Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

It has come to my attention through an anonymous source that Morris Rossabi, adjunct professor of Mongolian studies in the East Asian Language and Cultures department (EALAC) is, in effect, being pushed out of his teaching position that he has held for some years. It is not a widely known fact, but over the past semester Professor Rosabbi has made repeated written requests for a teaching assistant in his Mongolian history courses that average 50-60 students. Professor Rossabi has chosen the academic quality of his course over convenience and thus been forced to grade all his own exams by hand. His work at Columbia should be praised and applauded instead of ignored. It is my understanding that his requests for a TA have been completely disregarded by the department and are unknown to outside professors or administrators including the President of our university. He is the foremost Mongolian scholar in the western world. His teaching in and out of the classroom has demonstrated his dedication to the promotion of Mongolian studies internationally. As a former student of his, there was never a time he could not meet to talk over a paper or exam. He makes frequent trips to Mongolia and the academic community recognizes his published materials as the premier authority in Mongolian studies. Professor Rossabi literally wrote the book on Kublai Khan. Columbia University would lose a huge asset in Professor Rossabi’s departure, one that cannot be replaced. I am concerned for the future of Mongolian studies at Columbia and the precedent this example will set for the treatment of adjunct professors. No professor should be ignored, especially one who has given so much to students and the university. Please talk to your parents, professors, deans, and fellow classmates to encourage them to call or write letters to EALAC or Professor Bollinger in support of Professor Rossabi.

Sincerely,
Concerned Student