Young America's Foundation

Fox News, NY Post, AP, Daily Caller, CNS News, and Others Report on Antisemitic Attacks Against YAF Activist

4/10/2012 2:26:10 PM Posted by Ron Meyer

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Young America's Foundation's blog, The Quad, has launched YAF activist Aaron Marcus' story into national prominence.

So far, Fox News, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, the New York Post, the New York Daily News, The Blaze, The Daily Caller, CNS News, The Daily Mail and other major publications have reported on the story broken on YAF's blog last Friday. Click here to see the original story: "Not Funny: Rutgers Paper Writes Fake Article by Jewish YAF Activist Praising Hitler."

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I DO WEAR THE HOLOCAUST ON MY SLEEVE 'This is your heritage' 4:26 PM, Apr. 11, 2012 | Comments Email Print Share LinkedIn Tumblr StumbleUpon Reddit Del.icio.us Digg A A Written by Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg Congregation Beth-El, Edison Filed Under Living Faith & Religion On behalf of the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, I would like to invite you to our interfaith Holocaust program to commemorate Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) at 7:30 p.m. on April 18. The event, being sponsored by the JCC and the Metuchen Edison Area Interfaith Clergy Association, will be at the center on Oak Tree Road. As a community, we will gather — Jews and people of different faiths — to remember the Holocaust. The world cannot undo the past, but as a religious community, we all can strive to work for a better world. The following is an excerpt from my “Holocaust Siddur,” a 140-page prayer book dedicated to Holocaust Remembrance Day: “Dear children, this is your heritage as we know it: Your grandparents, Rachel and Jacob Rosenberg of blessed memory, did not speak much about their families who were all murdered, and I did not ask questions since I knew it would hurt them terribly. They died before the Shoah programs of getting parents to give witness were started by (Steven) Spielberg. Out of both their large families, few survived, some were able to pay a farmer to hide them during the war. “Jacob Rosenberg, your grandfather, was born in Wodzislaw, Poland. His parents, Berish and Feigel Miriam, lived with their children on a street next to several others of their relatives. At least five houses were owned by their extended family. “We visited the town several years ago and found Jacob’s original birth certificate in the town hall records. Maria and her family hired someone years ago who found the original deed to the land our family owned, which is now the parking lot of the town hall. “Jacob had four brothers and sisters, all married with children before the war. Jacob also was married before the war and had two children who were murdered. We do not know their names, but he worked in the town of Bezdin in the meat business. “Jacob was in several concentration camps, escaped, was a partisan fighter, was shot and captured again, and ended up in Auschwitz from which he was liberated. He had a tattooed number on his arm, but we cannot find the records at this point. We did find the old large shul in the town, which is falling down and dangerous to enter. There was a plaque on the outside wall indicating the Jews who were rounded up and taken to Treblinka. (Page 2 of 2) “Rachel Rosenberg’s maiden name was Frankel. Her parents were Jacob and Bluma. She had four brothers and sisters, who also were married with children. Her family was well off and owned a leather factory in Cracow. They lived in Slomnicki, Poland, near Cracow. “We could not find any record of her family’s existence when we went to the town to visit several years ago. When our guide asked someone where the shul in the town was, they replied there wasn’t any, but as we drove out of the town, I noticed a large building that also was crumbling. It had a Jewish star and turned out to be the shul. When we went to the town hall, there were no records of any Jews ever having lived there. “Bubby was sent to the labor camp Plassau/Krakowa. It was the worst work camp. They made ammunition that turned your skin yellow and wrinkled. It made her sick. She was liberated from Skazyskokarmiene Werk C. They never thought she would be able to have any children after that. “There were no survivors of any of their immediate families. “After the war, both of your grandparents were sent to the Regensberg detention camp in Germany. They met there. Relatives of both apparently had known each other. They married, and I was born in Regensberg. “Jacob worked for a couple of years. They were sent by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to Memphis, Tenn., where they lived for two years. Jacob worked in the meat business there. After two years, they traced his half sister, Regina, to Kansas City, Mo. That is how your father and grandparents ended up in Kansas City. “Though they both grew up very religious, your grandparents became less so after the war due to economics and the terrible memories that they had. At 12, I decided to became a rabbi because of the Holocaust to make sure that “never again” would this happen. My parents became kosher and religious again.” Page Previous 1
