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LIU Brooklyn Faculty Lock Out

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LIU Graduate School and Faculty Lock Out
September 8 · Public
79 Reads
September 8th, 2016

Linette Williams
Assistant Dean
Public Administration and Information Sciences
Long Island University
1 University Plaza (Dekalb Ave and Flatbush Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 
718-488-1130


Dear Linette

Last night, on the first night of classes, I met our new professor,  
Kiichi Takeuchi, for the advanced topic of Parallel Programming, which is 
described in the Graduate School bulletin as follows:


A study of parallel random access machine (PRAM)
model, as well as processor organizations and
parallel architectures. Design, analysis and
implementation of parallel algorithms are studied.
Case studies of parallel algorithms in various
problem domains are examined. An introduction
is made to fault tolerant computing. Students are
required to do assignments using a parallel
extension of the C language such as C*, nCUBE C
or C-LINDA.
The pre-requisites of CS 631 and CS 641 are
required.
Credits: 3


This is a standard advanced topic on Computer Sciences and I was very 
excited to take this class as it would open whole new paths of expertise 
and learning for myself.  Mr  Takeuchi, however, started teaching a 
completely different course, on distributive programming with a python 
model in a “web browser”, which is completely unrelated to parallel 
algorithms and PRAM.  It is related to web programming, such as might be 
rolled out in a typical 6 month technical school.  He has never taken a 
class on Parallel Programming, and he has never done any systems analysis 
of work with parallel programming and he is not completely familiar with 
the concept or topic.  So he pivoted to a different subject and is 
teaching it at the level of an associates degree canidate. 

Please fix this.

As you know, I’m in the last stages of my masters degree program.  I was 
originally recruited by you and my personal faith in you drew me into the 
school when at that point, I had already made plans for other academic 
pursuits.  This gentleman, who graduated LIU with a masters degree,  on 
further discussion after class, is also assigned to the Software 
Development Project course CS691.  That class is described in the 
bulletin as follows:

  CS 691 Software Development Project
The development of a large software systems project
based on a current analysis and design paradigm
resulting in a valid and verified software system.
The application domain and the course syllabus are
made available in the preceding semester. The
completion of the degree core requirements is
required.
Pre-requisites of CS 631, CS 633, CS 643, CS 645,
CS649 and CS 666 are required.


He has already told me that he has no intention of teaching this class as 
a graduate level either, and is intending to break it up to smaller 
projects, much of which will be based on specialized commercial tools 
d’jour, for mobile phone applications.  That would be the description for 
the type of into to programming class that Dr Ghriger teaches for first 
year students, building quick and dirty business applications for the 
iphone.  That is not Graduate School level work either.  

Furthermore,  he said to me that my expectations are too high and that 
I’m in the wrong school, and I should have gone to PolyTech, because this 
school doesn’t teach this kind of material, despite the fact that this 
material is plain as daylight described as such in the LIU Graduate 
School bulletin,  a copy of which I download this morning and can provide 
for you, if you need it.

I find this last part particularly distressing.  I’ve heard variations of 
this even before the current lock out and faculty dispute.  I’ve had to 
lobby hard, and work with staff to raise expectations of the faculty and 
the students.  Getting the Parallel  Programming class back on the 
schedule was part of the outcome, and two years of relationship building 
and collegiate development among students and staff has been kicked out 
the door just as the fruits of my academic career is finishing up.  
Sending us an unqualified lecturer on Graduate School topic and education 
is personally hurtful and is ruining my investment in this University, 
and I remind you that I have been associated with this school going back 
to 1986.  Nobody here is asking the school to rise to the level of MIT or 
Stanford.  All that we are asking for is to achieve the standards of its 
own bulletin and accreditation.

The most distressing part of this current lock out is that neither the 
Faculty or the Administration has shown any consideration or concern 
about the students.  The Administration has locked out the faculty 
supposedly to impose order, prevent disruption and facilitate normalcy 
for the students.    This is a canard, and only the veneer of normalcy 
has been achieved while the students have been made to suffer.  And the 
students are powerless to take any action on their own behalf.  The 
faculty on the other hand claim the issues they rejected the most recent 
proposals for are of critical import.  If so, then why is it that when I 
walked onto the campus, and there was not even a picket line?  I question 
the sincerity of everyone involved at this point, but this is not my 
problem.  My problem is that the department has been currently gutted of 
qualified faculty, and that the standards has been tossed out the window, 
putting my education at risk.


Sincerely

Ruben Safir
1580 East 19th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11230
1-718-715-1771

CC: Paul Thompson at NY State Department of Education, Kimberly Cline, 
Amy Harmon NY Times, Liz Robbins NY Times, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, 
MSCHE

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LIU Brooklyn Faculty Lock Out Popping mad <rainbow@colition.gov> - 2016-09-11 06:20 +0000
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