[Onthebarricades] Academic protests and issues, Aug-Dec 2008

Fri Sep 11 00:03:33 PDT 2009

* BANGLADESH: Controversial uni staff clash with police
* INDIA: JNTU teachers demonstrate
* US: Jury rules for Ward Churchill, media against
* IRAN: Student Day protests, clashes
* US: Santa Cruz tree-sit continues
* KENYA: Students involved in free speech protests
* US: Unions clash with universities over smoking ban
* US: Protest over cancellation of Bill Ayers lecture
* INDIA: University teachers demand justice for minorities
* US: California - protest against cuts
* INDIA: Puducherry - lecturers protest
* TAIWAN: Academics, students involved in referendum protest
* INDIA: Protest call over professor's suspension
* INDIA: Students, academics among SEZ protesters
* CAMEROON: Lecturers protest low pay
* NIGERIA: University disrupted by clash between "principals"
* THAILAND: Students threatened over protests
* INDIA: Protest targets pay review
* US: Student who won court victory is still suffering

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65952

Published On: 2008-12-03
Metropolitan
Controversial RU staff clash with police
RU Correspondent

At least 10 'controversially-appointed' fourth-class employees of 
Rajshahi University (RU) were injured in a clash between police and 
employees in second day of the indefinite strike on the campus yesterday.

Earlier, around 200 fourth-class employees of RU enforced an indefinite 
strike on the campus wearing shrouds demanding regularisation of their jobs.

The employees were preparing to burn the effigy of RU acting vice 
chancellor. On information, law enforcers rushed to the spot and tried 
to snatch away the effigy.

At one stage, the police locked in a clash with the angry employees.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122151870300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

JNTU teachers stage demonstration
Staff Reporter
Kakinada: The Teachers’ Association of JNTU College of Engineering, 
Kakinada staged a demonstration in front of the University’s Central 
Administrative Building here on Saturday protesting against the delay in 
releasing the quarterly block grants and demanded unconditional option 
for all employees to choose the place of postings, transfer of budgeted 
posts to the college and additional funds for development.
In a memorandum submitted to the registrar, association president P. 
Subba Rao and secretary R. Srinivasa Rao stated that the JNTU, Kakinada 
was given block grant only for the first quarter of this year against 
the norm of releasing it in four quarterly instalments.
This inordinate delay was hampering the development and maintenance of 
University and it might cause late payment of salaries and pensions.

http://colorado.indymedia.org/node/1611

Jury Rules in Favor of Ward Churchill, While the Media Rules Against Him
April 3, 2009 by strongwindsahead
In the case of Ward Churchill vs. CU Boulder, the jury ruled in favor of 
American Indian scholar and activist Ward Churchill on all accounts. CU 
Boulder administration, right wing pundits and much of the mainstream 
press is fuming as a result.
You'll find many articles regretably conceding that yes indeed the 
firing of Ward Churchill was fueled not by academic misconduct, but by 
his controversial essay On the Justice of Roosting Chickens. The jury 
agreed to all three points of the prosecution: that CU used Churchill's 
opinions and words to terminate him, that the termination harmed 
Churchill, and that had it not been for the essay he had written (as 
opposed to the allegations of academic misconduct) that Churchill would 
still be teaching at the University of Colorado.
Still, quickly looking at the headlines from major news outlets and the 
story continues to be smearing Churchill, rather than recognizing that a 
university joined forces with conservative politicians to lead a 
witchhunt against a teacher for their political beliefs.
In the Denver Post, the lead article is "$1 for Churchill," focusing not 
so much on the ruling itself, but on the lone dollar being awarded to 
Churchill. This misses the entire point of the court case, which was to 
seek justice and not monetary compensation. Andrew Cohen of CBS News 
offers an "analysis" which furthers the tired argument from the right 
claiming that yet again another lazy, incompetent professor is saved by 
tenure and the opaque technicalities of law. This analysis makes claim 
after claim of Churchill being a poor professor who has not contributed 
to the academic world. This despite Churchill boasting of a huge resume 
of writings and analysis repeatedly referenced in Ethnic Studies. It 
fails to mention that before his firing he was teaching to standing room 
only classes or received an award for his scholarly contributions the 
same year he was fired.
The story of the day should be about the victory of free speech over the 
attempts by CU administrators and politicians of firing someone based on 
their constitutionally-protected political beliefs. Luckily that was the 
result of the trial, whether the media wants to recognize it or not.
In case you haven't heard yet, Ward Churchill, and justice, prevailed in
a Denver courtroom this afternoon. The jury in the 31/2 week trial was
asked to decide three questions (which I'm paraphrasing): 1)Did CU
Regents use protected speech (Ward's 9/11 essay) as a substantial or
motivating factor in its decision to terminate Ward? The jury answered Yes.
2)Did the termination harm Ward? The jury answered Yes.
3)Have the defendants shown that Ward would have been dismissed for
other reasons? The jury answered No. In some ways this was the most
important question. By answering No, the jury said not only that Ward's
First Amendment protected speech led to his firing, but that the
"finding" of the CU committee that Ward engaged in academic misconduct
was bogus, and there was no justification for firing him. As Ward said
to the press shortly after the verdict, and as was obvious all along,
this was a political motivated firing, and the jury in their verdict
said as much.
The jury awarded one dollar. But as David Lane, Ward's primary attorney,
had said all along, this was never about money, it was about justice and
vindication for Ward, and that's what the jury gave him.
Whether Ward will get reinstated is now apparently up to Judge Naves.
Attorneys have 30 days to prepare motions and then he'll make a decision.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/08/iran-students-protest-dictatorship-and-gender-apartheid/
Iran: Students Protest Dictatorship and Gender Apartheid

