Sara Ackerman Emails: Dean Kalbs Response

From: Sara E Ackerman <sea271@nyu.edu> Date: January 4, 2012 3:41:20 AM EST To: "Undergraduate students minoring, majoring or interested in SCA" <fas-sca-ugstudents@lists.nyu.edu> Cc: "Undergraduate students minoring, majoring or interested in SCA" <fas-sca-ugstudents@lists.nyu.edu> Subject: From Dean Richard Kalb, to me, a couple of days ago--Reply-To: Sara E Ackerman <sea271@nyu.edu> Dear Sara: Over the past week, you have sent several e-mails to a number of University officials concerning Professor Caitlin Zaloom, a faculty member in the College of Arts and Science, in whose class you were enrolled this past fall semester. Although apparently intended to express your disagreement with assignments and statements allegedly made by Professor Zaloom during that class, these e-mails also contained serious allegations of misconduct by Professor Zaloom and disparaging statements about her professional competence. In addition, you also have made a clear threat to the President of the University that, unless he accedes to your demands that Professor Zaloom be dismissed from the faculty by a specified date, you will go public with your allegations. Sara, you are entitled to express your disagreement with the manner in which a faculty member conducted a class and/or to engage in a discourse about the issues being considered in a course, provided that it is done in a respectful and civil manner. However, the standards of conduct and civility that govern interactions among members of the University community may have been violated by the hostile and threatening statements in your emails. I strongly urge you to refrain from any further communications of this nature, which could put you at risk of University disciplinary action. If you do wish to contend that Professor Zaloom violated University policies, there is a formal process to do so. In accordance with paragraph III of the Student Grievance Procedure (http://www.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu/compliance/documents/student_grievance.pdf ) you should send a letter to Dr. Thomas Carew, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science, in which you cite the specific policies you contend Professor Zaloom violated and include evidence of the manner in which the violations occurred. Your complaint will be given serious consideration. Sara, this seems to be a continuation of the same matter about which I met with you

and your mother a few weeks ago after the disruption in Professor Zalooms class. At that time I advised you that further disruptions would not be tolerated. The University has offered support through Wellness Services to assist you in dealing with the situation in a more productive manner, and I have advised you of the formal mechanism for filing a complaint. I truly hope you take advantage of these resources. Please understand, however, that if you engage in any further forms of disruptive or hostile behavior, you may be risking your standing as a student at the University. Regards,

Richard Kalb -Richard J. Kalb, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Students College of Arts and Science 100 Washington Square East Silver Center, Room 909 New York, NY 10003 Tel: (212) 998-8140 Fax: (212) 995-4545