The Battalion
OPINION
Friday, December 8,1989
Eight-year prof deserves more
than just visiting lecturer status
Computer science teacher in danger of deportation
Timm
Doolen
Columnist
Dr. Salih Yurttas teaches computer
science as a “visiting” professor from
Turkey. I put visiting in quotes because
although that is his official title, I don’t
consider someone who has been teach
ing here for eight years, and doing a
good job at it, “visiting.”
Unfortunately, he may soon be losing
even his visiting professor status. It is a
complicated story, but one that needs to
be told.
Yurttas’ H-l work visa expires in Jan
uary and he will not be allowed to work
if he remains in this country. His wife
has a baby due a week after the visa ex
pires, and for a time, they thought they
would have to go back to Turkey before
Lale Yurttas delivers her baby. Luckily,
he recently found out that they can re
main in the country on her visa for
many more months before they may
have to leave. But without the proper
visa, he won’t be able to work while he
stays in the country.
Dr. Yurttas told me he would be al
lowed to stay in the country if the com
puter science department would work
to upgrade his status from visiting pro
fessor. With the new status, he could ap
ply for a green card and stay in the
country indefinitely. Yet despite know
ing of Yurttas’ situation, the computer
science departmnet has been hesitant to
ask the College of Engineering to begin
the somewhat lengthy process to up
grade Yurttas’ status.
In the past eight years of Yurttas’ tea
ching, he has done an amazing job. He
has taught 56 courses over those eight
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conference
The Battalion Editorial Board
Scot Walker, Editor
Monique Threadgill,
Managing Editor
Ellen Hobbs, C)pinion Page Editor
Melissa Naumann, City Editor
Cindy McMillian, Lisa Robertson,
News Editors
Richard Tijerina, Sports Editor
Fredrick D. Joe, Art Director
Mary-Lynne Rice, Lifestyles Editor
years (seven per year) and has taught 15
different courses. According to Dr.
Yurttas, as long as he’s been here, only a
handful of other computer science pro
fessors have taught more than a few dif
ferent courses.
He told me he has always taught over
100 students a semester, usually around
150, teaching three or four sections per
semester. And he teaches 300 and 400
level classes almost exclusively. But be
cause of his visiting professor status, he
is paid less than many other professors
in the University who teach fewer
classes.
Over a year ago, he informed the
computer science department head,
Richard Volz, that he could no longer
work here if the department did not up
grade his status. Volz did not reply for
several months about the issue. The is
sue was further delayed until Novem
ber. Yurttas received a memo from the
department that said by such a late date
as November, it was really too late to do
much, and the department would not
try to help him out of his trouble.
One of the things holding Yurttas
back from being given an upgraded sta
tus is his lack of publishing, Yurttas told
me. Yet he has had several articles pub
lished over the past eight years, in addi
tion to his heavy teaching workload.
Yurttas said he is losing because he
tries to be a good teacher. Instead of try
ing to outdo other professors in the de
partment, he concentrated on teaching
his students. He says if given the chance,
he will publish more than ever before.
He doesn’t mind keeping his same pay
and his heavy workload, as long as they
give him the upgraded status so he can
have an income for his 11-year-old
daughter and his future child.
If he must leave, he will be sorely
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting
newspaper operated as a community service to
Texas A&M and Bryan-College Station.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are
those of the editorial board or the author, and
do not necessarily represent the opinions of
Texas A&M administrators, faculty or the
Board of Regents.
The Battalion is published Monday through
Friday during Texas A&M regular semesters,
except for holiday and examination periods.
Mail subscriptions are $17.44 per semester,
$34.62 per school year and $36.44 per full year.
Advertising rates furnished on request.
Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed Mc
Donald, Texas A&M University, College Sta
tion, TX 77843-1111.
Second class postage paid at College Station,
TX 77843.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas
A&M University, College Station TX 77843-
4111.
missed by his students and the depart
ment. He will be missed not only be
cause he taught so many courses and is
committed to involvement with grad
uate students, research projects and sev
eral committees, but also because he’s a
good teacher.
Just this Wednesday, the department
head told him that they would try to do
anything they could to save his job and
keep him in the country. It is a late offer
(let’s hope it’s not too late), and it re
mains to be seen whether they will fol
low through with their offer. With luck,
the department and college will recog
nize the great service Yurttas has done
for this school and start the process to
get him an upgraded status. With sup
port from students, faculty, the depart
ment, the college and the University,
there is a good chance he may keep his
job and stay in the country.
Yurttas is trying other means to try to
delay his departure, but the only hope
for his staying on a permanent basis is if
he acquires an upgraded status from the
College of Engineering.
Dr. Yurttas’ story seems a product of
our misguided attitude toward teaching
versus research and publishing at this
University and others. Yurttas showed
me a quote of President Mobley’s that
said we must not forget that education
and research are co-equal at this Univer
sity. Yurttas said that despite the rhe
toric, it was not the truth, definitley not
in his case.
After hearing Dr. Yurttas’ plight, I
wonder if similar things are happening
in this University in other departments.
Dr. Yurttas’ department was slow in re
sponding to his pleas for help. The de
partment needs him more than many
other professors in the department, be
cause of his teaching ability, but, accord
ing to Yurttas, the department did little
to save him because of his lack of pub
lished work.
It is obvious that the Department of
Computer Science, College of Engi
neering and the University need to
change their attitudes. The computer
science department, as well as other de
partments, need to have more interac
tion with their faculty and be more re
sponsive to the faculty’s needs. The
College of Engineering and the Univer
sity need to realize that we need to be as
concerned with putting out quality stu
dents as we are with putting out quality
journal articles.