Monday, December 8th, 2008 @ 16:34 UTC
by Hamid Tehrani

Photo is from yaarinews.com

A group of students held a protest rally against the Iranian government 
and president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the University of Tehran on Sunday 
to commemorate Student Day, the anniversary of the murdering of three 
students of University of Tehran on December 6, 1953.
Daftare Tahkim Vahdat (means the Office of Consolidation of Unity), an 
important student association, had organised this demonstration to 
protest against censorship, gender apartheid and pressure on students. 
They chanted slogans such as “Down with the dictatorship” and clashed 
with security forces. You can see a collection of photos here.
Here is a video on the demonstration:
Salam Demokrat says that students who had been in jail or deprived of 
studying delivered speeches at the university. The blogger adds:
در ادامه سخنرانی ها دانشجوی منع تحصیل و زندانی آزاد شده، مهدیه گلرو، از 
دانشگاه علامه
در مورد جنبش زنان و خاطرات زندان خود سخن گفت و مورد تشویق و پشتیبانی 
فراوانی از دانشجویان قرار گرفت. بعد از خانم گلرو، دانشجویان کرد، بیانیه 
ی خود را خواندند. و دانشجویان سوسیالیست دانشگاه های ایران و دانشجویان 
سوسیالیست پلی تکنیک بیانیه های خود را توزیع کردند
Mahdieh Golro talked about the women's movement and her experience in 
prison. Students encourgaed her very warmly. After Golro, Kurdish 
students read their statement and socialist students distributed their 
tracks.
The blogger adds that the number of students was between 3000 to 4000.
See more photos here.
Posted by Hamid Tehrani
Print version

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDAH75316320081207

Group causes damage at Tehran University: report
Sun Dec 7, 2008 12:39pm EST

Related News
Quake hits island off south Iran, five hurt--media
07 Dec 2008
TEHRAN (Reuters) - An "illegal splinter group" of an Iranian student 
body caused damage and clashed with security personnel during a 
gathering at Iran's largest university on Sunday, the official IRNA news 
agency reported.
Pictures obtained by Reuters showed hundreds of people gathered at 
Tehran University in the center of the Iranian capital, some of them 
carrying pro-democracy banners.
One photograph showed some demonstrators tearing down a metal gate at 
the university, one of the oldest campuses in Iran. IRNA called those 
who gathered a "limited group" and said they had attacked the 
university's western entrance gate.
Student protests have been relatively rare in recent years in Iran, 
which is embroiled in a nuclear row with the United States and is often 
criticized by Western rights groups for cracking down on dissent at home.
Liberal-minded students and academics have criticized President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad for clamping down on dissent on campuses. The president and 
his government say they support free speech and welcome constructive 
opposition. Ahmadinejad is expected to seek another four-year term in an 
election next June.
"We want democracy," said a placard carried by one protester on one of 
the photographs made available to Reuters. "Return expelled students and 
professors," said another.
IRNA said people gathering at the campus "must have confused Tehran 
University with a battlefield" and denounced their "savage moves and 
insulting slogans."
Referring to a prominent Iranian student movement, the state news agency 
said "an illegal splinter group associated to the Office of 
Consolidation of Unity tried to express their existence by inflicting 
damage to the university's property."
It did not give details about the damage at the university.
Students and activists say some of those who have spoken out against the 
conservative government have been detained or blacklisted from 
university courses.
Rights activists say other dissenting voices, including labor movement 
figures and women's rights campaigners, have also been targets of a 
government crackdown.
(Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465888,00.html

