i will make a full disclosure as promised by the vpac, but these are what
the students in/outside have to say. to be accountable, i have copied to
faculty association, avpfraa and vpac already. open->fair->uplifting.
thanks!
what the students in the classroom have to say: closer to the fact
than any reporters so far. why not crosschecking as well?
“During the first lecture, Dr.Pan told the students that he was not
the best professor to teach the course and that a better professor
would teach it next term. He advised any students that did not have a
particular reason to take the course this term (i.e. they don’t need
it to graduate or to fulfill any course requirement) to take it next
year with a more experienced professor in teaching the course. He told
students that must take the course this term that he will try his
best.
Dr. Pan also explained to students that he asked the department to
swap courses with the instructor who is more familiar with the course,
but that unfortunately that did not happen. When a student asked who
they should contact (email address or otherwise) to voice their
opinion to the department, Dr. Pan wrote the chair’s email on the
board.
During the second lecture, we were told the class was cancelled by Dr.
Müller. Dr. Pan then told everyone that despite the fact the class is
cancelled, he will be doing an optional lecture for those interested.
Dr. Müller reaffirmed that the class itself was cancelled and the
lecture would officially restart during then next class. Some students
decided to leave, but some decided to stay. This optional lecture was
then disrupted multiple times by UVic staff urging students to leave,
but most students were interested in staying. It was not until Dr.
Müller came to the class and personally went around the lecture room
telling individual students one-by-one to leave that most students
felt pressured to comply.
The contents of the lecture itself were exactly what would you expect
from the 2nd lecture of the course and the remaining students were
active in the material by asking questions.
Dr. Pan at no point during the lecture spoke about the university or
the situation other than when a student asked if he was still a UVic
professor after which he responded that he still works for the
university but is suspended and then returned to the material.”
and what the students not in the classroom have to say (copied to me
and faculty members with the consent to redistribute)
“Hey,
I just read these articles
(http://www.martlet.ca/im-not-qualified-professor-suspended-after-critical-remarks/,
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/uvic-computer-science-prof-suspended-1.2343247)
and had people contact me about Dr. Pan today already.
I took courses with him and consider him an excellent professor, one
of the best I had at UVic. He is wise, humble, mentoring, passionate,
and eager to help his students even long after the end of the course.
Every characteristic of a good professor. I frequently consult him on
issues and he always has valuable input.
I would also say the way I’m hearing things it appears at though UVic
has mishandled the situation. So far, I’m very embarrassed by this
news, and ashamed about how inappropriately the university dealt with
this from a public perspective. It makes the university look bad, it
makes you look bad, it makes the rest of the faculty look bad.
I trust in you, I trust this isn’t your doing. I trust that you will
handle it appropriately and resolve the issue. I also trust that you
will make some measure to resolve the damage that has been caused. I’m
sorry you have to deal with this most unfortunate and public issue.
(I’m hearing about this in Germany, to give you a perspective.)
This appears to be an administrative issue and should have been
handled internally. It should not have ended up in the newspaper or on
the television. The names of yourself and Dr. Pan should have not been
dragged through the mud like this.
Again, if there is something I can do to help Dr. Pan please tell me.
I consider him a friend and mentor.
I’ll happily go to bat for him, just like I would for you and the
other fine professors I’ve bcc’d on this message to ensure my support
is heard.
You’re welcome to share this message with your superiors.
With much disappointment about the situation,
XXX
CS graduate in 2016 with distinction”
