1982_05 The Daily Collegian May 1982

              tetters from readers-
O'Brien
Page 2-tbe Dally Collegian-May 3, I9t2
To the editor:
It was with great sorrow that I read Mr.
Steve Schmidts wreckless, one sided, and
shallow article on Professor John C.
O'Brien. It did no credit to himself, the
Daily Collegian, the University, the
SOBAS. and did nothing but damage the
good name of Professor John C. O'Brien.
Here are a defense of Professor O'Brien
and some topics Mr. Schmidt might wish
to contemplate.
Mr. Schmidt's article appeared two
days after President Harold H. Haak
resolved the problems between Professor
O'Brien and Dean Gene E. Burton and
asked that an parties put the past behind
them and start afresh. Certainly all the
faculty I spoke with were relieved and
pleased to have the matter resolved. Unfortunately, Mr. Schmidt felt the President's
request did not apply to him. Having
obtained copies of a few relevant documents Mr. Schmidt apparently felt it was
his public duty to air the laundry despite
the consequences. At the very least Mr.
Schmidt owes a. public and unequivocal
apology to President Haak and most cer
tainly to Professor John C. O'Brien.
Mr. Schmidt fails to have made the
most fundamental inquiry. WHY? WHY?
WHY? Why would Professor O'Brien or
any professor for that matter, rise in
indignation against another faculty member? What were the bases or objectives of
the memoranda in which Professor O'Brien
brought to bear his rich vocabulary? If
Mr. Schmidt had obtained more memoranda, it is certain that he would have
found that the terms used by Professor
O'Brien paled into insignificance relative
to the appalling circumstances depicted in
those memoranda. Had Mr. Schmidt obtained just a few more of those documents, the headline would have read,
'O'Brien Fights Back: Documents Detail
a Decade and a Half of Harassment in the
SOBAS.*
Let me arbitrarily select the word liar*
from those mentioned in Mr. Schmidt's
article. Did Mr.Schmidt bother to find
out why Professor O'Brien might have
called someone a liar? Is it remotely possible that someone might have been less
than honest or possibly even dishonest in
some matter or matters relating to Professor O'Brien? Can it be construed to be
'defamation' if a liar is labeled a liar? If
defamation had occurred, would not the
aggrieved party have brought suit against
Professor O'Brien? Certainly he would.
Unless of course there was merit to Professor O'Brien's statements. Is it possible
lhat the only defamation that did occur,
actually took place on November 16.
1981, when portions of Professor O'Brien's
private memoranda were made public?
Unfortunately. Mr. Schmidt appears to
have been more concerned with the veneer
than the substance of the controversy.
But dont feel bad Mr. Schmidt. You
have company. Most of the students and
faculty do not wish to know of Professor
O'Brien's suffering either. For most of
them, no conceivable provocation would
warrant use of such terminology. Fortunately, the inconceivable has not happened to them. Unfortunately for Professor O'Brien, the inconceivable has hap-
:o him
No doubt the cynical individual would
attribute Professor O'Brien's remark to
his personality. This would be patently
incorrect. He is a scholar wishing only to
be left alone to pursue his teaching and
research. When obstacles have been put in
his way he has exercised his right to protest in his private communiques.
In many cases it seems he has been
intentionally harassed, to wit: routinely
"disapproved" requests for travel funds
i of his name and papers from
More O'Brien
To the editor:
After reading Dean Burton's outrageous charge (Daily CoUegtaa, April 14,
1982) that Dr. O'Brien 'defamed* the
characters of other professors in private,
confidential memoranda he had written
over the years for the purpose of expressing his indignation at the wrongs continually done him, I began to wonder whether
Dean Burton is really an officer in a university, or whether he's a ringmaster In
Barnum and Bailey's. To subject my
former professor. Dr. O'Brien, a man dedicated to the intellectual life to such public
obloquy is absolutely intolerable! For
such calumny Mr.  Burton should be
called to account.
Dean Burton's public 'allegation* that
Dr. O'Brein's 'unprofessional behavior*
adversely effected the School and faculty
is sheer unadulterated dribble. Dean Burton's behavior in discussing Dr. O'Brien
with a student journalist who is hell-bent
on making public the contents of confidential documents which just happened to
"fall" into his possesion is more than
unprofessional. It is a malicious and vindictive act. Moreover, as all students
know, l)r O'Brien is a brilliant teacher
and scholar. His publications and presentations of research papers at meetings of
international learned societies have
brought enormous prestige to the School
and University. In this regard, he is without peer in the Department of Business.
