Hello,

I submitted an article for publication on 11/23/02. I would like to make a minor change. Since this letter is coming from a group of students, it should say “we”, instead of “I”. I have reposted it below with the changes added. I am sorry for this inconvenience.

Thank you,Jamie Frenz

Graduate Student’s Rebuttal to Faculty MemberWe are a concerned group of graduate students who were appalled by Dr. Mark Jackson’s opinion of FAU and its faculty in the October 10th issue of the University Press. He is quoted saying, “if [students] expect FAU faculty, advisors or administrators to care, they will suffer,” “the lousy faculty”, and “This drives many faculty to do what sensible students do: Find Another University”. We are graduate students in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department in which Dr. Jackson is currently employed and are ashamed that a professor at our University feels this way and would go as far as to publicize his views. We were very dismayed by this misrepresentation of our school and would like people to recognize the facts. The truth is, our faculty has developed incentive programs and obtained grants to fund various education projects. Last year, FAU received 536 grants totaling over $37 million, much of which was spent on education. FAU provided more resources to beginning chemistry students than any other university in the state. FAU also implemented the ChemBond program for which we obtained funding from the National Science Foundation. This program was developed to assist students in all majors with their success in general chemistry. FAU has been recognized nationally at teaching conferences and faculty members have presented papers at international conferences. Many of us have presented research across the U.S., which was comparable to the research performed at top universities in the country. This was made possible by accomplished faculty members who care very much about the quality of their student’s research and education. The majority of the FAU faculty really do care about the students, otherwise why would they have become professors and continue to teach? They set high standards for us and provide us with instructive advising and valuable computer resources. This is why many of our students are able to pursue advanced degrees at impressive graduate and medical schools, including the notable Yale and Harvard. It appears that Dr. Jackson is very unhappy with where he is, and wants others to know it and feel the same way. If he feels this way about FAU, why is he still here after 14 years? We are pleased with the way FAU, especially the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, is progressing with regards to the number of students in the program, the facilities and equipment available, the incentives given to students, the funding received, and the type of research being performed. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however, based on our experience, and the facts listed above, we are proud to be part of this university and hope you are too.