Letter of Support - May 5, 2005

Dear Editor,

I graduated from SDSU in December 2002. I was named Outstanding Graduate not only in journalism, but also the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.

I will always be grateful to a handful of professors for their dedication to students and their ability to inspire, by example and encouragement, excellence in me—none more so than Dr. Patricia Washington, who is currently fighting for a place she earned among tenured faculty at the university.

It angers and saddens me that the woman who was the backbone of my support network in my early years at SDSU—indeed, a reason I persisted when I was ready to throw in the towel—is now fighting to be there herself.

I met Dr. Washington during my first semester at SDSU when I worked in the women’s studies department, providing administrative support. For several reasons, I felt excruciatingly isolated and unsupported that semester, but interacting with Dr. Washington on an almost daily basis provided breaks from negativity. She was always happy to see me, interested in how I was doing and curious to know how she could help me.

Dr. Washington’s course offerings were immediately of interest to me. I looked forward to the time when I had earned enough units to enroll in her upper division classes. Sex, Power & Politics was one of the most relevant and demanding classes I took, but because of her approachable teaching style, I never felt I couldn’t hack it.

There are plenty of other things that made Dr. Washington stand out among her peers. On her list of positive traits are all the things mentioned by Dr. Bonnie Zimmerman and Dr. Edward Dean in last week’s article, “Desired professor traits not limited to book smarts.” Dr. Zimmerman, associate vice president for faculty affairs, has acted as chair of the women’s studies department and sat on the very board that denied Dr. Washington tenure. Dr. Dean is the associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters, which houses the woman’s studies department.

A professor’s ability to connect with students is one of three criterion for evaluating tenure and Dr. Washington’s opponents have had the gall to attack her even in this area. Although I have always supported her fight for tenure, it is the hypocrisy of those who most vehemently oppose Dr. Washington this article brings to the surface that, alas, has prompted me to voice my experiences with Dr. Washington and the department of women’s studies.

Having worked in the women’s studies department for a year and a half, I became familiar with its course offerings and got to know other professors in the department. There were a lot of interesting upper division class titles, but only a few professors whose student I wanted to become, none of whom were tenured at the time, and only one whose I actually did—Dr. Washington.

When I received notice shortly before May 2003 commencement that I had been selected to deliver the student address in Cox Arena, I was shocked. After all, I was the same person who wanted to hide under a rock four years earlier, anything to get away from SDSU.

I question whether I’d have chosen to continue my education at SDSU if I hadn’t met Dr. Washington. I wonder how many other students, particularly those who are of color and women, like myself, could realize their academic potential with a little attention paid to them. And, I shudder to think how many who move on could have been leaders at SDSU and in their communities thereafter, if only there had been someone like Dr. Washington with whom to connect.

Thank so much,

A. Jaynelle St. Jean