If those attitudes about teaching ver
sus research were different, Yurttas
would be considered one of the top pro
fessors in the University, and he would
not be in the trouble he is in now. The
problems will not and can not be solved
overnight, but with good professors like
Dr. Yurttas at the University, there is al
ways hope that quality education will
continue. I and many other of his stu
dents hope he can remain teaching for a
long time.
Timm Doolen is a junior computer
science major and a columnist for The
Battalion.
NOW HIRING
The Battalion
is looking for two Texas A&M faculty members to write bi-weekly
columns for The Battalion Opinion Page during the Spring '90 semester.
Applications can be picked up in Room 216 Reed McDonald and are due in
Room 230 Reed McDonald by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Opinion Page Editor Ellen Hobbs 845-
Mail Call
Matthew’s drug column off base
EDITOR:
Andrew Matthew’s column in Wednesday’s Battalion (Legalization: A bei
ter way to wage war against drugs) was one of the most ridiculous essays!
have ever read. It was like advising the government to make murder legal so
we wouldn’t have to spend time arresting murderers.
First of all, he said that criminals could be eliminated from (he drug Indus
try through legalization. The crime lords would love to be legal and still gei
away with murder. Do you think they will automatically become niceguysif
selling drugs was legal? I doubt it.
One thing Mr. Matthew forgot was that drug users also become criminals
stealing or worse to obtain money to buy drugs. Legalizing drugs would noi
solve that problem. Besides, if drugs were legally sold in the United States,ev
ery government official would be a drug dealer. Think about that. What’s
wrong is wrong, legal or not.
Todd Primm ’92
Matthew’s drug column right on target
EDITOR: .
BRAVO! Your article on the legalization of drugs summarizes exactly I
what I feel about this issue. I’m so surprised to hear this from a fellow Ag.
So many people simply scoff at the idea of legalization without seriousli I
considering the reasons why. As you said, drugs will never be eliminated from
our society and I firmly believe that legalization would not cause an increase
in drug use.
Also, I think that crime, especially with young people, would so drastically
go down that we wouldn’t know what to do. Look at what happened inColom
bia today — that could easily be the United States! We’ll never getridot
drugs, crime, death and ravaged lives not only here, but other countries too|
(namely, the cocaine growing countries). But we can sure do something to re
duce all these evils to a manageable level — and that’s legalization. ItwoniJ
happen until people get off this “prohibitive” kick and we get some legislator: |
with guts. Come on, America, just say no to more idealistic dreaming. You|
know, the other day someone told me they heard that George Schultz was all |
for legalization...
Peter Pearson ’92
Faculty member example of good advisor
EDITOR:
I am writing in support of Wednesday’s article criticizing Timm Doolen:I
article on academic advising. I am aware that there are problems withadvisiio
on our campus and that many people, both students and faculty, are painfull'I
aware of these problems. However, I want to take this opportunity to say that I
at least one department at this University has an excellent advising prograrl
— the chemistry department.
The undergraduate advisor (yes, there’s only one) in chemistry is Dr.Joticj
L. Hogg. He has been the undergraduate advisor since the summer of 198;|
In 1988, he recieved an honor he well deserved: the Association of Form:
Students Distinguished Faculty Award for Student Relation!*.
Dr. Hogg exhibits his concern for students in many different ways. Hi
takes snapshots of all chemistry majors as they come into the department ad
he learns each student’s name. He puts together an undergraduate newsletter
each month, in which he lets us know about scholarships and job opportuni
ties as well as what’s going on with others in our department, l ie shows hisiit
terest in us as total persons, not just as chemistry majors. Most importantly
Dr. Hogg’s door is always open.
We in the chemistry department are fortunate to have such a dedicated]
person as Dr. Hogg for our advisor. Those who are not as fortunate should
remember that a student/advisor relationship, like any other relationship,isa
two-way street. You’ve got to make some effort in order to expect anythingin
return.
Christie Gunter ’90
What’s in a name? A regent
EDITOR:
Good old-fashioned politics. That’s right — log rolling, back-scratching
politics. No, not in a smoke filled room in some seedy, dirty city; but rigln
here in College Station.
Well, not actually in College Station, not in city hall or in a back room
Where then? Why no where else than the respected and hallowed chamber!
of the Texas A&M Board of Regents.
“What is this?” you may ask? While students busily went about their aca
demic endeavors, hampered by a lack of parking and outrageous feesfornor
mal items (like using a building), the Board of Regents has hurriedly hatched
a plan to rename the entire campus after current and recently departed Re
gents.
Texas A&M has a practice of naming buildings after distinguished
alumni, faculty and friends of the University. These people have proven
themselves through years of service to be an invaluable asset to A&M.Thede
cision to name a building is surely a dif ficult process, with many qualified and
deserving candidates. Now, the regents have supplanted this traditional
honor, with its own desire for recognition and egoistic needs.
Not that the board members so honored aren’t deserving — they probabl)
are. However, the principle involved here is what matters. The Board casts)
deciding vote in the naming of buildings, and it seems highly improper
current or recently departed members should have an influence on their
selection as an honoree.
Most honored positions are given after both an illustrious career of ded
icated service and after a significant time period has passed since the person
was actively involved in this service.
I would certainly hope that we here at A&M (students, faculty, administraj
tors and Regents) can rise above egoistic attitudes and avoid ethically compro
mising situations such as the current Board of Regents now finds itself in.
Grant W. Neeley ’89
Aggie Parents say ‘Happy Holidays!’
EDITOR:
With finals, graduation and the holiday season upon us, we would like
to take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to the students taking fi
nals, our congratulations to the graduating seniors, and our hopes fora
happy and safe holiday to each of you. God bless you and keep you; Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mom and Dad Hubert
1989-90 Aggie Parents of the Year
Have an opinion? Express it!
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves the tight to edit
letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must
be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number of the writer. All letters
may be brought to 216 R eed McDonald, or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111.