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Prof. protests by hunger strike

Abstract:
A University professor began a hunger strike Monday, protesting what he calls a culture of dishonesty in the administration.

Dezso Benedek, director of Asian languages, said he will remain outside Old College until University President Michael Adams answers questions about his accusations of incompetence and dishonesty by administrators....

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jane

posted 10/30/07 @ 7:24 AM EST

this guy is my hero!
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iyya

posted 10/30/07 @ 2:33 PM EST

Before judging Dr. Benedek one should check http://homepage.mac.com/academia1/protest/
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Reeve Tuesti

posted 10/30/07 @ 7:46 AM EST

This is yet another attempt by Benedek to get increased funding for his department. He pulled a stunt like this a few years ago when the university didn't want to approve the Korean language program. Then, soon after that, he tried to get the university to water down the multicultural requirement to get people to take more classes in the CMCL department. More students = more funding.

When is the administration going to take this guy by the throat? He accuses others of incompetence, but where is the evidence of his effectiveness as the director of the Asian lanuguages program? When are they going to have a come-to-God meeting with this rogue professor?

Reeve Tuesti
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Concerned

posted 10/30/07 @ 9:23 AM EST

Reeve has a point. Should we all go on hunger strikes to get more funding for our departments and programs? Where would it end?
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Anonymous A. Anonymous

posted 10/30/07 @ 9:38 AM EST

Isn't this the guy that was caught accepting paychecks from UGA and a Japanese university at the same time? Isn't this the guy who last did a hunger strike to protect a Korean language program that is a sham for Korean students to get A's? Isn't this the guy who gives all A's in all his classes (check the Key)? Isn't this the guy about which rumors of financial impropriety echo around campus? When is the University going to reign in this guy?
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P3

posted 10/30/07 @ 4:56 PM EST

Originally posted by

Anonymous A. Anonymous

 Isn't this the guy that was caught accepting paychecks from UGA and a Japanese university at the same time? Isn't this the guy who last did a hunger strike to protect a Korean language program that is a sham for Korean students to get A's? Isn't this the guy who gives all A's in all his classes (check the Key)? Isn't this the guy about which rumors of financial impropriety echo around campus? When is the University going to reign in this guy?


You are highly misinformed. Where is the proof for all your accusations?

Where is the proof for his acceptance of two paychecks at the same time?

As far as the Korean language program being a sham for Korean students to get A's is concerned, I think it's such a stupid thing to point out. The staff of the Korean department is absolutely devoted to spreading the knowledge of the language and culture to EVERYONE. That's why they offer heritage courses and non-heritage courses. The heritage class also receives a heavier and more accelerated work load in order to weed out any unfair advantages. I know many students who aren't native speakers who have benefited from and enjoyed studying the Korean language here at UGA. If you consider the Korean language program a sham on the basis that Korean students take it to get A's, what about the students who take the language courses of their native tongue for A's? Are those programs shams also? The Chinese program has several native Chinese speakers who take the course for what you call an easy A, and they don't divide their courses into heritage and non-heritage. I also know native Spanish speakers who take Spanish. Does that make the Romance language department a sham? I think not. If a person wants to gain a better command of a language that they share a cultural/ethnic bond with, they have the right to without being accused of coasting for an easy A. I don't completely agree with Dr. Benedek's methods in dealing with the administration. However, if it wasn't for his similar actions in the past, I may have never been able to minor in the Korean language. I am thankful and encouraged to see a professor such as Dr. Benedek who cares so much about the Asian language program that UGA always shoves into a small corner and forgets about.

I've also taken a course with Dr. Benedek. He doesn't simply give all A's. We actually did work in his courses. We earned our grades. Have you ever had a course with Dr. Benedek? If not, then you can put that accusation to rest. Just because a professor has a high percentage of good grades doesn't mean that he's doing something funny.

It's funny how you said "rumors of financial impropriety..." Note the keyword, RUMORS. They're rumors, and it seems like you're making all these accusations with no true research and just a bunch of hearsay.
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T-dub

posted 10/30/07 @ 10:37 AM EST

Benedek is the man. He speaks like 20 languages and grew up in Communist Romania. If you really know him, he's not the kind of guy that just wants money. He cares about his students' ability to learn. Take advantage of his time at the library to talk to him. He'll be open to any questions you have, especially the ones about his own impropriety.
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Anon

posted 10/30/07 @ 11:51 AM EST

Dr. Benedek completely misrepresents the situation. He has been told many times, over multiple semesters, that his students will not get credit for this China program. The only reason he keeps pushing is that the university has always caved in, giving the students credit after the class is done.
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CoastalDawg

posted 10/30/07 @ 1:06 PM EST

While there are more than enough issues with President Adams to go around, this doesn't seem to be one of them. If this professor hasn't followed the appropriate channels to get this program accepted, that's the end of the story as far as I'm concerned. Hunger strike or not, follow the procedure, see what happens and then take appropriate action. If the Chinese University isn't up to par with UGA, why would he even WANT his students to get credit toward a UGA diploma? Take him a sandwich...
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Bob

posted 10/30/07 @ 2:35 PM EST

Anon is right. The university has established channels by which to approve study abroad programs and Dr. Benedek's program in Huangshan did not meet the standards for approval. He is right that students have been lied to, but wrong about who was doing the lying. There are plenty of well-established, reputable Chinese language programs available to students at UGA, but Dr. Benedek mislead students into thinking they could get credit for a program that he had been warned did not meet university standards. While some may like to point out his commitment to students, he could best demonstrate this commitment by spending more time teaching and sending students to established programs than on self-aggrandizing hunger strikes that, should the university cave in, will allow him to continue disrupting Asian language education at UGA.
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Brent Allison

posted 10/30/07 @ 2:50 PM EST

Originally posted by

Bob

 While some may like to point out his commitment to students, he could best demonstrate this commitment by spending more time teaching and sending students to established programs than on self-aggrandizing hunger strikes that, should the university cave in, will allow him to continue disrupting Asian language education at UGA.


