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FROM: Adrienne Anderson <Andersa@colorado.edu>
FYI and ALERT
In response to notification on February 3, 2005 by the Environmental Studies Program Chairman Jim White that all of my courses would be eliminated and that I was not going to be reappointed and promoted to Senior Instructor, following their months long reappointment review process, I gave notification that I would be appealing the decision to the the Dean of the University of Colorado at Boulder¹s Arts & Sciences School. In response to questions and concerns and requests I have raised to Dean Todd Gleeson about the appeals process, a process has offered by Dean Gleeson that I support.
In the last eleven years as an Instructor on the CU Boulder campus, I have taught such courses as ³Environmental Ethics: Race,Class & Pollution Politics,² ³The War Environment,² ³Advanced Environmental Investigations² for the ENVS Program. Curricula topics have included segments on such topics as food production and worker and consumer safety, industrial workplace hazards from exposures to toxic substances on the job, Superfund remediation, U.S. energy policy and its consequences for the environment and social justice domestically and internationally, water safety, military toxic hazards, and other topics. In the course, I also teach students how to effectively use the various research tools available to citizens under exiting state and federal laws, and how they can be more effective utilized to enhance greater public review, education, scrutiny and oversight by average citizens, workers, and residents ­ especially those concerned about environmental hazards in their communities and workplaces - so they can act to protect themselves and their families, occupational and public health, and the environment. As you know, this process of active citizen oversight sometimes ­ and, unfortunately in the State of Colorado, often - reveals chronic ­ and even flagrant violations of existing state and federal laws designed to protect workers, public health, and the environment. Herein lies the reason my courses are considered ³controversial.² My position is that if the state¹s major corporations ­ some of whom wield tremendous power, and some would say exert undue influence over our state¹s regulatory agencies, legislators, and others who are responsible for our health and safety and environmental protection ­ were acting legally, and our state and federal agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, EPA and others ­ were effectively enforcing existing laws on our behalf, then my courses would not be controversial at all, and in fact would be opportunities for Colorado companies to showcase their ³business ethics.² Escalating the ³controversial² nature of my courses further, is the fact that some of the more egregious violations, even criminal level environmental violations - with some of the most serious alleged impacts to worker and community health and safety ­ have been caused, records obtained show, by certain corporate polluters who are major donors to the University of Colorado at Boulder, including Coors and Lockheed Martin. Therefore this issue is not only one of Freedom of Speech, but Academic Integrity and Corporate and Governmental Accountability. If the colleges and universities of our country can no longer be a safe place for examination of these issues, protected by our Constitution, then where else is this to occur in American society?
In an e-mail to me of February 9th, 2005, and in response to my concerns and requests over the appeals process, Dean Gleeson has established the below PROCESS, which I find acceptable:
You may submit an appeal addressed to me.
The materials that you submit should include:
1. A cover letter from you stating that you wish to appeal the decision of the ENVS faculty and stating the grounds for your appeal.
2. A current CV
3. Any additional materials that you wish to supply to support your case. I will submit the materials to ENVS for their comment.
I will then ask the three associate deans of the college to review the documentation and make a recommendation to me.
I am requesting that for anyone who wishes to weigh in on this matter in the public interest, please do so on or before Friday, February 18th, 2005. On that date, the Environmental Studies Faculty will be holding its next faculty meeting, and undergraduate students have been invited to attend. Further, this is the date by which I am planning to begin assembling all the materials in support of my appeal to Dean Todd Gleeson, in consultation with concerned members of the CU community and various public interest, labor and environmental organization representatives, seeking to reverse the ENVS Faculty¹s decision (which was split, and with several abstentions).
Among the elements of this appeal will include evidence of: a) abuse of process in the both the reappointment review and curriculum decision-making process; b) undue corporate influence of record that ENVS and CU Administrators have failed to adequately address, in protection of both my rights and CU¹s academic integrity, and the general public¹s right to know information of vital interest for the protection of public health and safety and the environment; c) other violations of my rights, including those protected under federal First Amendment and Whistleblower laws.
