To the Editor:
I am very disappointed by the article written in Thursday's Daily
entitled "Profs criticize outgoing IR head." As a student of Professor Robinson's, I believe she deserves a greater note of respect and appreciation for the hard work that she has put into cultivating the international relations program at Tufts. I know for a fact that during Professor Robinson's term as director, the number of IR majors has tripled. Professor Robinson has brought political figures from Barbados, held online simulcast with classes in Tanzania and Uganda, and she's done many more things that pre-date my time at Tufts.
I can't understand why the Professors quoted in the article would criticize Professor Robinson for raising nearly $500,000 dollars for IR events. Shouldn't she be praised for being so resourceful in grant writing, especially since the IR Department itself and the University would not give her the resources to fund such events? It's also very disturbing of the Professors to be critical of "The IR program's priorities reflecting Prof. Robinson's African and African-American Specialty." This must be expected since being director gives professors more opportunities to enhance the program with their specialty and nuance.
There shouldn't be such reluctance from the IR Program to accept Africa as
a central theme. It should seem more strange to the IR Program that the new incoming director has no background in political science, economics, or history.
The "anonymous" professors' opinions were not only critical of Professor Robinson's tactics but were also reluctant to acknowledge the overwhelming achievements of Professor Robinson's work. I believe there has been deception within the IR program to discredit Professor Robinson in favor of making the incoming director look better. Such a strategy is very troubling. Many professors and students have been very appreciative of her hard work in the IR department.
Carl Jackson, LA '02
