The latest petition requests "a greater understanding and the reconsideration of her tenure status," said Chuong.
"In light of Professor Takeyama's recent complaint filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, we believe it is imperative to revisit this case," states the new petition.
Takeyama said that she had no involvement in either the initiation or writing of either petition and that it was strictly the students' idea.
"I had not even read the petition until well after it had already begun to circulate. I am really quite touched by the students' efforts," said Takeyama. "For me, the fact that the students care enough to do this is what really matters. After all, students are what Amherst College is all about."
"[The writers of the petition] were quite shocked as there was widespread confidence in the strength of her candidacy," said Chuong. "We have always believed that she was an asset to the College with her effective, organized, clear and thorough teaching style and her dedication and commitment to her students."
Gerety replied to the first petition in a statement issued over the summer. "Thank you for your recent letter regarding Professor Takeyama. These are tough decisions and your interest and concern is most appreciated," he said.
The petitioners are currently re-distributing the new petition through email to former students of Takeyama and plan to request a meeting with Gerety.
"[We want] to gain a better understanding of Professor Takeyama's current tenure status," said Chuong.
Since the second circulation of the petition this fall, nearly 40 signatures have been gathered in addition to the signatures that the students obtained last spring.
"We hope that Takeyama will be able to remain at Amherst," Chuong said.
Lee agreed with this sentiment. "[Petitioning is] a way that we, as students, can express our support for Professor Takeyama," said Lee.
Other students who have taken classes with Takeyama offered both praise and criticism.
"She obviously has a very good understanding of the subject and is able to give good explanations and examples to help make Introduction to Economics more accessible to first time econ students," said Kirsten Carleton '05 who took Economics 11 with Takeyama during the fall 2001 semester.
However, Carleton commented that Takeyama was not an inspiring professor. Carleton said she abstained from signing the petition because she did not feel well informed about the process and politics of tenure and because she had only taken one of Takeyama's classes.
Professor of Economics and Committee of Six Member Walter Nicholson would not comment on the specifics of Takeyama's tenure case. But he had positive things to say about Takeyama as a colleague. "I have very much enjoyed teaching with Professor Takeyama and I find her research innovative and very interesting ... [She] is especially good at working with students on a one-on-one basis," said Nicholson. "The theses she advised were some of the best we have ever seen in our department."
Takeyama was the honors thesis advisor to Eric Budish '00, who was awarded a Marshall Scholarship in part for his thesis on internet auctions. Budish also won the won the Bernstein Prize for the best economics thesis.
Nicholson said that Takeyama's research on software piracy "puts her into the forefront of a very hot area of current research."
Professor of Economics Frank Westhoff said that Takeyama has done "an excellent job" of teaching microeconomic theory and commented that the industrial organization course she teaches is a popular elective.
"[Takeyama] has proven to be very adept at devising innovative approaches to address interesting and important issues in these fields," said Westhoff. "Our department, the College and most importantly, Amherst students will suffer greatly when Lisa departs."