English Dept. opts to reopen Camfield case

Prof overcomes first obstacle in reapplying for tenure English Professor Gregg Camfield has received a second chance. The English Department tenured faculty voted by secret ballot in favor of resubmitting Camfield's tenure case to the School of Arts of Sciences Personnel Committee, English Department Chairperson Wendy Steiner said last night. The faculty members have had the past week to decide and vote on the matter. Voting ended at 5 p.m. yesterday. Steiner said she could not reveal the final vote tally. "More than half the department indicated that there was new information?that needed to be taken into account," Steiner said. Issues of teaching, scholarship and citizenship are key in the tenure process, she added. According to Camfield, the most important new information comes in the form of his recently signed third book contract. "They solicited it from me [and] came to me with the possibility," Camfield said. "That's the biggest piece of evidence in terms of my scholarship." Besides the book, which will be about Mark Twain, Camfield said he has also written several smaller papers since his tenure was denied last spring. In addition, Camfield said he has attended several conferences that have allowed him to increase his visibility. Student support has also contributed to Camfield's case. Last spring's denial of Camfield's tenure was met with an outpouring of anger and dismay on the part of his students and the English Undergraduate Advisory Board. This fall, when the English Department began deciding whether or not to reopen Camfield's case, the UAB and the Undergraduate Assembly released statements advocating the case's resubmission. Students said last night they were pleased with department's decision, but they expressed reservations regarding the case's future. "It's a very long journey and we need to keep our eyes on the prize," College junior Alex Edelman said. Edelman, a UAB member, added that he feels "hopeful" about Camfield's future with the University. "It's comforting that at least the department still believes in him," he said. "It keeps momentum going." College senior and UAB member Ellona Wilner said she is "ecstatic" about the department's decision. "He's just above and beyond in terms of his duty to undergraduates," said Wilner, who has had Camfield as a professor and adviser. "He makes you feel like you're a worthwhile part of his routine -- no matter what you're doing with him." According to Steiner, the tenured faculty handled the decision with "great care and great concern for all the issues involved." "A lot of soul-searching and professionalism comes out strongly in these things," she said. English Professor Robert Lucid said he was also pleased with the outcome of the tenured faculty vote. "I think that's very fine," Lucid said. But Camfield was quick to point out that this vote is only the beginning of a long battle. According to Steiner, the entire process could take "months and months."

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