Tenure Isaac

To the Editors of The Crimson:

We are pleased to know that Professor Lawrence D. Reddick is going to continue as Visiting Professor in the Afro-American Studies Department during the coming year (May 5, 1976). It is high time that Harvard bring to this campus a professor of the history of black Americans (even if at 66!).

We do think that the teaching of black American history at Harvard is imperative. However, it would be wrong to assume that the needs of the Afro-American Department can be met and students' thirst quenched by the study of modern history alone. The study of the experiences of black people during the last four hundred years must be complemented by the study of our ancient and African heritage, the study of thousands of years of the rich historical and cultural background of black people in Africa.

In this respect, we believe that no one can replace Professor Isaac. The fact alone that this semester he is teaching more than 50% of all the students enrolled in Afro-American Studies courses is a witness that we need him. The rapport that he has with students throughout the University also make him a very valuable member of this academic community. Most importantly, as specialist in Ge'ez (one of the most important classical and literary language of Africa), Ge'ez literature, and Ethiopian religious history with additional extensive knowledge of many other ancient languages and literatures, particularly ancient Egyptian and Arabic, as well as the history of the ancient Nile civilizations, Isaac is irreplaceable. Prejudice and ignorance are two main causes for Professor Isaac's mistreatment in this University. Were there administrators and their so-called expert advisors literate in these matters or able to learn and understand 1/10 of what Professor Isaac knows about the ancient African world, he would have never been treated unjustly, unfairly, and rudely. We need Professor Isaac here.

In his dealings with the Afro-American Studies Department, Dean Rosovsky seems to tell us that he is following the recommendations of the McCree Committee (to review the Department of Afro-American Studies). In its report that Committee recommended the appointment of four "tenured" faculty "holding appointments entirely within the Afro-American Studies Department" as "the first priority" and before considering joint appointments. To date we only have one full-time tenured faculty. Where are the rest, Dean Rosovsky, follower of the McCree gospel? George Rivera '77   Chairman of the Concentrators of the Afro-American Studies Dept.