Recordpub.com - OUR VIEW: Procedure upheld Kent State, embarrassed by prof's trip, tightens up, appropriately so

The decision to relieve the Kent State University history department chair of his duties as a department head for not following procedure in letting a controversial professor attend a six-week program in the United Arab Emirates is technically correct, although it does shine the limelight once more on the professor in question.

Julio "Assad" Pino, an associate professor of history, is a Muslim convert and, like many who convert to a religion, feels very strongly about it to the extent he has been very open about expressing his offense toward American policy in the Middle East. He has written of his feelings to the student newspaper, the Daily Kent Stater, and once confronted a student in ROTC who attended his class wearing his uniform. It is said he has contributed under a pen name to a Web site called global-war.bloghi.com, which no longer exists.

Pino, an associate professor of history, asked permission for leave KSU to attend a six-week program on Arabic language and culture in the city of Al Ain, which he explained to the history department chairman, Professor John Jameson, would better equip him to study documents in the Arabic language left behind by African Muslim slaves in Brazil, a topic that he has turned into a specialty. Instead of approaching the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and then the provost's office, Jameson, on his own ,apparently, granted permission for the leave. Pino arranged for others to handle his classes, asking students to e-mail their papers to him.

Pino is a tenured professor. Ordered to return to Kent or face losing his salary, he did so, with KSU picking up the plane fare and lodging costs to expedite matters.

A loose cannon in terms of expressing his thoughts, Pino cannot be terminated as long as he conducts his professional life according to the terms spelled out by the university, which is bound to uphold free speech even if it is embarrassing at times.

Kent State, however, does have a right to expect administrative procedures to be followed and the taxpayers, who continue to contribute a hefty share of the university's support, have a right to hope it is capable of running a tight ship that uses resources wisely.

There are opportunities to study Arabic in off hours and during months when classes may not be in session, and also during the paid sabbatical leaves faculty are able to enjoy. Taking time off to attend a program may be professionally rewarding, but doing so when a person is scheduled to teach looks to us like playing fast and loose with the tuition money of students and the money the taxpayers cough up to keep the doors open.

Jameson retains his professorship, as well he should. He is simply no longer chair of the department. Pino, presumably, is back doing his job in the classroom.