For the record, Robert Finn's story on a faculty lawsuit at the University of Southern California (USC)(The Scientist, Feb. 3, 1997, page 1) contains an aside that is in error: It notes that "USC was placed under AAUP [American Association of University Professors] censure in 1996 for an unrelated case involving denial of tenure to an assistant professor of sociology."
The case did not involve a tenure decision. It involved a probationary junior faculty member whose annual contract was not renewed. The recommendation of non-renewal was made by faculty within the department. The matter was thoroughly investigated by the cognizant dean, who decided that the junior faculty member would not be reappointed.