That  Dean  Bi
nd  Chairman
Lange could call for the dismissal of such
a rare and talented scholar as Dr. O'Brien
begs the question. Are Mr. Burton and
Mr. Lange in the same class as their
"whipping boy* Dr. O'Brien where teaching and scholarship are concerned? Mr.
Burton is, 1 understand a newcomer to the
academic world. Mr. Lange, I believe, is a
In his dicussion of this sensitive personnel issue with a tyro in journalism. Dean
Burton showed a reckless disregard for
the reputation of the School and Univer-
' sity. For his part, Dr. O'Brien elected to
' have a closed hearing in order to protect
the reputation of the School, the University, and all other parties involved. I
commend him. He is truly a noble man.
Ortega y Gassct would be proud of him.
Kevin D. Gunner
CSUF Alumnus
a recent report of the activities of the
SOBAS. wherein one paper with four
joint authors is listed four times and
counted as four articles. Perhaps the
harassment occurs because Professor
O'Brien has high standards, a keen sense
of truth and justice, and because he will
react to provocation. Perhaps it is because
he is not a team player. Richard Nixon
liked team players. Perhaps it is because
he is a superb teacher.
Dean Burton said he had reservation
concerning Professor O'Brien's teaching
ability. Let me paraphrase some students'
book in living color. He is too good for
CSUF. He belongs at Stanford, Harvard,
or Cambridge. Some say he should be at
Harvard, but then we would be deprived
of his tremendous teaching ability. One
faculty member of the SOBAS has characterized his examinations as "works of
art." Furthermore, to an inquiry concerning 'the professor who most affected your
life at CSUF.' sent to SOBAS alumni.
Professor O'Brien's name was among the
four most frequently mentioned. Personally, I am inclined to agree with Mr. Tom
Slocum's comments in the Daily Collegian, April 14, 1982. "O'Brien is a first
passed on this campus. I think he's the
best of them all.*
Mr. Schmidt mentions interviews with
Dean Burton and Professors Paul M.
Lange and David F. Quadro, Would Mr.
Schmidt kindly explain why Professor
O'Brien was not interviewed?
The Daily Collegian of March 2, 1982,
mentioned the possibility that Professor
O'Brien's courses were being "railroaded
into obscurity' by 'faculty manipulation.'
Perhaps Mr. Schmidt should have exercised his investigative prowess in that
>n, and court
iction was without basis. In fact, the
action before the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission was very much
alive on April 12,'1982, when Professor
O'Brien was obliged to drop the case as
part of the 'package' deal to get away
from the SOBAS. Furthermore, if Professor O'Brien's grievances had no merit,
why is a former dean of the SOBAS now
back in the classroom' in the SOBAS?
Finally, Mr. Schmidt seems to have
completely missed the significance of
creating an Applied Ethics program at
this time. Why would President Haak
authorize dismissal proceedings against
Professor O'Brieri and then go to all the
trouble to create an Applied Ethics program and appoint Pro'fessor O'Brien to
that program? Could it have been that the
University did not have a viable case?
Could it have been that a hearing would
have forced disclosure of internal docu-
ich would have caused serious
injury to the reputation of others? Be
assured, the subject matter of Professor
O'Brien's memoranda over the last decade
and a half are far more incriminating than
the colorful terms he used to describe
Jeff B. Watson
Student Body President
A Student of Dr. O'Brien
Lights
To the editor:
This may not be an important issue at
CSUF, but I feel one that should be
brought to light. I'm an avid tennis player,
I eat, drink, and sleep tennis. The issue I'm
referring about is lights for our tennis
courts. Frankly, I'm very surprised that
CSUF does not have lighting facilities for
' t courts. I feel that the campus
should invest some money for lighting. As
summer draws near with its 100-110
degree temperatures, playing tennis will
become impossible in the afternoons. If
the school is concerned about losing
money, quarter machines can be
-porated with, the lights (about 25
cents for one hour of light.) Put your
quarter in, turn the knob and ycru have
light — that simple. I really think that
CSUF should seriously consider lighting
facilities for the tennis courts.
Dwayne Sholes
I
May 3, lMl-tb* Daily CoBegU»-P.g« 3
XSUF this week
i
The start of the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration begins today. 'Mariachi El Gallo' will
perform in the College Union Lounge at 11
"Chicano Labor Struggles in the U.S." is the
subject ofa presentation by Bert Corona (Political Science; CSU. Los Angeles) at the CU
Lounge beginning at noon. The lecture will be
followed by a performance by the Clovis
Marimba Band.
