Keep Andrej Grubacic at USF

To:  Arts & Science Deans of the University of San Francisco, and Father President Stephen Privett

To Whom it May Concern:

As the students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University of San Francisco, we ask that the university overturn its decision regarding the non-renewal of Professor Andrej Grubacic's contract following the Spring 2009 semester. We deplore the university's choice to ignore the voice of its students in this ordeal; no undergraduates were involved in the making of this decision. Since it was made, the university has repeatedly ignored or dismissed our letters and pleas on Grubacic's behalf.

Professor Grubacic is an inspiring instructor and his classes are an interactive experience. As students, we are expected to help facilitate each session, rather than to idly listen to Grubacic lecture and scribble notes. We leave class feeling empowered rather than weighed down, as well as more optimistic about our ability to create tangible change.

Therefore, we feel Professor Grubacic should have a place at USF because:

• As students of Professor Grubacic, we are not only expected to sit and write notes on his lectures, but also to actively participate and discuss in a classroom dynamic that facilitates learning and understanding, rather than simple memorization.

• Grubacic received outstanding evaluations from his students last semester, which are supposedly a major indication of a professor's standing at USF. The university disregarded this indicator of popularity and demoted Grubacic from a full-term appointment to an adjunct position, though he still has nearly the same class load with 2 courses and multiple directed studies.

• He specializes in areas, such as globalization and global social movements, that a large percentage of the USF community are interested in learning about. This means, in turn, that any course he was allowed to teach would most likely result in a full class roster. Furthermore, his Introduction to Globalization class is a requirement for Int'l Studies students, who overwhelmingly gave him outstanding reviews for that crucial, major requirement class.

• Professor Grubacic has an enormous amount of student support. However, members of the university have likened this base to a cult following, charging Grubacic with 'indoctrinating' his students. While we resent these statements, which essentially imply that students are incapable of internalizing information without critically evaluation, we would like to point out that there are professors teaching far more dangerous ideas than passion for life and struggle against oppression. Professor Grubacic does not force his beliefs on his students, but respects us enough to allow us room to think for ourselves.

• It has been the assumption of many students that the University enjoys a particularly special relationship with its teachers, and would not consider refusing to retain a teacher without providing evidence of his misconduct or inability to teach at the college level. Even during an economic crisis, we expect USF to keep faculty which students greatly approve of.

• If he is let go from USF, he will be left unemployed. While finding another job would be a burden for any working person during a global economic crisis, Grubacic has to deal with the added difficulty of possibly losing his green card if he cannot find further employment. We do not feel USF would leave another professor in this situation, and for this reason, we feel that Grubacic is being targeted for his 'unrepenting' belief in anarchism.

• USF's motto is "Educating minds and hearts to change the world." Because Professor Grubacic has extensive practical experience in his area of study, and was even covered in USFnews for his trip to G8 in Japan last fall, he is able to impart this to his students. Knowledge of the workings of globalization and the means by which we resist oppression are quite appropriate at a university which prides itself on its commitment to service learning and social justice. In this way, Grubacic is one of the few professors who is truly making what our university prioritizes a reality: equipping students with the tools to change the world-- to "be the change." Surely, the University of San Francisco would not want to lose such a valuable asset to Jesuit higher education.

One of the most oft cited reasons for USF's inability to provide Grubacic with further employment is the economic crisis. We would also like to take this time to point out that while the university recognizes its own financial difficulties, it has raised tuition from $33,160 to $34,430. Comparatively, this is a small increase for the university, which has already shown its commitment to steadily increasing tuition, but this hike is already being felt in the pocketbooks of many USF families, and some students are already wondering how they will continue their university education. During this economic crisis, many families are reconsidering their costs and investments, and removing one of the most cherished professors from the university faculty would cause many families to rethink what distinguishes a USF education from one anywhere else.

If the university is willing to raise our tuition fees, it should also be willing to put a relatively small portion of our extra tuition fees towards keeping a professor who has enriched the educations of so many students in two short semesters. Even during an economic crisis, teachers should be the first thing a university spends money on. As students, we refuse to continue to allow our money and our parents' money to go to a university that cares so little about the opinions of its students in such important matters. Students are the true lifeblood of any university, and we are not mere financial sustainers for the university itself. We demand a say in where our money is going, and trust that in this instance, USF will allow for a portion of its revenue toward the continued employment of Professor Andrej Grubacic.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Keep Andrej Grubacic at USF Petition to Arts & Science Deans of the University of San Francisco, and Father President Stephen Privett was created by and written by Nicole Duda (radicalpriorities@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.