"Those kinds of decisions are always difficult ones. The evidence gets reviewed at several different stages," Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Physics Robert Hilborn said. "It's not just a single person making a decision; it's an institutional decision."
Hilborn added that criteria such as student evaluations, scholarly work and service to the College are considered when making the decision.
"I think the decision was unfair," Weyland said. "I was subject to discrimination because the American studies department is not open to representing other voices, such as those of Latinos."
Weyland added that, while the department's official reason for not rehiring her was that she was not a good match for the department's ideals, she said that she believes that she was not rehired because her colleagues and students did not accept her ideas.
"I think Professor Weyland made a valuable difference and made clear how much we need courses that invite students to think of the ways our nation is intimately, and not often admirably, connected to to other nations and cultures in our hemisphere," said Professor of Sociology and American Studies Jan Dizard. "Were we a larger institution, with a full complement of 'area studies' departments, I think she would have had a far better chance of prospering here. Professor Weyland got caught between the differing needs of two departments, through no fault of her own and with no aspersions to be cast on either American studies or anthropology/sociology."
According to Associate Professor of Sociology Ronald Lembo, who chairs the department, while the department recommended Weyland for reappointment, the College made the decision not to hire her again.
Weyland said that, while she wrote a letter appealing the decision, she was upset that the Committee of Six did not meet with her to discuss the appeal before they made the decision, although they met with both department heads.
Weyland added that, while she enjoyed teaching her sociology classes, she had a hard time fitting into the American studies department. She said it was difficult to teach around the department's core requirements because it limited what information she could present, and that working in the department was hard because all of the professors are from different disciplines and have nationalistic perspectives on the study of American society.
"My classes went so much better in the sociology department because I had the freedom to teach what I thought was best," Weyland said.
Hilary Jones '01 said her class on Latinos in the United States was divided into groups of students who strongly favored or strongly disliked Weyland's teaching style. She said that although she wrote a positive recommendation for Weyland, many of the students in her classes did not.
"She challenged racial ideology and was really good at stirring things up," Jones said. "I'm disappointed that the school is not hiring her again next year, because she offered a healthy and different perspective that would have benefited the College. She was very organized and excited about what she was teaching."
Alicia Sanchez '02 added, "I think it's sad she wasn't rehired. She is an ambitious professor ... Some of her projects were a little overambitious, but I thought that was a good thing."
"I think that the American studies department is lacking in key aspects of what the American experience is," said Amber Young '01. "Not including the Latino experience shows we are really behind the times."