This statement was recently drafted by the president of Bard College in order to answer inquiries in regard to Joel Kovel. Since my professional role in the evaluation prevents me from referring to its specifics, a fact that Joel Kovel knew when he defamed me, I use it to reply to inquiries, as well.
Professor Kovel was not fired, and most certainly not for his political views, which do not strike us at Bard as novel. In consultation with faculty, Bard elected not to renew Professor Kovel’s contract because, like all colleges, it faces severe fiscal constraints and is doing everything it can to preserve the employment of its full-time faculty. After fifteen years of serving as the full-time occupant of a non-tenured endowed chair, he voluntarily assumed part-time status in 2004. At that time he received a five-year contract, with the understanding that after those five years the college reserved the right to renew his position on a year-to-year basis. He knew it was possible that his position might not be renewed after the 2008-2009 academic year. Professor Kovel enjoyed a fine and productive career at Bard for more than twenty years. We are sorry for and astonished at his allegations, which have no basis in fact.
Bard recently became the first American institution of higher education to collaborate in a dual-degree program with a Palestinian university. If you would like to read about our partnership with Al-Quds in Abu Dis, please see: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/world/middleeast/15quds.html. Our goal is to improve the Palestinian education system.
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Bruce Chilton
Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion
Bard College
Annandale, New York 12504
telephone: 845 758 7335
fax: 845 758 7628
Keep the reports on the Kovel story coming. As an old Bardian (class of 64) who has spent most of the last forty years in the Bay Area and whose only contact with the school is the official Bard magazine, I have often asked myself: could this be the Bard I attended? I enjoyed reading your account of what Botstein has made of our college. A few weeks ago some old comrades in Solidarity invited me to attend a local meeting because a Bard professor was speaking. I didn’t go because I was scheduled to work. That was before you broke the story. Now I’m very sorry I didn’t call in sick.
Paul Mueller, Bard 64
Comment by Paul Mueller — March 4, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
Paul, I’m not done with these bastards. I am reading Reamer Kline’s history of Bard College that ends in 1960. I am also doing some background research on the hedge fund scumbags who are on the board of trustees. More to come.
Comment by louisproyect — March 4, 2009 @ 8:14 pm