Professor's Long Fight for Tenure Not Over

Campus Rally Supports Controversial Chapela
By LISA HUMES-SCHULZ

Daily Cal Staff Writer
Friday, December 10, 2004 
http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17235
       
The two-year battle over Ignacio Chapela’s tenure came to a close 
yesterday when he taught his last class at UC Berkeley.

Chapela, a controversial associate professor who brought national 
attention to the university’s contract with a biotechnology company, 
was denied tenure twice despite receiving overwhelming support from 
his colleagues and department.

But Chapela's supporters say the fight is not over: more than 100 
people crowded outside California Hall after his last lecture 
yesterday to urge Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to grant him tenure.

Waving signs reading, "Science Not for Sale" and "Tenure Goes to 
Those Who Earn It," protesters urged Birgeneau to address the crowd 
and reverse the decision.

"(Chapela's) research resonated truth. This is the kind of science 
we want to have," said David Quist, a graduate student who studied 
with Chapela. "This should have been an open and shut case. Instead, 
they showed him the door."

Chapela's bid for tenure stalled when it hit the university's budget 
committee and former Chancellor Robert Berdahl held off granting him 
the the position twice in 2003.

"We consider our tenure process to be among the most thorough and 
stringent in the country to maintain our academic quality and success," 
George Strait, associate vice chancellor of public affairs said in 
May. "We stand by the decision and our process."

But Chapela's supporters said rather than basing the decision on his 
work, the university denied him tenure based on his criticism of the 
university's contract with one of the world's largest biotechnology 
corporations.

Since Chapela was first denied tenure, hundreds of students, professors 
and activists have rallied around him and demanded the university 
reverse the decision.

"(Chapela) is incredibly well-respected, both professionally and 
personally," said ecosystem science professor Andrew Gutierrez. 
"He had people mesmerized in his last class—they were sitting at the 
edge of their seats."

University officials are unable to comment on specific tenure cases, 
but campus spokesperson Marie Felde said tenure is based on teaching, 
research or scholarly contributions and service. Tenure is awarded about 
85 percent of the time, she said.

Chapela has since filed a grievance with the university that is 
currently being reviewed by the University Committee on Privilege and 
Tenure, said Dan Siegel, Chapela’s attorney.

If Chapela prevails, another review of his case will be granted, which 
could possibly net a tenured position.

"It’s painful to realize I won't know until I force it out. It's really 
an injustice,” Chapela said in May.

Siegel said if the university does not grant an additional review 
process, Chapela will sue the university.

Colleagues said Chapela all but quashed his chances of winning tenure 
when he headed up a coalition criticizing the College of Natural 
Resources' five-year, $25 million contract with Novartis Corporation.

"This sends a clear message to faculty who challenge the university: 
they are not guaranteed academic freedom, especially if they have 
the audacity to speak out against unethical research funded by 
corporate interests," Nunez said.

Chapela also took a blow to his reputation when Nature magazine, a 
high-profile scholarly journal, withdrew its support for a study 
written by Chapela and Quist.

Critics said the article contained errors in the results of the study, 
damaging his reputation and bringing question to the legitimacy of his 
research.

"(The study) was just rife with problems," said Mike Freeling, a UC 
Berkeley researcher who published research disproving Chapela's 
conclusions. 

Still, Chapela's supporters said by revealing the presence of genetically 
modified corn in Mexico—which was outlawed by the country in 
1998—Chapela angered corporate interests enough to ruin his chances 
of ever earning tenure.

"I think there is a hunger in academia to get rid of these really 
pervasive interests, especially corporate interests that are so deeply 
imbedded in our culture," Chapela said.

Lisa Humes-Schulz is the assistant university editor. Contact her at 
lhschulz@dailycal.org