Posted by rabbi bernhard rosenberg on 04/13/2012
In the Star Ledger, dated June 16, 2012, there is an article titled, " Groomed for Success" page 15, which speaks about Matthew "Mattstache" Ferguson's great success lip - synching on a Youtube. It cites him as an "Adjunct Professor" at Rutgers University and the fact that he shows this video in his class at Rutgers. It says the video has gone viral. Two facts: All my troubles at Rutgers began when I was castigated by DR. Jim Katz, the chairman of the department for calling myself an adjunct professor on line. Actually I did not write this; the person who developed my page called me professor which is the title I have at Yeshiva University, where I also taught. Yeshiva University in fact used this title in their press releases. In addition a student complained after the first day of my fall class in writing to the communications department at Rutgers and I was castigated for showing my youtube in my public speaking class. I was using it to teach since my class is public speaking in the department of Communication, unlike Mr. Ferguson who teaches American studies and Communication. I support his right to use his video. In fact there was a major article in the Home News about the growing use of videos /you tube in education including college classes. I was harrassed and bullied for doing the same thing as Mr. Ferguson who was lauded for his efforts, cited in various newspapers etc as he continues to show this video in his university classes. The youtube videos I showed at Rutgers dealt with motivation and dating skills which are part of communication and relevant to my curriculum. I protested because I felt there had to be a reason I was singled out by my department. Some felt the student who complained may have been anti-Semitic since I am the only one who wears a skullcap in the department. Since the name of the student was never revealed, I cannot substantiate this. I do know there was a Muslim female student, dressed in Muslim garb, who came to the first class, asked me for a special permission number at the end of the class to join the class (since all my classes were filled to capacity); I wanted to let her in but I did not have any more special permission numbers from the department. One of my students emailed the deans at Rutgers stating he was aware there were individuals at Rutgers who targeted me because of my views on Zionism. In addition, the undergraduate chairman of the department who made the initial email to me regarding the complaint, retired this semester. I was never made aware of this. Dr. Katz, the head of the department has taken a two year sabbatical. Even though I continuously asked if I was being rehired for the fall, I was put off until June when I was told I was not being rehired after twenty years of teaching because "I was not qualified to teach the new curriculum." If I was unqualified, why did I receive high marks from my students this past year under the new curriculum and high marks from the department coordinator. I was interviewed in the Rutgers Targum newspaper where I spoke about how adjunct teachers were treated like trash, with no benefits and a union without power. I am writing this letter because it is my nature to fight back; unlike other adjuncts who are afraid of losing their jobs. This entire incidents has hurt me greatly. On a personal level, I want to share that I am a child of Holocaust survivors and the way the department confronted me with the accusation put me on the defensive. It was demeaning and clear bullying. I would like to sue the university but honestly do not have the funds to hire an attorney willing to take on Rutgers University. I lost my job because spoke out. Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Posted by DR. ROSENBERG on 06/17/2012
In the Star Ledger, dated June 16, 2012, there is an article titled, " Groomed for Success" page 15, which speaks about Matthew "Mattstache" Ferguson's great success lip - synching on a Youtube. It cites him as an "Adjunct Professor" at Rutgers University and the fact that he shows this video in his class at Rutgers. It says the video has gone viral. Two facts: All my troubles at Rutgers began when I was castigated by DR. Jim Katz, the chairman of the department for calling myself an adjunct professor on line. Actually I did not write this; the person who developed my page called me professor which is the title I have at Yeshiva University, where I also taught. Yeshiva University in fact used this title in their press releases. In addition a student complained after the first day of my fall class in writing to the communications department at Rutgers and I was castigated for showing my youtube in my public speaking class. I was using it to teach since my class is public speaking in the department of Communication, unlike Mr. Ferguson who teaches American studies and Communication. I support his right to use his video. In fact there was a major article in the Home