Talks Fail to End Tree-Sitting Protest at University of California Santa 
Cruz
Friday, December 12, 2008 | FoxNews.com

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Mediation talks have failed to end the nearly 
14-month anti-development protest in redwood trees at University of 
California, Santa Cruz.
Representatives of the Science Hill tree-sitters and the university 
chancellor's office ended Wednesday night without resolution.
Protest spokeswoman Jennifer Charles says the university refused to back 
off north campus development. The redwoods must be cut down so 
construction can begin this spring on the new university biomedical 
facility.
University spokesman Jim Burns says it's hoped tree-sitters will leave 
voluntarily. A judge ordered them out of the trees in March and the 
mediation sessions were designed to end the protest peacefully.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/501902/-/u0l6a6/-/index.html

Students to hold demos to protest against Bill

By SIMON SIELEPosted Saturday, December 13 2008 at 22:12
University and middle-level colleges on Saturday said they would 
organise a series of peaceful demonstrations to protest against what 
they called an attempt to muzzle the media.
They said they would also protest against rising food prices and MPs’ 
failure to pay taxes. “This action is the only option left to instil a 
sense of responsibility in the Government,” they said.
The group calling itself Student Leaders Forum took issue with the MPs’ 
decision to vote in favour of the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 
which they said is aimed at gagging the Press.
“We believe the Bill, if passed into law in its current form, will 
interfere with the democracy Kenya is enjoying, including freedom of the 
Press, which has done us proud by exposing the shoddy deals and scandals 
that we might not have known were it not for the media,” said their 
spokesman, Mr Mohammed Yosuf.
He added that arrangements had been made for young people across the 
country to converge on Nairobi on Monday to bring pressure to bear on 
the President not to assent to the Bill.
The students termed the proposed law “draconian in its current form 
unless it is returned to Parliament for the necessary amendment.”
They vowed not to pay taxes in future unless MPs do so in order 
allocations to the Higher Education Loans Board may go up.

http://www.tobacco.org/news/276394.html

Universities, union clash over smoking ban
Jump to full article: AP, 2008-12-24
Author: MARTHA RAFFAELE, AP Education Writer

Intro:
Grabbing a quick smoke between classes has become impossible for Lock 
Haven University political science professor Robert Storch.
An indoor and outdoor smoking ban imposed at Pennsylvania's state 
university system in September means Storch must walk off campus 
whenever he craves nicotine - a 20-minute roundtrip excursion that he 
cannot cram into a 15-minute break between classes.
``I find it ridiculous,'' Storch told a Pennsylvania Labor Relations 
Board hearing examiner Tuesday. ``You feel like a leper anyway. It's 
really very demeaning.''
Storch was among a handful of professors at the 14 universities who 
testified about the smoking ban during a hearing on an unfair labor 
practice complaint filed by the State System of Higher Education's 
faculty union. A ruling is not expected before February.
The 5,900-member Association of Pennsylvania State College and 
University Faculties wants the ban rescinded. The new policy was imposed 
with virtually no warning, and APSCUF argues that any changes should 
have been negotiated with the union first.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1207483/nebraska_faculty_students_to_protest.html

Nebraska Faculty, Students to Protest Canceling of Bill Ayers Lecture
November 14, 2008 by
J. K. Baurain
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The controversy over Bill Ayers continues this week in America's 
heartland. On Friday, November 14, a teach-in protest is taking place on 
the Lincoln campus at the University of Nebraska. Flyers are billing the 
event as a chance to "make Nebraska history" as

Nebraska Faculty, Students to Protest Canceling of Bill Ayers Lecture
Date: November 14, 2008
Lincoln, NE
United States of America
students and faculty come "to protest UNL's decision to cancel the 
November 15 lecture by Prof. William Ayers and that decision's violation 
of academic freedom."

