SUU axes popular professor

Southern Utah University associate professor Stephen C. Roberds says the reasons he was recently denied tenure changed by the day during his review process and that those who decided his fate made up the rules as they went along.

"Basically, they say I have made some students uncomfortable with my rather passionate, Socratic method of teaching," Roberds told the Deseret Morning News. "Many good professors have their detractors."

Roberds received word of his termination Wednesday from Rodney D. Decker, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Students upset with the popular professor's departure have already established a Web site, www.onlyinutah.org. Those students say Roberts helped "stretch the minds of his students in preparation for the real world."

Some say Roberds, named the 2003-04 "Students' Choice Professor of the Year," was fired because in October he used the f-word in class during a heated debate with a student.

The timing was right in the middle of Roberds' tenure review process, and the incident caused political science department chairman Lamar Jordan to reconsider his original recommendation for tenure approval.

"There were some other incidents about that same time," Jordan said. "He was terminated because of some issues that I'm not at liberty to go into detail on." Legally, Roberds has privacy rights during a personnel issue, he added.

SUU officials decided that Roberds will not finish out the school year, although he will be paid for next semester.

"This decision was not based on a one-time incident," said SUU President Steven Bennion. "It was based on a review of his work and actions over six years."

Faculty review committees and academic leaders, Bennion added, were careful and thoughtful in their approach to Roberds' case. "These are people who work hard to be fair and balanced."

Bennion, also a political science professor, said he and Roberds had different philosophies on subjects like the founding of the Constitution. But Roberds' firing, he added, was based on performance in teaching, scholarship, service and collegiality.

"They say I am not 'collegial,' whatever that means," Roberds said. "I am not a good team player. I have had strong verbal disagreements with other faculty. Yes, true. Free speech. In academia, in life, people disagree."