'Worldwide Reproductive Health and Malnutrition' will be the subject of a guest lecture
by Jack Eblen. director of the Adolescent
Reproductive Health Program of the World
Health Organization for the United Nations.
The lecture will rate place in Main Cafeteria
200 at lp.m. ">
Teatro del Eipiritu* will give a free performance in the CU Lounge starting at 7 p.m.
Mike Yturaldis Latin'Kg Band, composed of
local musicians, will perform in the CU Lounge
at 8 p.m.
The University String Quartet will be featured on the 'Music Room' television program
tonight at 10 o'clock on KMTF-TV, Channel
(HEP) will hold a fund raiser from 10:30 a.
until they run out of food. They will be selli
Cafeteria Building.
WEDNESDAY
'Mariachi Nuevo Zapopan* will open the
Cinco de Mayo celebration st 11 a.m. 'in
O'Neill Park.
Resident Folk Artist Lydia Mendoza and
folk singer Carmen'Moreno will present a free
program at 12:30 p.m. in O'Neill Park.
'Women in the Mexican Revolution" will be
the topic ofa presentation by Inez Hcrnandez-
Tovar in O'Neill Park at 1:30 p.m.
program in the CU Lounge suiting at 7:45
Daniel Valdez and Company will present a
free program in the CU Lounge at 9 p.m. Valdez is an actor, musician, and composer. He
began with El Teatro Campeaino and has com-
the Broadway ahd film versions of *Zoot Suit.*
Senior Beverly Reese will be featured in
ape reunion reel la 1 at 8 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall.
Masters Candidate Chris Plaunt. a composition studcmvwill have his works performed in a
recital in the Music Buildiag Recital Hall at t
cussion will be held in Science 161 at r
'Aerobic Conditioning and Cardiovascular
Diseases' is the subject of a special presentation by Fresno cardiologist Ed Hanks. The
presents! ion will be held in Main Cafeteria 200
■t7p.m.    .
Lydia Mendoza will perform at noon in the
Wine Press Room of the Del Webb Buildingas
who are interested in the mirm taTsarrforouacr
and working on Ihe asagaiisaa at* urged to
FRIDAY
Trtr mm **jimi—i1 aaqiati * ' < *"—-
havc an open bouse from 9 to 11 Ji a.m.
A study of the Bible in <Iaa.ua with a focus
on Phihppiani will be held ut Lab School H9al
11a.m.
The Lady Bulldogs softball leas* will host
University of Pacificat3p.nl. iaasuigte game
Burt Reynolds teams with Farrmls Fawcctt in
Ihe film The Cannonball Ram.* A 3 JO matinee is slated for the John Writtat Theatre.
Evening showings are schedule for 1 15. I(HH.
and 11.55 p.m. in the CU Lo-usse.
The CSUF Black Gospel Chow will hold
their Fifth Annual Spring Awants Banquet in
I he Residence Dinine Facility. T'scaeta are 15 in
advance and S5 JO at the door. Cal exi 2562
TUESDAY
Children from a i
theCUL-
The High School Equivalency Program
CSUF President Harold Haak and Vice
'resident for Academic Affairs Tomat Arci-
iega will open the evening Semana de La Raza
The CSUF Jazz Singers, directed by Rolls ml
Hurst, will present a concert in the Music
Building Recital Hall at 8 p.m.'
The University Theatre will continue its run
of "Grease' at 8:15 p.m. The play is slated to
wntinue May6-« and 11-15. All performances
are slated for 8:15 p.m.
. The CSUF Woodwind Choir aaat Ihe CSUF
Brass Choir will present a free co-seen in the
Music Building Recital Hall at t pm
The Bulldog badminton team will host an
Alumni Tournament in the CSUF Women's
Gym starting at 9 a.m.
Students receive Dean's medals
11:30 a.
Nine students at CSUF have been
named to receive Dean's medals as the
outstanding graduating seniors and gradual- student for 1982.     .
Each school and the Division of Graduate Students and Research selects its top
graduating student based on academic
achievement, service to the university and
leadership. .
One of the nine Dean's Medalist will be
named during the university's 71st commencement ceremonies to receive the
President's Medal as the outstanding
CS U F graduate for 1982. The ceremonies
will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 22 in
the university stadium. The Dean's
Medalists will lead, the processional for
their respective schools.
Named as 1982 Dean's Medal recipients
are Kim Schnoor of Chowchilla, School
of Agriculture and Home Economics;
Christopher Reynolds of San Diego,
School of Arts and Humanities; James
Catalano of Clovis. School of Business
and Administrative Sciences; Lori Robinson of Fresno, School of Education and
Human Development.
