Professor retires, cites administration, lack of intellectual diversity

09/16/05 - Every so often, a professor captures the minds and hearts of many students. Regardless of the topic and the students' interests, the professor has the ability to appeal to every distinct personality.An individual who wholly fits this description is Marc Genest, who at the dismay of many of his students, left the University of Rhode Island in August.

Genest retired from the university after 14 years and now teaches at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Genest said he left URI because of a lack of financing and resources.

"The University lacked the money and resources needed to conduct research for my specialty in terrorism," Genest said. "Frankly, the salary structure at URI is not very competitive. It will continue to lose faculty because the pay structure is very inadequate."

Genest said he went through various negotiations, but the administration was either unwilling or unable to compete financially with the War College.

At the War College, Genest will be able to conduct more research in his specialty, and use his knowledge of international politics and terrorism to help the military.

"At the War College I'm serving my country directly in times of war, and that's gratifying," Genest said.

Genest also pointed out that he was becoming increasingly frustrated with the URI administration, saying its priorities were not in order.

"The administration doesn't realize that the faculty is the heart and soul of the university and that should be the priority; increasing numbers and quality," Genest said. "Students come for the faculty; not the facility. The better the faculty, the more important it is for students to come."

Genest described the Ryan Center as a waste of money, and said that, "A university is an intellectual institution, not a training ground for athletes; what's more important to the educational mission, additional faculty or a football stadium?"

Genest also talked about how the university promotes multiculturalism.

"The university clearly lacks a diverse array of views and, as one of the few conservatives on campus, I am concerned that the ideological groupthink will continue to dominate the university," Genest said. "Unfortunately, the administration views diversity solely in terms of genitalia and pigmentation and refuses to add intellectual diversity into the equation."

"The Multicultural Center," Genest said, "was a colossal waste of money because instead of hiring new faculty like women, minorities and conservatives, the administration constructs a building, calls it multicultural and assumes they have done something significant. This is a perfect example of form over substance."

Genest also added, "Think of how many new faculty they could have hired and instead they constructed a building that represented multiculturalism and nothing more." Genest's views of multiculturalism revolve around the significance of the people and mentality involved, rather than material objects.

"Multiculturalism is about people, not buildings and you've wasted your money on edifices rather than substance. They [the administration] just don't get it," Genest said.

In a statement regarding education, Genest refers to President Robert L. Carothers.

"Carother's famous quip that they don't have a physics page in the local newspaper is an intellectually vacuous statement that completely misses the point regarding the proper role of higher education in American society."

Despite its faults, Genest said he was content while teaching at URI.

"The real reason I left was because it was an exceptional opportunity and when that comes along you have to take it," Genest said. "I was not unhappy at URI; in fact, I was very happy."

Genest talked about his fondness of college students, also adding that at the War College, the average age of his students is around 30 years old.

"I have to be mature which is really difficult for me," Genest joked.

"I love teaching college students. I find it challenging and fun to teach young adults about international politics. You can make an impact and that's gratifying. That's what I miss the most, " Genest said.

When asked if he would return, were he offered a better salary and more resources, Genest replied, "Even though I'm extraordinarily young, I did retire. Technically I can't return because if I went back I would have to give up my healthcare."

Although Genest may have left the university, memories of his educating will continue with his students.

Junior B.L. Gentile, who had Genest for International Politics last semester said, "He was an amazing professor; he demanded hard work and dedication from his students and he loved his work. Any teacher that can prove to his students he loves what he teaches will always captivate a classroom," Gentile said. "His absence at URI will be missed, I'm certain. Everyone needs to make their own decisions and do what's best for them. I know he wouldn't have left the University if it wasn't fully in his benefit."

Another student, Matt Napoli, who also had Genest for International Politics said, "I'm pretty upset, I wanted to take another class with him. He's definitely the best professor I've ever had."

Even some students who never had Genest as an instructor were disappointed.

"I have never had professor Genest, but I enrolled in two of his classes for this semester because I have always heard amazing things about him," senior Shari Katz said.

Genest added he would miss Linda Levin, with whom he loved teaching, and also said he enjoyed all of his colleagues in the political science department.