November 2: BGU hits back
By JERUSALEM POST READERS
11/01/2012 23:49
Pluralism and political bias were never discussed, not even once, in the entire meeting, nor were they mentioned in the decision of the Council for Higher Education that was released to the press, as misstated by your reporter.
Letters Photo: REUTERS/Handout
BGU hits back
Sir, – In “Council for Higher Education gives BGU politics dept. 3
weeks to show commitment to changing curriculum” (October 31), Ronen Shuval is
quoted as commenting on a meeting he did not attend. He had no idea what was
discussed.
At the meeting of the Sub-Committee for Quality Assessment,
members of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev presented their professional
arguments to demonstrate that the university’s Department of Politics and
Government had acted in good faith and fulfilled the requirements for change as
recommended by the International Review Committee. A focused, professional
discussion followed.
It outlined the academic themes the subcommittee
would like to see strengthened, and recommended a number of additional options
for effecting this change.
Pluralism and political bias were never
discussed, not even once, in the entire meeting, nor were they mentioned in the
decision of the Council for Higher Education that was released to the press, as
misstated by your reporter.
I would like to reiterate that Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev is committed to working with the council as partners to
create the strongest department possible.
In recruiting additional
faculty, the department is able to expand the horizon of political science that
is taught to its growing number of students.
In this context, and along
with the involvement of the chair of the international evaluation committee,
Prof. Thomas Risse of Germany, we hope the remaining minor differences of
opinion between the university and the CHE can be resolved soon.
STEVE
ROSEN
Beersheba
The writer is deputy rector at Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev and responsible for its Quality Assessment Program
Our inner-child
Sir, –
Although Judy Montagu (“In from the cold”,” In My Own Write, October 31) calls
herself “an armchair therapist,” she does an excellent job of describing the
inner-child we all have within.
Nevertheless, she quotes experts who say
we cannot meet unmet childhood needs with someone we encounter as adults,
whereas Imago Relationship experts find that a committed partner is able to help
with the unmet needs of childhood.
This is one of the tenets of Imago and
one of our professional goals. It is hard work and probably requires assistance
from an Imago therapist, but it can be done.
CHARLOTTE SLOPAK GOLLER
Jerusalem
The writer is a clinical psychologist and certified Imago therapist
and workshop presenter
Card them
Sir, – With regard to “Dagan back after liver
transplant “ (October 28), had the former head of the Mossad, Meir Dagan,
remained in Israel waiting for a liver rather than flying to Belarus under an
assumed identity, he would have died.
More than 100 Israelis die every
year waiting on “the list.” I do not know if Dagan bought his liver or used his
contacts to get to the top of the Belarus waiting list. But I have my
suspicions, and given his former high-ranking government position, I believe
there should be an independent inquiry.
During the upcoming Israeli
election period I would like to offer a new tactic to publicize the need for
organ donors.
Journalists should pepper public figures running for office
with the question: Do you have an organ donor card? A candidate for public
office would not have my vote – and should not have yours – if he or she does
not have enough of a sense of civic duty to care about other people, even in
death.
If they don’t have an organ donor card, they shouldn’t be voted
into office. I’m 100-people-peryear- dead serious.
ROBBY BERMAN
New York
The writer is founder and director of the Halachic Organ Donor Society