If there are materials that you would like me to submit in support of this appeal, please provide them to me for consideration for inclusion in the appeal on or before Friday, February 18th, 2005, for an APPEAL PACKAGE I will be submitting to Dean Gleeson on Monday, February 21, 2005. The best format would be pdf formatted files sent to me via e-mail, which reveal handwritten signatures, organizational letterheads, etc. Or, you may fax letters, to 303-321-9178. If that line is busy, it means I am online, and if you e-mail me to arrange receipt of your fax at a specified time. Some of you have already submitted letters to my reappointment dossier, which I have reviewed as is my right, but which may not be considered a public record under CU¹s rules, as a personnel matter. If you wish your letters
already submitted for the dossier to be made public, please give your written permission to do so. If you¹d prefer your letters to remain confidential, of course, that will be respected. You may also forward this to others who may be interested and responding.
Thanks you for for your support to advance academic integrity against corporate polluters¹ undue influence, social and environmental justice, the public¹s right to know, for safer workplaces and communities, and a more peaceful world.
To see response to this situation by students and labor and community leaders, see recent articles, below.
All the best,
Adrienne Anderson
Contact info:
Environmental Studies Program
University of Colorado at Boulder
CB 339
Boulder-Colorado 80309-0339
Voice Mail: 303-492-2507

The Daily Camera
URL: http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/buffzone_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2448_3536812,00.html
CU students protest firing
Instructor's dismissal was political, they say
By Eric Schmidt, Camera Staff Writer

February 10, 2005
A group of University of Colorado students rallied and began circulating petitions Wednesday calling on CU to reinstate an environmental studies instructor who they say is being forced out of her job for political reasons.
The students also called on the administration to include them in the decision of Adrienne Anderson's fate. Anderson, who has taught environmental studies courses for the past 11 years, was effectively let go Jan. 31 when the faculty in her department voted to cancel her courses after this semester. Anderson claims she was fired because her classes have been critical of corporate environmental policy.
University officials, however, say that simply isn't the case. About 100 students gathered at the Dalton Trumbo Fountain to show their support for Anderson and to protest her termination. Supporters held signs bearing messages such as "Stop the sludge; let Adrienne teach" and chanted Don't fire those who inspire."
Courtney Krause, a senior environmental studies major, told the crowd that taking Anderson's course "race, class, pollution and politics" inspired her to write an honors thesis on the cleanup of an industrial site in Commerce City. Calling Anderson a "profound influence," Krause said the class taught her "the tools of educated activism," such as tracking down and researching public records.
"This was the first class I've taken where you really have to get involved," she said. "It's not something you can cram for; you have to get in there and get it done."
In contrast to a protest last week, where backers of controversial ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill and those who want him fired squared off in a passionate debate, there was no visible demonstration supporting Anderson's ouster.
After an hour of speakers praising the instructor's dedication to environmental justice, the group marched to the office of Arts and Sciences Dean Todd Gleeson to ask for official action to reinstate her. Gleeson told the crowd that the decision not to renew Anderson's contract was not his but that of the department faculty. He said he did not know the specifics of Anderson's case and could not comment on "personnel matters."
One protester asked the dean to promise that students would have a say in the final decision once Anderson files an expected appeal.
"I'll make a commitment that we'll follow policy," Gleeson said.
Reached at home Wednesday afternoon, Anderson confirmed she would appeal and stood by her earlier claim that her dismissal was political.
"It's consistent with efforts over the last 10 years by corporations and agencies with less-than-stellar records trying to prevent me from speaking out," she said.
In 1996, student protests kept Anderson in the classroom after CU decided to cut an environmental ethics course she taught.
Environmental Studies Director James White said the decision involving Anderson was not political. The faculty has a responsibility to look at the entire curriculum and ensure classes are rigorous and comprehensive, he said. "This was simply a decision that we needed to redirect the resources we have."
