Greg Heller

In support of Professor Howard Bernstein, students rallied outside Downey House at the Board of Trustees dinner Thursday night.

Approximately 75 students rallied outside Downey House, speaking about their experiences with Bernstein, who has taught at Wesleyan for 21years. Students held signs that read "student voices will be heard" and "great teachers matter." They waited for President Doug Bennet and the Trustees to arrive, hoping to persuade them to renew Bernstein’s contract.

"We’re here either because we’ve had a class with [Bernstein] or because we support good teaching in general," said Matt Larsen ’00, a WSA representative who organized the rally. "What we want is ultimately to express our support for these themes to the Board and to Bennet."

Handouts that clearly outlined the rally’s goals were given to board members as they entered the building. According to the handout, the rally’s main objective was to request that Bernstein be granted an adjunct associate professorship with a multi-year renewable contract.

"A lot of people feel that Wesleyan is forcing out superb educators and we want to express our concern to the university," Larsen said. "The bottom line is there is no answer for this. This makes no sense and that’s what we’re here to say."

Throughout the rally, numerous students spoke about the classes they had with Bernstein, recalling his dedication and genuine interest in teaching.
 

jackson stakeman

Chris Churchill ’00 holds a sign in support of Professor Bernstein as part of a protest outside of Downey House.

"He’s interested in what we learn about and cares about what we think," said Loren Earle-Cruickshanks ’00. "It’s either keep Howard at Wesleyan or end his career as a teacher,"

Many students at the rally had never taken a class with Bernstein, but still supported the cause.

"Even though I have never had a class with Professor Bernstein, I got to know him well when I would go to Freeman," said Karen Gross ’01. "I found it so rare for a professor to be a part of the community more than just as a professor in a classroom."

Students also expressed concern about the lack of student input the University considers when deciding whether to renew professor contracts. Paralleling Bernstein’s predicament, similar concerns have also been raised with Visiting Instructor of English Kasturi Ray, whose contract will not be renewed although she received the highest recommendation from the student majors committee.

"What the board and Bennet have decided is wrong, but there’s 2,700 of us and we should have a say in what professors we want to keep. It’s our money and our school," Earle-Cruickshanks said.

Due to Downey House’s various entrances, students were unable to confront all thirty board members.

"It was confusing to us because there were a lot more people inside Downey House than we saw pass by and enter," Larsen said. "But we were able to talk with some of the trustees and also the chairman of the board. I spoke with them, and I am sure that the members inside heard us and have the WSA handout."

According to Larsen, the rally was successful in its goals.

"I think that we made our point," Larsen said. "It was short and sweet, we got our message across and now we will pursue our goals in other ways to persuade Bennet to intervene."

Letters from students in support of renewing Bernstein’s contract will be presented to Bennet and the Trustees on Friday, Mar. 3. In addition, the Campus Affairs Committee, which consists of six student trustees, will meet with the rest of the Board this weekend to voice student concerns.

"Keeping Bernstein is a flesh and blood concern to students," Larsen said. "I hope we’ll be heard."