In response to the article that appeared in the Daily Emerald on April 25, 2007, we the Romance Languages instructors (non-tenure track faculty), are deeply saddened that Jesús Sepúlveda will no longer be teaching with us. In spite of this, we regret that it has not been brought to light that Jesús Sepúlveda is only one of the five highly qualified instructors who will not be rehired as of next year by the RL department.
Since we have been working closely with department head Barbara Altmann, we have a very clear understanding that ethnicity did not play a role in her decision. The main criterion was seniority. There are many instructors serving in the RL Department on a term-by-term contract who are increasingly vulnerable to the budget cuts.
We also need to mention that the RL Department is one of the most highly diversified departments on campus, employing instructors from Italy, Canada, France, Australia, Russia, Turkey, Spain, Chile, Cameroon and Peru.
In the RL Department we have until now kept classes small, providing a close, direct relationship with our students and thus contributing to their growth as individuals and global citizens. It is the chronic under-funding of the department, the College and the University, which is making it difficult for all of us to maintain the high quality of education we offer.
Harinder Kaur Khalsa Hennesy
And Instructors (NTTF) of the Department of Romance Languages