Ayers was originally invited to give a lecture as part of an education 
conference this weekend. When news of his scheduled appearance came into 
the spotlight, an outcry from some Nebraskans and university donors 
prompted the university to retract the invitation for Professor Ayers to 
speak. A number of faculty and students intend to show they protest that 
decision on Friday afternoon.

Participants are being invited to join "open discussions on academic 
freedom" and hear individuals present about "the history of defending 
civil rights in Nebraska." At least one group of faculty and students is 
planning to meet before the protest and walk together to the event as a 
display of solidarity.

Although this weekend's conference is being run by the College of 
Education, the English Graduate Student Association is sponsoring 
Friday's teach-in. Faculty from several departments, including English 
and education plan to present their perspectives on the issues at stake. 
Following a video covering the history of teach-ins, speakers will 
address topics that include on academic freedom and its history at UNL. 
To conclude the event, a faculty member will read "What I Might Have 
Said" and "The Right to Think at All" by William Ayers.

Sources:

Flyer by the University of Nebraska English Graduate Student 
Association, "Teach-In on Academic Freedom." Distributed on the UNL 
campus during the week of November 10, 2008.

Lee, Melissa. "UNL cancels William Ayers speech." Lincoln Journal Star.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110554370400.htm

New Delhi

Demonstration at Delhi University
NEW DELHI: The Democratic Teachers’ Forum for Social Justice held a 
demonstration at Delhi University on Tuesday demanding “social justice 
for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at all 
levels”.
The Forum has demanded immediate implementation of the University Grants 
Commission’s guidelines (May 2006) regarding reservation in teaching 
positions for SC/ST candidates. It has also said that the ad hoc 
positions for teaching posts reserved for SCs/STs/OBCs must be filled by 
reserved candidates only, said Forum coordinator Ratan Lal.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=50802

Protesters Argue Against CSU Cuts
Posted By: Jennifer Smith 4 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - They call it a "Board of Consequences."
CSU Sacramento faculty, students and staff rallied Wednesday to protest 
proposed cuts of $66.3 million to the CSU budget and caps on enrollment, 
and posted their concerns on a big board outside the campus library.
All 23 CSU campuses have been directed to reduce their budgets by about 
7 percent, and some have already laid off or trimmed the work of 
lecturers and other part-time faculty. A hiring and pay freeze may also 
be considered.
Joining us Live_OnLine Wednesday was Dr. Kevin Wehr, Professor of 
Sociology at Sacramento State University.
He described how CSUS students and faculty are posting personal stories 
of the impact of the cuts on the "Board of Consequences."
They have sent several hundred fax messages to Governor Schwarzenegger 
to protest the cuts, and will continue to send them. Professor Wehr said 
faculty and students are getting anxious, as the cuts continue to come.
He said it makes it difficult to prepare curriculum, and for students to 
to plan their progress toward graduation, which for some may now be 
delayed.
Professor Wehr said the Administration, Faculty, staff and students are 
all working together to try and preserve and protect the CSU education.
News10/KXTV

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=56349

Educators, Students Rally Against Higher Ed Cuts
Posted By: Julia Fox Posted By: Nicole Chavez 9 days ago
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SACRAMENTO, CA - Thousands of college students, faculty and staff 
descended on the State Capitol to protest budget cuts, fee increases and 
layoffs.
Protestors who marched from West Sacramento to the capitol Monday 
morning said community colleges are only being funded about two percent 
more each year, while their enrollments are increasing by 10 percent.
According to students, this means that it's harder to get classes and 
that it's taking longer to get through school.
"We're looking ahead," said Dean Murakami, who teaches at American River 
College. "I think California needs to decide what's important, not only 
for California now, but in our future and we are willing to make the 
proper investment in education today."
Also at Monday's rally were representatives from the University of 
California and California State University systems. The budget approved 
in February chopped $450 million from UC and $283 million from CSU.
"I need that piece of paper to get a better job, " said Patricia 
Hoskins. She's worried that increased fees and overcrowded classes will 
force her to give up her full-time student status. "I'll have to become 
a part-time student and go back to work making minimum wage. I don't 
want that. I want to become a teacher," she said.
Bob Price, a professor at the City College of San Francisco, said he 
fears that college budget cuts will keep eventually hamper California's 
ability to get back on firm financial footing.
"We've already reduced the number of classes we offer," said Price. "A 
lot of times we see students waiting semester after semester for classes 
that they need to move on to UC or CSU. It really delays their education 
and sometimes they give up."
Marchers said they realize there's not much they'll be able to do about 
the current budget, but they hope legislators spare them more pain if 
the economy worsens.
According to the California Legislature's budget analyst, the recession 
has created another $8 billion hole. The unemployment rate, further 
declines in the stock market and lower tax collections have led to the 
lower revenue projections.
"We're going to have another $8 billion shortfall," said Axel Borg, a UC 
Davis librarian. "I think we're going to have to do a new budget and 
hopefully legislators recognize the role higher education plays."

