History of professors turned politiciansI read with dismay a column in The Daily from Will Upton and James D'Angelo ("Seals abusing his NU title," April 3), criticizing Democratic Congressional candidate Dan Seals for listing his employment by NU in his candidate biography. This thinly veiled political attack was off-the-mark, as simply listing one's employment at a university does not "imply the university's sanction or support." It merely serves as a relevant biographical detail for voters.
There is no legal precedent implying that, by listing a place of employment on a résumé, a candidate claims the endorsement of that organization. Also, the difference between the titles "adjunct professor" and "visiting lecturer" means nothing outside D'Angelo and Upton's political quibbling. One need look no further than the long history of university professors, lecturers and adjuncts serving in our government who have cited their employment at universities: U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski (University of Tennessee), U.S. Senator Barack Obama (University of Chicago), U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen (Harvard University), former U.S. Senator Paul Simon (Harvard University), former U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (Carleton College), former U.S. Senator Jim Talent (Washington University in St. Louis) and former U.S. Representative Glenn Poshard (Southern Illinois University), among many others.
Rather than making unfounded political attacks against our faculty and administration, we should embrace the academic diversity that having lecturers from different backgrounds and political philosophies brings to our campus. In no way does Seals' campaign compromise NU's reputation of excellence. In fact, by continuing to practice in the field he teaches, he enhances our academic tradition.
- Jennifer Anne Sawicz
Communication junior
Volunteer, Young Progressives for Dan Seals
Seals' hire not implying university consent
2008 Woodie Awards
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Bob Steinberg
posted 4/07/08 @ 12:05 AM CST
I really do think it's a non-issue. The complaint letter D'Angelo and Upton sent seem to imply that the university put Seals in a position to subvert the students of NU, and at the same time play up the fact that it's only a 1 night a week class, and that Seals is just a guest lecturer. (Continued…)
jc
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:53 AM CST
I agree with D'Angelo and Upton that a political candidate shouldn't be bringing his or her campaign into the classroom. More than once I had a teacher in the night school who was running for judgeship in Cook County and passed his petition to get on the ballot around the classroom. (Continued…)
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