Blackout at the Big Orange (Page 1 of 6)

Dr. George White, Jr., is the textbook example of a hometown success story—as his colleague Dennie Littlejohn puts it, “he grew up right here in East Knoxville in the gun zone, and got a law degree from Harvard and a PhD from Temple”—only to return home to teach history at the state’s flagship institution and home of the Vols, the University of Tennessee.

White joined the faculty of the History department in UT’s College of Arts and Sciences in the fall of 2000, and his climb up the academic ladder seemed promising. The young professor quickly racked up glowing reviews from students, colleagues, then-department head Todd Diacon (since promoted to Vice Provost of Academic Operations), and his faculty mentor Kurt Piehler, whose 2002 report to the department’s tenured faculty “enthusiastically support[s] Professor George White’s reappointment as assistant professor of history… I would add that Professor White is on track to meet the requirements of tenure and promotion,” Piehler wrote.

“If Professor White continues on this current path of achievement, I fully expect him to qualify for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor of History,” Piehler’s 2003 report read.

So two years later, following White’s teaching in several courses in both the history department and African American studies program, a Dodge Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Rutgers Institute, the presentation of papers at multiple professional conferences, and the completion of a 2005 book titled Holding the Line: Race, Racism and American Foreign Policy Toward Africa, 1953-1961, White applied for tenure and a promotion within the department.

The tenured faculty decided to grant White tenure on Nov. 15, 2005 in an 11-3 vote. He was also promoted to Associate Professor. Diacon concurred with the decision in a Nov. 16 report, writing, “Dr. White truly excels not only as a classroom teacher, but also as a mentor for students. If I were allowed to nominate him this year for teaching awards, I would (alas, he is not eligible for these awards in the year of his tenure decision.’” The College’s Promotion and Tenure Committee voted 5-4 in favor of granting White tenure and a promotion, with one abstention.Despite the recommendations of White’s colleagues and supervisor, the tenure did not happen. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Bruce Bursten disagreed with the tenure committee, writing a March 20, 2006 letter to UT Chancellor Loren Crabtree, who upheld Bursten’s decision.

“Once you’re denied, you have another academic year to file an appeal and if you’re not successful, you must find another job,” White says.

White followed the proper channels in seeking to overturn the dean’s denial, filing an appeal on June 20. Almost six months later, on the day after Christmas, the dean’s response arrived at White’s home.

In a cover letter dated Dec. 19, 2006, Dean Bursten wrote, “In response to your appeal, and the accompanying documentation you provided, I have performed a thorough reassessment of your case…My conclusion after this reassessment is not changed: I still recommend against awarding you promotion and tenure and therefore deny your appeal.”

Bursten’s letter details his reasons for issuing the denial, focusing primarily on the scholarship of White’s 2005 book. The evaluations of five peer reviewers were solicited during the tenure process, and although each offered constructive criticism of the book, only one was overwhelmingly negative. The other four recommended that White receive tenure and a promotion.

Following his Christmas gift from UT, White retained an attorney for counsel, filed an administrative complaint with the Human Rights Commission, and appealed to the Provost. “So the situation I’m in now is one of making an appeal and at the same time looking for other jobs. It would be a very difficult transition [to leave Knoxville], our kids have become very accustomed to being around their grandparents, my youngest brother’s family is here as well and it would be very difficult to leave, but it seems increasingly inevitable.”