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Gee Questions "Publish Or Perish"



COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The leader of the country's largest university thinks it's time to re-examine how professors are awarded tenure, a type of job-for-life protection virtually unknown outside academia.

Ohio State University President Gordon Gee is repeating his belief that the traditional formula that rewards publishing in scholarly journals over excellence in teaching is outdated and too often favors the quantity of a professor's output over quality.

Gee tells The Associated Press that a new approach to tenure is needed to ensure the university stays relevant to students and the outside world.

Tenure makes firing and other discipline difficult if not impossible.

Supporters say the job protection gives professors the freedom to express ideas and conduct studies without fear of reprisal.

Two Background Checks Failed


The Ohio State University janitor who shot two supervisors before killing himself early Tuesday morning had passed two background checks.

Man Hits Kids For The Thrill


Columbus police say a man accused of striking children in the head with his fist and keys at a Northwest Side Wal-Mart store told them he did it for the thrill.

ACORN Falls


The community organizing group ACORN has settled a lawsuit by agreeing to give up its Ohio business license and not come back under another name.

Robber Says He Needed Mortgage Money


Authorities say the man they're calling the "Bono Bandit" needed money for a house payment when he held up a West Side bank branch Thursday morning.

What Did They Miiss?


Ohio State University says a background check on a janitor who shot two supervisors didn't reveal a criminal record, even though Nathaniel Brown had spent five years in prison.

Home Foreclosures Bottoming Out?


If the foreclosure crisis in Ohio is slowing down, it may be a long time before it turns around.

Area Unemployment At 27-Year High


Unemployment in central Ohio in January was at its highest level in nearly 27 years, flirting with double digits for the first time since 1983, according to figures released by the state Wednesday.

Campus Shooter Due To Be Fired


Personnel records show the OSU janitor who shot two supervisors, killing one of them before killing himself, early yesterday morning was going to be fired on Saturday.

Response To Shooting


OSU officials say they are pleased with the response time of university police officers and their campus emergency alert system in the wake of a shooting that left two men, including the gunman, dead.

Columbus Schools Audit


Columbus City Schools officials say the latest financial review by the state auditor indicates steps the district is taking to improve its accounting are paying dividends.