Local News in Brief : Jewish School Censured

The American Assn. of University Professors has formally censured the University of Judaism in Los Angeles because of the way the school denied tenure to Marcia Falk, a feminist teacher of Hebrew literature. The national organization, in its weekend convention in Washington, alleged that the university violated guidelines of academic freedom last year by not giving Falk a proper appeal and by keeping secret the identities of the reviewers who voted against her promotion to full professor. The association also raised the possibility that Falk was discriminated against because of her feminist views.

Censure carries no penalties but is used to persuade universities to change their policies. Fifty schools across the country are now on the association’s reprimand list. The University of Judaism denies any improprieties in the case of Falk, who has been told to leave the school at the end of June.