Students gathered in Harney Plaza last Thursday to fight for the job of Professor Andrej Grubacic, who has not been rehired for next school year. Organizers of the protest held signs, distributed fliers, and encouraged passersby to sign their petition. ( Melissa Stihl|Foghorn)
A petite blonde clutching a megaphone larger than her head steps up on a table in the middle of Harney Plaza. A crowd of students, most waving posters and distributing leaflets, silences at this action. She shouts into the megaphone and the crowd below shouts back.
On this Thursday, April 16, during dead hour at USF, students are out protesting not the latest international war or human rights injustice; rather they are fighting for the job of an adjunct sociology professor named Andrej Grubacic, who, after one academic year with the University, has not been asked to return next fall.
The young woman with the megaphone, a sophomore named Madeline Scarp, shouts, “He’s not coming back and it’s a shame!” The crowd erupted in response.
Grubacic was signed on as a temporary professor in the sociology department with a one-year contract in fall 2008. His contract, he said, was revised sometime thereafter, under what he called “somewhat mysterious” circumstances. He taught two classes as an adjunct professor this spring, as well as advising nine directed studies.
Despite being told his student evaluations “were very impressive,” and being nominated for both professor and mentor of the year awards, he was informed in February that there would not be a space for him next year. Grubacic was surprised; he had turned down two job offers at other universities believing he would continue employment at USF. Students, who had grown to love his style of teaching and mentorship, were shocked as well.
Many students would feel apathetic about fighting for a professor’s job. What makes this professor different, the protesting students said, is his manner of teaching, leading interactive discussion courses and mentoring them on how to become involved with political processes.
Senior Jennifer Herrera, one of Grubacic’s students, said, “He’s very passionate. It’s a pleasure to hear someone talk passionately about issues.”
Sophomore Madeline Scarp speaks out to a group of concerned students last Thursday in Harney Plaza about the decision not to renew sociology professor Andrej Grubacic’s contract. (Melissa Stihl|Foghorn)
After taking multiple forms of action to express their feelings about Grubacic’s job, including repeatedly meeting with Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Jennifer Turpin and Sociology Department Chair Steven Zavestoski, presenting their case to the ASUSF Senate, gathering signatures on a petition, forming a Facebook group, distributing literature around campus and holding the protest last Thursday, students were met with the same response from the administration: that there is simply not a spot for him. Herrera said, “I think this is really about a bigger issue: students should have a say.”
Grubacic echoed this statement. “What [the students] are asking is, I believe, a question of the first order: what is the role of students in collective life of the university? Shouldn’t their collective voice account for something more? What does that famous phrase ‘student power’ mean?” He asked. “I believe that this whole ‘movement,’ if we can call it that, is about something far more important then keeping one professor.”
Turpin, who helps oversee the staff in the College of Arts and Sciences, maintains that there simply is not space or funding to keep Grubacic at the University. She said, “Mr. Grubacic was meant to serve as a temporary instructor while others (full-time faculty in Sociology) were on leave. But all of the excellent faculty who were on leave last year will be returning in the fall, and thus we have to resume paying their full time salaries.” These professors not only require the salary that would go to Grubacic, but also will be instructing the classes he would teach, she explained. “All of them teach in globalization – Mr. Grubacic’s main specialization and the area in which he’s been teaching for us.”
Still, many students maintain that in a case where so many students are pleading for a professor to stay, the University should take note and make things fit somehow.
Junior Megan Langley, a student of Grubacic who participated in the protest, said, “We understand that his contract expired, but we’re asking for a re-hire. We’re the students, and we should get some say in who teaches us. It’s just logical.”
Turpin addressed this point, “Student opinion is very valuable. When USF recruits new full-time continuing faculty, students are included in the hiring process. They also play a role when they evaluate faculty at the end of each semester. Student opinion is not the only variable involved in creating new positions at USF, however.” She said there were too many logistical impossibilities with this case: no money designated to pay his salary and no classes open for him to teach.
Some still do not accept this answer. Rumors arose that Grubacic was not being rehired because of his radical political ideology. Chair of Sociology Department Steven Zavestoski said this had absolutely no influence on his not being rehired, but Grubacic said he believes this with certainty. “Do I believe it? Yes. Do I have proof? No,” he said. Grubacic said in fall when he began teaching, other professors accused him of “organizing” his students, and molding them into a “cult” following.
But if Grubacic did help his students learn to organize, he says he had no part in their latest cause. “It came as a surprise, a beautiful surprise. I am very happy to have been able to encourage it, by teaching students to think for themselves.” He said, “It is one of the most heart-warming and moving experiences of my life.”
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April 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
As the students of today, you are the workers of tomorrow. You must organize and agitate until you have attained your goals. Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization, progress is BORN of agitation. It is agitation or stagnation!
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
The same thing happened to me while at USF. Jennifer Turpin who was then just the Associate Dean stonewalled a group of History students who were loosing a popular professor. Way to go, and let the University know that not one penny of mine will be sent until Dean Turpin is removed.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
I just want to offer up my applause to the students involved in this, it’s great to see USF students fighting for their fair-say in who teaches them. Way to go everyone!
-Mike
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Great article, Laura. This is an exciting (albeit sad) issue because USF students are actually taking a stand and working to defend something they believe.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
My, my, my…..What happened to the apathy we all know and love? I’m shocked.