Didn't the article say that Benedek is teaching his courses outside where he is holding his hunger strike?
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Maggie

posted 10/30/07 @ 4:35 PM EST

I'm sorry, but if UGA can accept credits from Georgia Perimeter College, they may as well accept transfers from Joe's Mama's College operated from her basement. If this is a legit, accredited school, I don't really see the problem.

I support anyone who is trying to make Asian languages more accessible to students, for as you may have noticed, there are just as many Asian families coming into this country as Spanish, French, etc.. with one of the main needs or uses of taking a foreign language course is to use it in your career. If you drop yourself in any given spot in greater Atlanta, you'll see just as many Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian business as Hispanic that it would be beneficial to have means to communicate with.

Regardless of that even, there is so much culture and history that can be exposed to an exchange student, or someone traveling abroad to these countries, just being there alone can be more of a learning experience thn being in a UGA classroom for a day.
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Richard

posted 10/30/07 @ 7:19 PM EST

Dr. Benedek believes in a more classical form of education where a student is immersed/engaged in the field he/she is trying to learn about rather than asked to repeat what they have memorized. In some classes this would not work, but in classes that focus on culture i.e. what he teaches (Cultural Anthropology, Comparative Literature, and Foreign Languages), his outlook works brilliantly. To question his ethics and his motive because of the grades he gives out is ridiculous. He doesn't care if you remember what year Vietnam ended or the specific names of key people. He wants students to grasp the bigger picture and be aware of the world they live in. So, of course, its not going to be as "hard," for some people but sure doesn't mean the students didn't learn anything.

Putting our personal opinions about what should be accredited at the university or how the situation should be handled, the fact is that there were several students who got a raw deal, even those who left his program and went to the UGA recommended program, and I think students should appreciate the fact that someone cares enough about his students to put his career on the line to try do something about it.
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Laura

posted 10/30/07 @ 7:38 PM EST

I have had Dr. B in a class before...it was in 2004. I have travelled in a group of 40 students with this man and would entrust anyone I know unto his care. He is a very honest, noble person who (unlike most of the people in the world) actually CARES about things. Enough to move mountains. If we all had this kind of energy and passion about issues that bother wouldn't we move mountains too? Instead we sit on our asses and complain. Respect his decision to make a statement.
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David M H

posted 10/30/07 @ 10:40 PM EST

I am appalled by the number of commenters who blindly stick to the party line, as it were. There is not enough a forum in these comments to write a fully supported argument, so I suppose I can accept the inclination merely to post opinion, as I now do.

What I cannot accept is that the R&B does not seem to have looked at materials provided by Benedek on his website (http://homepage.mac.com/academia1/protest/) to cover the topic more fully: Benedek states that he has gone through the grievance procedure before only to find that the administrator accused of dishonesty "did not tell the truth, but was not lying," according to the board.
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Anonymous

posted 10/31/07 @ 2:21 AM EST

While studying Asian languages at UGA, Dr. Benedict would only recommend his programs; never once mentioning those programs outside of the university that are not under his control or support. Upon bringing up programs run by Ivy League Universities or private firms, Dr. Benedict found flaws, and once again, would suggest his programs. I was very disappointed with what appeared to be blatant self-promotion. In light of his incompetence, I took on mentors in other academic departments that spoke the languages I wished to study. It is strange how there is such a divide in opinion about Dr. Benedict. Many students adore and worship him. He has an interesting past, and he can tell amazing stories. He has very loyal graduate students and TAs, and to his credit, he does follow through on creating language exchange opportunities. Nevertheless, many of my classmates were turned off by his "my way or the highway" attitude. No small number of students quickly discover going to his office will become a recruitment speech for his latest campaign-- friends that considered studying abroad experienced this with the Huangshan program. "Join my program, it is the best, I promise you credit"... only to be disappointed by results like this.

Many university professors willfully take you under their wing, they have strong opinions about other professors on campus, both good and bad... it is rather strange that Dr. Benedek dislikes virtually all professors outside his department. He is a crusader, but unfortunately I just got a bad feeling from the man and deemed it better to just stay away.

A concerned student of Asian languages
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Shin Chan

posted 11/03/07 @ 11:39 AM EST

"I'm sorry, but if UGA can accept credits from Georgia Perimeter College, they may as well accept transfers from Joe's Mama's College operated from her basement. If this is a legit, accredited school, I don't really see the problem."

I see why you go to Georgia Perimeter with that thinking. You a lawyer maybe? I think you are not smart enough to go UGA. Why review transfer credits at all, if any school is okay transfer from??? Schools in Asia are not good enough, some students just pay money and get A and do nothing. Do you know anything about China school? You need to learn before you speak sometimes Maggie. You should not speak without knowledge, you only embarrass yourself. But I guess everyday is same. Also Dr. Benedek's chinese sound terrible. I talked to him before.
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Courtney

posted 2/26/09 @ 3:35 PM EST

i know this is way late, but I am bored at work and sometimes google people I know so I found this. I guess I am just one of those devoted TAs. Dezso is one of the most amazing professors (make that people) that I have ever met. I studied abroad with him to Europe and learned more on that trip than i ever thought possible. I am really surprised to read so many negative comments about him and his teaching. His classes were the only classes i took at UGA that i invited friends to. The university administration has no idea what a gem they have in Dr. B.
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