News about the growing use of videos /you tube in education including college classes. I was harrassed and bullied for doing the same thing as Mr. Ferguson who was lauded for his efforts, cited in various newspapers etc as he continues to show this video in his university classes. The youtube videos I showed at Rutgers dealt with motivation and dating skills which are part of communication and relevant to my curriculum. I protested because I felt there had to be a reason I was singled out by my department. Some felt the student who complained may have been anti-Semitic since I am the only one who wears a skullcap in the department. Since the name of the student was never revealed, I cannot substantiate this. I do know there was a Muslim female student, dressed in Muslim garb, who came to the first class, asked me for a special permission number at the end of the class to join the class (since all my classes were filled to capacity); I wanted to let her in but I did not have any more special permission numbers from the department. One of my students emailed the deans at Rutgers stating he was aware there were individuals at Rutgers who targeted me because of my views on Zionism. In addition, the undergraduate chairman of the department who made the initial email to me regarding the complaint, retired this semester. I was never made aware of this. Dr. Katz, the head of the department has taken a two year sabbatical. Even though I continuously asked if I was being rehired for the fall, I was put off until June when I was told I was not being rehired after twenty years of teaching because "I was not qualified to teach the new curriculum." If I was unqualified, why did I receive high marks from my students this past year under the new curriculum and high marks from the department coordinator. I was interviewed in the Rutgers Targum newspaper where I spoke about how adjunct teachers were treated like trash, with no benefits and a union without power. I am writing this letter because it is my nature to fight back; unlike other adjuncts who are afraid of losing their jobs. This entire incidents has hurt me greatly. On a personal level, I want to share that I am a child of Holocaust survivors and the way the department confronted me with the accusation put me on the defensive. It was demeaning and clear bullying. I would like to sue the university but honestly do not have the funds to hire an attorney willing to take on Rutgers University. I lost my job because spoke out. Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Posted by DR. ROSENBERG on 06/17/2012
In the Star Ledger, dated June 16, 2012, there is an article titled, " Groomed for Success" page 15, which speaks about Matthew "Mattstache" Ferguson's great success lip - synching on a Youtube. It cites him as an "Adjunct Professor" at Rutgers University and the fact that he shows this video in his class at Rutgers. It says the video has gone viral. Two facts: All my troubles at Rutgers began when I was castigated by DR. Jim Katz, the chairman of the department for calling myself an adjunct professor on line. Actually I did not write this; the person who developed my page called me professor which is the title I have at Yeshiva University, where I also taught. Yeshiva University in fact used this title in their press releases. In addition a student complained after the first day of my fall class in writing to the communications department at Rutgers and I was castigated for showing my youtube in my public speaking class. I was using it to teach since my class is public speaking in the department of Communication, unlike Mr. Ferguson who teaches American studies and Communication. I support his right to use his video. In fact there was a major article in the Home News about the growing use of videos /you tube in education including college classes. I was harrassed and bullied for doing the same thing as Mr. Ferguson who was lauded for his efforts, cited in various newspapers etc as he continues to show this video in his university classes. The youtube videos I showed at Rutgers dealt with motivation and dating skills which are part of communication and relevant to my curriculum. I protested because I felt there had to be a reason I was singled out by my department. Some felt the student who complained may have been anti-Semitic since I am the only one who wears a skullcap in the department. Since the name of the student was never revealed, I cannot substantiate this. I do know there was a Muslim female student, dressed in Muslim garb, who came to the first class, asked me for a special permission number at the end of the class to join the class (since all my classes were filled to capacity); I wanted to let her in but I did not have any more special permission numbers from the department. One of my students emailed the deans at Rutgers stating he was aware there were individuals at Rutgers who targeted me because of my views on Zionism. In addition, the undergraduate chairman of the department who made the initial email to me regarding the complaint, retired this semester. I was never made aware of this. Dr. Katz, the head of the department