Student Services, won the election despite an Elections Committee ruling which barred him from posting campaign materials last week, due ARK BRODKA, newly-elected Director of the ASLM. A special amendment to the ASLM Constitution received 703 votes in favor, 144 opposed. Since the total number bf students who - voted equaled more than the required 25 per cent minimum, the amendment was ratified. The three available Student Acti¬ vities Board seats were won by George Bigelow, Alison Marshall and Elsa Rodriguez. Elected representatives to the University Council include: Greg Elliott, college of Liberal Arts; Vince Morelli, college of Science and Engineering; Pat Reagan, college of Fine and Communication Arts (he was unopposed), and Mark Jacoby, college of Business Administration. Jacoby defeated his nearest op¬ ponent, Mary Tabasz, by only one vote. Ballots were recounted to verify the total, according to Jim Fiedler, Chairman of the Elections Committee. The five students elected to the ASLM Parking Commission include Art Hidalgo, Guy Field, Bob Camp¬ bell, Rebecca Peters and Shane Martin. Fiedler said that the total num¬ ber of students who voted in last week’s election represented about 29 per cent of the total undergrad¬ uate enrollment at LMU. He added that a small number of write-in candidates received votes for Director, including LMU stu¬ dent Mario Palladini,* bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Zeke, the campus owl. Inside Profile | . Ц §j ............. .Page8 Hal Pereira is one of the most successful creators in the history of Hollywood. Chief Art Director at Paramount Studios for 25 years, he has received 23 Oscar nominations. Now, his rich and full career still going strong, Pereira is helping LMU students put their creativity to work in his “Idea to Image” class'. Pat Reagan explores Pereira’s fascinating philosophy of art and" creativity. Mayfaire . . gjj .......... . . . .Page9 Students enjoying themselves — that’s what Mayfaire is all about. Entertainment. . . . . . .Page 10 Is disco really “anti-music”? Music critic Greg Shaw thinks so. A promoter and chronicler of the current interest in so-called punk rock, Shaw has been caught-up in the new craze, which is just beginning to hit the West coast. Nostalgia? Politics? Entertainment editor Cary Darling talks about punk rock, and the people who make it, with Shaw. Find out why he thinks “what we’re seeing now is the beginning of the eighties.”