Props to USF students who care enough to make their voices heard.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
what was the basis for other professors accusing Grubacic of “organizing his students into a cult following” ?. those seem like very serious terms with a lot of gravity, whether they are valid or not. does anyone know why his colleagues would accuse him with such serious charges?
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
It’s saddening that students are losing a beloved teacher, but it sounds like the school’s hands are tied. The people Grubacic replaced are returning, and there are union rules (seniority, etc) that control which adjuncts will teach in a given semester. I’d like to know the truth about the alleged accusations of Grubacic organizing a cult following. Did those professors really say that or is it possible that they were misconstrued?
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I talked to Professor Grubacic extensively over the last few days, and about that rumor specifically at one point and he laughed it off and said its not true. He said “I was never invited.” He also said he never asked for a full time job, as some have said, only to remain teaching whatever he is teaching now. I understand those are his words, and there are two sides to every story, so read into it what you will. I dont think he had anything to do with it.
I am currently taking a class with Professor Grubacic and I have seen how many students in my class have been motivated by him. He’s developed a strong relationship with many of his students that I rarely see. i dont know exactly why he’s not coming back. There seem to be many conflicting stories surrounding this issue. I don’t buy into the money argument for two reasons: 1. Professor Grubacic told me he would be making no more than a few thousand, I think he said like 6 thousand. 2. I went to a meeting a few weeks ago in Dean Turpin’s office with a bunch of angry students and I remember her telling us that she understood Andrej wanted a full time job. Andrej said this wasnt true, but for the sake of argument lets just say it is. One student asked if he could stay if students were able to raise the money and Dean Turpin said it was something that could be looked into if that were to happen. I would thing that if it was solely about the money, and students could solve this problem, then there would be no reason not to bring him back.
One argument that Dean Turpin made during that conversation was that no department has asked for him to join or petitioned for him to return. The students there did not take kindly to that argument. They pretty much said we dont care if teachers dont want him here cuz we want him here. Moreover, I dont know if that argument is entirely true. Im pretty sure there’s been at least one department that was interested in bringing him on and several professors that have written letters to the administration in support of Professor Grubacic. I dont know why the administration is so against him staying.
What I do know is that students are gonna lose eventually both with their protest and in the classroom, sadly. I dont think the administration is gonna budge on this. Professor Grubacic has been a great asset to USF and I wont be happy to see him leave. Hopefully he can still find a way to maintain those strong relationships with some of his students. I dont think he cares much for USF, but he does care about his students, which is what we need more of.
Well done to those students who are fighting for his job. It’s nice to see students who are willing to put in the extra effort to fight for a cause they’re so passionate about. If anyone cares to write an opinion column on this issue, whether you are for or against Professor Grubacic staying, let me know! Or you can just send them to nick@sffoghorn.info.
-Nicholas Mukhar
April 25th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
i had anrej last semester, and even then he knew that he wasn’t going to be re-hired. (and seemed quite proud of it)
he’s just encouraging these students to fight his battles. oh, and a number of students who had him for a class-even loyal followers- were bothered by andrej asking students go fetch him coffee.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
What about the fact that he has had the best student evaluations in the history of the sociology department?
I think it’s safe to say that most people who know Professor Grubacic know that he is more than qualified to teach here. He is a huge asset to the joke of a sociology department. The faculty of this department are acting like a bunch of teenagers. They have been gossiping among themselves, have never invited Grubacic to the department meetings, and have never attempted to reach out to their concerned students. This whole ordeal has been a big disappointment.
I agree that two-face Turpin should be fired. She is so full of shit, it’s dribbling out her ears. Of course there is adequate funding to rehire the guy, this is a fucking private school with millions of dollars reserved for emergency situations! The only thing that there is no space for is USF faculty and staff respecting the concerns and wishes of the students.
Thank you Alex Platt, who notified us the DAY OF the Senate meeting with the provost attending. (Who was far from helpful)
And as for Laura, “A petite blonde clutching a megaphone larger than her head”? You should have just let Ricky write this article. You didn’t even come close to expressing how big of a deal this is.
YES this school is a capitalist enterprise and yes most of these people care more about money and preserving structure rather than empowering students. However, according to the idiot’s theory, the demand is suppose to have SOME influence over the services that they/we pay for. Instead, the main players of this institution embrace and focus on first impressions, material accumalation, bureaucratization of all processes, top-down politics, secrecy, and financial security over freedom, equality, empowerment, and creativity. This is a system that is apparent right down to the departmental level and is visibal in the paralasis and lack of intellectual stimulation among the student body.
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I’m sorry if you don’t think I covered this fairly. It is my job to cover all sides and let readers be aware of the issue, not to persuade people that it’s a big deal and that one side is right and the other is wrong. I am also not at liberty to print hearsay and rumors that cannot be verified.
There is no way that Ricky could have written this, being so heavily involved in the issue and obviously partial to one side.
While we’ve printed our final issue of the year, there is more than enough room for opinion columns in the community section online. Please consider writing one or encouraging your friends too!
January 21st, 2010 at 5:48 pm
He might be a good teacher, but why are people calling him “Professor” when he is 1) an adjunct. 2) has anyone asked about his credentials? degrees, etc.? 3) what is the real funding situation