Physical Education seminar
The Second Annual CSUF Regional
Seminar on Physical Education and
Athletics will be conducted at 7 p.m.
Wednesday.
Sponsored by the Department of Physical Education, the program will feature a
presentation by Dr. Ed Hanks, a Fresno
cardiologist, on 'Aerobic Conditioning
and Cardiovascular Diseases.' It will be
held in Room 200 of the Cafeteria Building.
Dr. Pat Thomson, chair of the Pysical
Education Department at CSUF, said Dr.
Hanks was an excellent athlete while in
college, and he will be able th relate to the
audience with a personal touch regardiing
the need for fitness at all levels.
The program is designed for physical
educators from public schools throughout
the area and also is open to the public free
of charge to. help develop a better under
standing of current issues relating to physical education.
For mor information, contact the
CSUF Dcparment of Physical Eucation
294-2016.
Albany, California, School of Health and rey ^ wM
Social Work; Robert Gallup of Fresno, p m 10<Uy
School of Natural Sciences; Megan Then: will
Wagner of Abington, Pennsylvaniaa. demonstrations and displays, saai
School of Social Sciences; and Marcia puppetshows.aisdanopportsaiqrt
Morrison of Clovis, Division of Graduate IO prepare and cook calamari (aq«
Studies and Research. s^r,, tnmpatr m nuiee
Inadditiontobeingrecognizedatcom- saxophone student Kenny Poiaoa
enccment, the Dean's Medalists will be mrcd in a joint recital. Thenxitalwi
honored at a dinner Saturday in the Vin- the Music Building Rechal Hall at
tage  Room of the CSUF Cafeteria      ^cSUFB^kGeapelChoir-i
*c*" _ v.    ».      v        k -      , Go-P-' »«■* FetivislU, the A.
Sponsored by Blue Key, the national from j to 7        Tiekeu m n ,
honorary society, the dinner will be admission and SI for students assdar
attended by parents of the recipients and at the CU Information Desk
the school deans, who will introduce their ,
respective medalists. .  Senior cellist t>nnii Drewwifl.
Other university adminiitrators, "J-** ",tbeMuuc■**■ *•*
including CSUF President Harold  H. 'JWPjn-
Haak, also will participate in the program SUNDAY
which will begin with a social hour at 6     ._
p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the „,"« concert in the M nnc a,
presentations at 8 p.m. Hall at
bafas-
: held in
3JO p.m.
$5,000 - $20,000, Oirftold, Construct*) n,
Cannerie* etc. For booklet compute
with job availability, wages, housing,
addresses, etc aaftd $4.95 to Alaskan
Jobs, Box 44030 S. 58, Tucson, AZ
85733.	
FURNITURE FOR LESS
3270 E. Rtamont - 442-0447
•WHY WENT WHEN YOU CAN BUY*
Mattrw. t Box Sp. Fid or Twin $75--.
STUDENT SPECIAL
3 months storage for
$24 for a 6x8 or $32 for a 6x I
All units 10 foot high.
Bobs Mini Storage
485-5710	
Classffletfs
Bookeeper Needed:
Immediate opening for accounting major
with at least one year left of school. Call
Son Electric at 291-4690.
Special Sales Opportunity- Individuals
needed to place people in money management workshops. Full or part-time. Excellent commission. Call after 4:00 Mr.
Loftus. 291-0468.
JOB INFORMATION: Dallas. Houston.
Overseas, Alaska, $20.000to$50.000 possible. 602-998-0426. Dept. 1127 Phone
Call Refundable.
STUDENT DENTAL PLAN. ENROLL
NOW! Save your teeth and money too.
Information Associated Students Office.
Female Roomate Wanted: Vi mik from
campus. Share with 2 senion. Own bedroom, back-yard, quiet area. $156.00
month ♦ 1/3 utilities. Call 435-6191.
Valley Women's Service
A Family Pfonmng Service
125 E. Barstow, Suite 135 Fresno, CA. 93710
offers . . .
Cbnficlential Family Planning .Services
3311&   FBEE
^ ,0*-1 • PREGNANCY TESTING .
-^ (early pregnancy screening/
• Problem or Unplanned Pregnancy
> Ownsssiog and Alternatives
• Birth Control hrfonrntian
• PREGNANCY TERMINATION
(General (asleep) or Local \nesa\enc,
mmm Medi-Cal and other iiisurance
accepted Conf kfential-Pereonal care
For further information call Valley Women's Service
People who care
2255180 _