IRVINE : Ex-UCI Lecturers Fight Dismissals

Defending two UC Irvine lecturers of Chinese language who were notified in May that their contracts would not be renewed, a representative of the American Federation of Teachers charged Friday that the university acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner.

“We believe this was total disregard for equal opportunity,” said Daniel C. Tsang, vice president of AFT Local 2206, after a grievance hearing before the dean of the School of Humanities. “Neither of them received an interview for the positions.”

Tsang is seeking the immediate reinstatement of Richard Liao and Jennie Hu, both of whom filed grievances with the university after three new lecturers were hired to replace them in the newly formed East Asian languages and literature department.

Tsang said that if the current grievance is unsuccessful, he will appeal to William Parker, acting executive vice chancellor. A decision is expected within the next 10 days, he said.

While Tsang said he believes Liao and Hu were treated unfairly, the university maintains that both were treated appropriately.

“All of the applicants are not required to receive an interview,” said university spokeswoman Linda Granell, noting that each year there is a new hiring process for all one-year positions, provided those positions are continued the following year.

“In this case, these lectureships were advertised and applicants were sought from across the country and people were selected to fill those positions,” Granell said.

“It is a waste of taxpayers’ money to do a national search for year-to-year appointments when you have qualified people locally,” Tsang said, suggesting that Liao may have been let go because he would have been eligible for an extended three-year contract during the 1990-91 school term.

After six years, lecturers become eligible for extended contracts, he said.

“The university does not operate like that,” responded Granell.

Both Liao and Hu received letters on March 27 notifying them that the university was interviewing applicants for the lectureships and both indicated their interest. But neither of them was contacted for an interview, Tsang said.

“It’s very suspicious,” he said, noting that Liao was shocked when his contract was not renewed as it has been for the past five years.

Liao “assumed that since he had never had to go through this before, everything was fine.”

Granell said interviews are done in some cases but are not mandatory.

Liao, who holds two master’s degrees in Asian studies, received consistently favorable reviews from students and university observers, according to his personnel file.

Evaluations for the six courses taught by Liao during the fall, 1987, and winter, 1988, terms, show that 63% of his students rated his classes as “one of the best,” while another 32% rated his class as “above average,” according to a listing for the 1988-89 academic year.

“I love this job,” Liao said, noting that because of budget limitations he often purchased teaching materials with his own money. He is currently teaching part time at Santa Monica City College.

Hu, who taught at the university for three years, is a native of China and received a bachelor’s degree in Chinese literature.

She was out of the country Friday and unavailable for comment.

Of the three people recently hired as lecturers for the upcoming term, one holds a doctorate degree and all are natives of China.

Granell said she could not release the names of the three until they officially become UCI employees when school begins in September.