Students will have a say in the matter, White said. But in the end it's a faculty decision < and one that's not likely to change.
"I don't think we'd reconsider," he said. "We considered the decision very carefully the first time."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Eric Schmidt at (303) 473-1628 or
schmidte@dailycamera.com

Letters to the Editor - Feb. 10
February 10, 2005
CU
We need teachers like Anderson
The students in Adrienne Anderson's environmental studies classes at the University of Colorado get the opportunity to do research that needs to be done. And in the doing the students get inspired and educated in a manner strongly encouraged by Alfred North Whitehead, Einstein, John Dewey and many others whose intention is (was?) to make education a healthy and lively experience.
In these times we are desperately in need of teachers like Adrienne Anderson. I trust that CU will reconsider its decision and renew her contract.
LEN BARRON

Boulder Supporters rally
By ERIN FEESE
Colorado Daily Staff
Chants of "Reappoint Anderson!" and "Don't ignore us, support us!" echoed across the UMC fountain Wednesday as CU-Boulder students continued their quest to have environmental studies instructor Adrienne Anderson reinstated.
The rally and march allowed students to give testimonials on their experiences in Anderson's classes. Faculty and community members also commented on how valuable Anderson is to the CU community. Supporters wore black T-shirts with the words "Reappoint Professor Adrienne Anderson" in white letters and waved signs urging the department to reconsider its decision.
"The reason students are here is because we love our environmental studies department and we value our education," said Steve Fenberg, a former student of Anderson's and one of the organizers of the event. "There is no reason for an instructor like this not to be teaching at this university."
The environmental studies department voted on Jan. 31 not to renew Anderson's contract for the fall semester and since then students have organized to protest this decision. There have been some concerns, namely from Anderson herself, that her denied reinstatement was due to her work on exposing the alleged environmental misdeeds of corporations.
However, the environmental studies department denies these claims and said Anderson was not reappointed due to budget issues.
"It is not true at all," said Jim White, director of the environmental studies department, of the talk that Anderson's political views were a factor in her denied reinstatement. "A lot of needs we have aren't being met (in the department) and come fall we cannot afford to pay for her
(Anderson's) classes."
Fenberg said at the rally, "You can believe whatever you want to believe" about the "conspiracy theories" as to why Anderson was denied reinstatement, but students are primarily upset because she is a very popular instructor.
Leslie Moody, president of the Denver Area Labor Federation, spoke at the rally to show her appreciation for Anderson's work in the labor movement."We will do whatever we can to support this department and protect the rights of faculty to stand up against corporate polluters," she said.
Harvey Nichols, professor in the biology department, also attended the rally to support Anderson. He said Anderson's students have expressed their enthusiasm about her classes to him repeatedly.
Sophomore Darren Legge, environmental studies major, attended the rally because he was looking forward to taking classes from Anderson."I am appalled that our administration would consider reallocating the struggling ENVS budget in such a way that would deny the students the opportunity to learn from one of the most influential instructors on campus," he said. "I am here to secure the future of my learning and the integrity of my department."
Following the rally, students and supporters marched to the steps of Old Main to petition Todd Gleeson, dean of the College Arts and Sciences, to revisit the decision. Gleeson said he had no role in the decision but his understanding is that the department decided it had other priorities.
"Their action was based on what they perceived student needs to be," Gleeson said.Gleeson said he had no opinion about Anderson's denied reappointment but agreed to review the decision with student input.
The University of Colorado Student Union showed its support for students by issuing a press release Wednesday calling for Anderson's reinstatement. "Students have continually expressed interest and enthusiasm in Adrienne Anderson's courses, and her dismissal will show disregard for these interests," the release stated. "Instructor Anderson is a vital asset to the University of Colorado at Boulder, and she must be reappointed to ensure the quality of the environmental studies program."