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112053050300.htm

Nov 20 2008

Other States - Puducherry

Lecturers stage protest
Staff Reporter
PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Government Directly Recruited Higher 
Secondary Lecturers’ Association staged a protest on Wednesday to demand 
creation of additional posts of Vice-Principals and proper 
implementation of Assured Career Progression (ACP). Secretary of the 
association K. Ramu said the government had announced the creation of 48 
additional Vice-Principal posts in the Assembly in 2006 to enhance the 
promotion chances of lecturers. But the posts have still not been 
created, leaving the lecturers with eight per cent chance of being 
promoted.
“As many as 200 lecturers are working in the same cadre of lecturers for 
the last 27 years. If the additional posts of Vice-Principals are 
created, then the chances for promotion will increase,” he said.
The association urged the government for proper implementation of ACP 
with full monetary benefits for the lecturers. “In the last three years, 
14 posts of Vice-Principals in government higher secondary schools 
remain vacant. We want the government to fill the posts immediately. In 
addition, the government should evolve a regional transfer policy before 
executing the inter-regional transfers,” he pointed out. Apart from 
this, he said lecturers in rural areas should receive an additional 10 
per cent as “village allowance.”

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/31/2003427407

Youth to join Referendum Law protest
DEMOCRATIC DRIVE: Student organizations heeded the call of a professor 
staging a hunger strike outside the legislature to demand the Referendum 
Law be changed
By Shih Hsiu-Chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Oct 31, 2008, Page 3
A group of young people plan to stage a vigil tonight in support of Tsai 
Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), chairman of the Taiwan Association of University 
Professors, and other localization activists who are staging a seven-day 
hunger strike to back demands for amending the Referendum Law (公投法).
Fifty students representing 10 groups will join the hunger strike 
outside the legislature starting tonight, said Chen Ya-lin (陳亞麟), a 
rally organizer.

Tsai said he wished to see more young people join him in response to an 
appeal by some students that he should stop his strike to retain his 
strength for further protests.

In a message he left on the association’s Web site on Monday, Tsai 
expressed regret that no young people had joined the hunger strike.

Tsai says the law is undemocratic because it sets unreasonably high 
thresholds for a referendum to be initiated and to be passed.

“Professor Tsai has said that he wished young people would join him, and 
we also think that we are obliged to play a role in the fight for a 
better democracy,” Chen said.

Chen said the student groups launched a drive on the Internet, asking 
for 1,000 young people to participate in the hunger strike.

“We hope young people planning to join the vigil will bring flashlights 
so that they can shine them on the legislature to dispel its darkness,” 
Chen said.

The Taiwan Association of University Professors said in a statement on 
its Web site that Tsai would end his hunger strike if young people would 
take over the protest, because that would mean young people are also 
concerned about issues related to the public interest and that he was 
not alone in his concern.

Whether he receives support or not, Tsai would continue to push for 
amending the law, the statement said.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/08/stories/2008110860050300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Protest forum seeks support
KOCHI: St. Albert’s Forum has urged the general public to unite against 
the suspension of Sebastian K. Antony, faculty member of St. Albert’s 
College here.
A.P. Jubiraj, secretary of the forum, said here on Friday that the 
college management had violated all government and university rules by 
not providing justice to Prof. Antony.
St. Albert’s Forum has urged the support of the government, cultural 
leaders and the academia in the ongoing fight demanding the revoking of 
suspension of Prof. Antony. — Staff Reporter

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Protesters-against-Una-SEZ-storm-meet-in-Shimla/363743

Protesters against Una SEZ storm meet in Shimla
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Hemlata Verma Posted: Sep 20, 2008 at 0336 hrs IST

