To: Thomas F. George, Chancellor, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Brady J. Deaton, University of Missouri System Chancellor, Deborah Baldini, Associate Dean for Continuing Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Mike Murray, Chair...
Reinstate Adjunct Professor Don Giljum
On April 28, Adjunct Professor Don Giljum was pressured by the University of Missouri St Louis to resign after his labor studies students and co-teacher were intentionally misrepresented as advocating violence by the infamous and discredited blogger Andrew Breitbart. The university has denounced Breitbart's video but refuses to grant Professor Giljum due process, much less defend him, even though his students have attested to the fact that he does not advocate violence.
The university has claimed publicly that Professor Giljum resigned voluntarily. As in the similar case of Shirley Sherrod, Professor Giljum has stated that in fact the university demanded his resignation and he has publicly declared that he had no desire or intention to resign.
Don Giljum is an adjunct (non-tenurable) professor. Adjuncts all over the country are as vulnerable as Professor Giljum to this kind of mistreatment by colleges and universities. The university's disturbing treatment of Professor Giljum is yet another example of the immorality inherent in the contingent academic labor system in higher education today. If the University of Missouri truly respects the right of ALL faculty and students to academic freedom, due process, quality education and a safe learning environment and stands against the dishonesty of Andrew Breitbart and his associates, it will apologize to, and reinstate, Professor Giljum immediately.
Why is this important?
Despite denouncing a doctored and discredited video aired by Andrew Breitbart, the University of Missouri St Louis pressured Adjunct Professor Don Giljum to resign, refusing him both due process and support defending his rights automatically accorded tenured faculty. Professor Giljum's treatment is representative of the contingent academic labor system. Reintstating him with an apology is not only right and fair but would send a message to higher education about unfair and inherently immoral labor practices.