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Related Stories: Mohali airport: farmers demand heavy 
compensationNursing students’ stir gets political hue‘Raise voice in 
Bathinda to get heard’Truckers’ strike hits trade in stateGrain traders 
stage dharna, want checkposts removedHaryana docs threaten strike from 
Jan 13
Shimla, September 19: "The Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the present 
scenario would reverse what was achieved over decades through 
implementation of land reforms to re-distribute over two million hectare 
of land to the landless." A national conference on economic and social 
perspectives of SEZs at Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), 
Shimla, opened on Thursday morning with this statement made by president 
of Indian Academy of Social Sciences, Allahabad, S.P. Shukla.
By evening, the academicians got an opportunity to get a first-hand 
account of threats to people facing displacement through SEZs when a 
group of people who are agitating against the proposed SEZ at Gagret in 
Una talked to them through the same platform.
Narender Parmar, legal advisor of Matribhumi Sangharsh Samiti of Una, 
said the Government was not presenting a true picture about the number 
of farmers who would be displaced by the proposed SEZ of SKIL 
Infrastructure Limited.
"We have sought information under the Right to Information in which it 
is clearly mentioned that the SEZ and airport proposed in Una would 
require 11.5 thousand acres of land, whereas the survey has only been 
done of 4,000 acres," said Parmar.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810271835.html

Cameroon: Lecturers to Protest Poor Pay
Azore Opio
27 October 2008
Higher education and research in the country seem to be in grave danger 
of losing their top-ranking man power due to poor pay and appalling 
working conditions. Thus, lecturers of the six state universities are 
turning up the heat on the government to raise their pay and improve 
their working conditions else, they would go on strike on November 10, 
this year.
It is in this light, that the National Union of Teachers of Higher 
Education, known by its acronym, SYNES, has served the Minister of 
Higher Education a statutory notice of intention to go on strike if 
their demands are not fulfilled.
SYNES copied the rectors and vice chancellors of all the state 
universities.It would appear that SYNES Buea branch held a coordinating 
meeting mid last week, which, according to a very reliable source, was 
heavily attended to strategise on how to carry out the strike and how to 
deal with blacklegs.
The meeting, which was also attended by SYNES national executive members 
from Yaounde, focused on poor remuneration and other disincentives the 
Cameroonian university lecturer is subjected to.
SYNES is demanding that the lecturers be upgraded to salary scales such 
as obtains in Chad, Ivory Coast and Senegal.An assistant lecturer in 
Senegal, according to a source, earns about FCFA 600,000 while his/her 
Cameroonian counterpart receives a paltry FCFA less than FCFA 300,000.
Lecturers this reporter spoke to said school facilities directly affect 
teaching and learning and poor conditions make it more difficult for 
them to deliver adequate education.Several said poor conditions such as 
little office space and teaching space; inadequate research funds, yet 
what little funds there are, are spent on holding meetings and paying up 
suppliers; no free access to Internet facilities have led them to 
consider changing schools.
Some are thinking about leaving teaching, while others have taken up odd 
jobs to make ends meet.In addition, many feel that the job of a 
Cameroonian lecturer requires almost daily compromising of one's meagre 
income, as some of them often must choose between protecting the 
fiduciary interests of the government and the educational needs of the 
students in their caseloads.
A case in point is elaborated by some lecturers in the Sciences 
Department who sometimes are compelled to buy chemicals and reagents 
from their pockets.This, they consider, is unfair.More fundamental 
issues, however, are also at stake.
Because of the enormous disincentives, which include a staggering amount 
of paperwork, overwhelming caseloads, endless meetings, escalating 
poverty and increasingly adversarial, uncivil and often litigious 
hierarchy, the lecturers resolved that this is their last chance to 
fight for their rights.
Poor working conditions are literally driving the lecturers out of 
classrooms into the streets, farms, petty trading, taxi businesses, 
running bars and so on, just to make ends meet.Said one of them your 
reporter met arranging bottles of beer inside a refrigerator in his bar.
"Imagine a lecturer with little money and no time for himself...what do 
you want him to do? Perish?"All too often, the most highly trained 
lecturers wallow in a sea of paperwork while under-trained protégées and 
favoured courtiers of top government officials and politicians feed on 
fat for doing nothing.Despite their hard work and dedication, many 
lecturers work for minimum wage.
(from Postnewsline)

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810130850.html

Nigeria: Principals' Clash Stalls Academic Activities At FGC Jos
 From Andrew Agbese
12 October 2008
Jos — Academic activities were last week stopped at the Federal 
Government College, Jos over a clash by two persons claiming to be 
princi-pals of the school.
The clash according to in-vestigations by our correspon-dent, started 
last week Thurs-day when the former principal, Mallam Alfa Abdullahi, 
who was transferred in a mass exercise last month returned to reclaim 
his seat.
The former principal, who had initially accepted the transfer said the 
transfer had been up-turned in Abuja and that he remained the principal 
of the school when the new principal, Mrs. Caroline Alayande had already 
assumed duties as prin-cipal.
The new principal, Mrs. Ala-yande however refused to be-lieve the Mallam 
Alfa's story as he was unable to produce any written communication to 
show that his earlier transfer had been quashed. Our correspondent 
learnt that the power tussle between the former principal and the new 
one has impacted negatively on academic activi-ties in the school as 
students have not been attending clas-ses.
Attempts to speak with both the new and old principal failed as they 
were said to be civil ser-vants who can only speak with the press after 
clearance from the Federal Ministry of Educa-tion in Abuja.
But the chairman of the school's Parent's Teachers As-sociation, Mr. 
Ayuba Pam, confirmed that Mallam Alfa had been transferred, saying 
how-ever that the former principal had informed him that the transfer 
had been reversed.
He said he had not seen any letter reversing the transfer, saying he 
however did not see any reason to doubt Alfa when he returned from Abuja 
and said the transfer had been reversed.
Students of the school who spoke to our correspondent confirmed an ugly 
incident on the assembly ground of the school last Friday, when the two 
principals introduced themselves to the students as heads of 
administration in the school.
Many of the teachers transferred out of the school have since left and 
reported at their various places of posting while those transfered to 
the school have since reported to assume duties.
(Daily Trust)

http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=605408

Thai Students warned over boycotting classes for anti-gov`t protest
Posted: 2008/09/08
From: MNN

Thailand`s Ministry of Education has fired a `warning shot across the 
bows` to get the attention of students about to take leave from their 
classrooms to demand the resignation of the prime minister and his gov`t.

The ministry on Sunday officially warned the activist student group now 
designating itself as the 'Young PAD' to be fully aware of the 
significance of their class boycott to pressure Prime Minister Samak 
Sundaravej to resign.

Late Saturday students saying they represented some 80 institutions of 
higher learning nationwide called on their fellow students to absent 
themselves from classes and apply their energy and intellect to convince 
the prime minister to change his intention regarding staying in office.

The students say the prime minister's time at the helm of the ship of 
state is over now, and that its time to leave.

The Commission on Higher Education sent letters to all universities 
asking that the academic authorities monitor student movements and to 
them the gravity of the situation under the Emergency Decree imposed in 
Bangkok, and which remains in effect.

Secretary-General Sumet Yaemnun of the Office of Commission on Higher 
Education said that the office had not imposed any rule to bar students 
from expressing their political opinions and that their activities were 
not against university regulations.

However, he said that students should also think about their futures and 
be careful not to be convinced to do anything without understanding the 
real situation.

Mr. Sumet warned that if students did not attend enough classes, 
according to education sector rules, they may have to waste time 
repeating another term or retaking an exam. (TNA

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/14/stories/2008091457580200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Faculty members to join protest on September 24
Special Correspondent
Against delay in submission of Chadda Committee report
MADURAI: The Madurai Kamaraj University Faculty Association (MUFA) has 
decided to join the nationwide protest on September 24 called against 
the delay in submission of Prof. Chadda Committee report on pay scale 
review for university and college teachers. A demonstration will be 
staged on the Madurai Kamaraj University campus.
In a release here, S. Krishnaswamy, MUFA general secretary, said the 
decision was taken at the general body meeting on September 10. The 
nationwide protest was announced by the All India Federation of 
University and College Teachers Organisation.
The association has urged the University Grants Commission Pay Review 
Committee to submit its report by October 5.

http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=73072

Clash with university over beliefs strands student
Seeking resolution of master's degree work at Temple

________________________________________
Posted: August 22, 2008
12:35 am Eastern
By Kathleen Willey
© 2009 WorldNetDaily
A university student who challenged his school's "speech code" and won a 
ruling in federal court that it was vague, overbroad and stifled student 
speech, including his Christian views, is continuing his battle with 
Temple University because the school has – three years after he 
completed it – declined to provide a grade on his master's thesis, thus 
effectively denying him his degree.
The Alliance Defense Fund recently announced that the 3rd U.S. Circuit 
Court of Appeals had affirmed the district court victory by Christian 
DeJohn, who is a sergeant in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
The ADF handled DeJohn's successful request in the courts for a 
permanent injunction against Temple University's speech code, and after 
a district judge sided with DeJohn, the appeals court confirmed "speech 
cannot be prohibited in the absence of a tenable threat of disruption… 
Furthermore, the policy's use of 'hostile,' 'offensive,' and 
'gender-motivated' is, on its face, sufficiently broad and subjective 
that they 'could conceivably be applied to cover any speech' of a 
'gender-motivated' nature 'the content of which offends someone.'"
(Story continues below)
1758626690

Continued the appeals court ruling, "This could include 'core' political 
and religious speech, such as gender politics and sexual morality… The 
policy provides no shelter for core protected speech."
DeJohn's career, however, is not advancing as he planned. He told W ND 
the judge's order did not include instructions for Temple to grade his 
thesis, so more than three years after he completed it under school 
supervision, it still sits.
DeJohn now is serving at Fort Meade in Maryland, and told WND how the 
problems developed. He said he was enrolled at Temple in Philadelphia, 
but left about seven months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks 
because he was deployed to Bosnia.
While he was in Bosnia, he started getting anti-war e-mails, called 
"teach-ins" from Richard Immerman, chairman of Temple's history 
department. DeJohn responded with a request that the e-mails be stopped.
Then when he returned from active duty and tried to re-enroll in Temple 
as a graduate student, he was told he had been expelled because he had 
not asked permission to leave the university.
DeJohn produced copies of his written request, with copies of his orders 
to deploy, and officials then attributed the situation to "computer 
error." He eventually was allowed back into school and worked on his 
master's degree in American and Military History.
However, two professors whose classes he took, Gregory Urwin's 
"Comparative History of Modern Warfare" and Immerman's "American 
Diplomatic History," included diatribes against President Bush, the 
military and the war, he said.
During the course of those lectures, DeJohn expressed his opinion.
He also finished his thesis, "The Sherman Tank in World War II: For Want 
of a Gun," in 2005 following payments for "thesis guidance" to the 
school, but he claims because of the dispute, the school simply declined 
to address his project.
However, Ray Betzner, a Temple spokesman, told WND the court simply did 
not rule in DeJohn's favor on the issues regarding the thesis.
"In short, his academic performance just wasn't good enough," Temple 
attorney Joe H. Tucker, Jr. said. "It had nothing to do with his First 
Amendment rights and everything to do with Temple professor's academic 
freedom to grade a student's poorly written, poorly constructed … thesis."
However, the primary reader of his thesis, Dr. Jay Lockenour, was ready 
to sign off on it but when DeJohn needed a secondary reader, Urwin 
refused to approve it, DeJohn said. He said Lockenour apparently 
believed it would be resolved, and advised him to register to graduate 
in May 2005, but it didn't happen.
Despite those circumstances, DeJohn said Temple reported to his student 
loan companies that he had obtained a diploma, causing his loans in the 
amount of $50,000 to default, damaging his credit.
DeJohn said he believed Temple had initiated a campaign against him, 
punishing him for openly discussing his opinions while he was a student. 
He even wrote to Temple's president, David Adamany, seeking his help 
regarding the obstacles he was facing.
Subsequently, when asked under oath if he was aware of DeJohn's dilemma, 
Adamany denied being aware of allegations about violations of academic 
freedoms. DeJohn, also under oath, produced copies of their 
communication. Shortly thereafter, in a front page story in the 
Philadelphia Inquirer on Jan. 20, 2006, Adamany announced his 
resignation. Betzner insists that he "retired."
DeJohn eventually sought help from Accuracy in Academia and a 
Pennsylvania state representative, and later followed the discrimination 
complaint filed by the Alliance Defense Fund.
But even today, DeJohn's academic status remains in limbo because his 
status of his thesis hasn't been resolved.
And the campaign apparently even has gone beyond that. DeJohn reported 
when he applied for a job as historian at The Army Military History 
Institute at The Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, Urwin apparently 
e-mailed one of his former students who worked there, saying that he 
understood that DeJohn had applied for the job. He stated that all 
veterans are mentally imbalanced because they have been trained to kill 
by the Army.
DeJohn said he never even was interviewed for the post, but under a 
Freedom of Information Act request, he obtained documents showing that 
he was rated No. 1 out of 62 candidates for that position.