has taken a two year sabbatical. Even though I continuously asked if I was being rehired for the fall, I was put off until June when I was told I was not being rehired after twenty years of teaching because "I was not qualified to teach the new curriculum." If I was unqualified, why did I receive high marks from my students this past year under the new curriculum and high marks from the department coordinator. I was interviewed in the Rutgers Targum newspaper where I spoke about how adjunct teachers were treated like trash, with no benefits and a union without power. I am writing this letter because it is my nature to fight back; unlike other adjuncts who are afraid of losing their jobs. This entire incidents has hurt me greatly. On a personal level, I want to share that I am a child of Holocaust survivors and the way the department confronted me with the accusation put me on the defensive. It was demeaning and clear bullying. I would like to sue the university but honestly do not have the funds to hire an attorney willing to take on Rutgers University. I lost my job because spoke out. Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Posted by DR. ROSENBERG on 06/17/2012
Please note I only want to continue teaching at Rutgers. My health and teaching was greatly affected by the refusal to answer my questions regarding summer and fall teaching. The answers were either lies or constantly referred to as a 'PERSONNEL matter. This bullying and harassment were obvious and I must reiterate that my concerns of anti-Semitism were never addressed and I feared for my safety. Obviously this was not considered in your determination. The Police Chief of Edison township where I am chaplain does not understand why the administration did not report my complaint to security. Dr. Kui returned only one of my emails stating "take me off your list." Dr. Katz has a reputation of allegedly bullying other intstructors which is known. if there were complaints about my teaching, why were they not brought to my attention so I could address them and correct them. Yes, it is true I went to the media because the dept ignored my questions. If any student had a complaint it should have been brought to me by the dept. If I was not following the curriculum, why wasn't I confronted with that? My student and teacher evaluations do not indicate any problems. The one student who complained about me in one evaluation was because the student did not receive an A. I have students who can attest to everything that was taught in class. I would like to appear with about 20 of them before you. This was very drawn out; I could not even get an answer to future employment until june. This was very painful emotionally and physically. I told the dept I would always follow the curriculum and correct anything they wanted regarding the new curriculum. I only spoke out in print and video when I was lied to about not being hired for the summer. Today I received the letter from Rutgers University Human Resources, dated June 18 2012. Re: discrimination complaint The religious discrimination/anti-Semitism complaint you cite in your letter was a side issue to the main original complaint. It was only included because one of my students noted this was happening. The reason I went to the office of employment equity was my complaint of harrassment and bullying. I sent all this information several times so I do not understand why this major complaint was not addressed. I was called into Dr. Hui-Min Kuo's office and berated, bullied and harrassed regarding the following issues: A complaint against me that I used my youtube/video in class and that I sold my book directly to my students instead of the bookstore. I teach public speaking and was using mixed media as I was told to do by the department. Since I am a public speaker, reverend, and have been speaking in public for 36 years my youtube was a teaching element. In fact, recently there appeared an article in the Home News stating that twitter and youtube are used in all levels of education facilities. In addition, on June 16th an article appeared in the Star Ledger about a part time instructor (who calls himself professor in the article; Dr. Katz berated me and stated that I cannot call myself professor because I am part time) who shows his youtube on his moustache at Rutgers to great acclaim. I would like to know if this teacher is being disciplined for this. Regarding my selling my book , as soon as I was told to sell it through the bookstore, I did. The most flagrant part of the harrassment at this meeting involved Dr. Kuo confronting me and asking belligerently if I had taken the anti-discrimination exam at Rutgers. She most certainly knew I took it since it is in my file. This was a blatant form of harrassment and bullying to rile me up. I am including a basic summary of the situation. Please read it yourself. This letter did not address my complaint at all and I would like to appear in front of you to state the case. According to our labor attorney I have a strong case of harrassment and bullying which is why I do not understand the content of your letter. The harrassment and bullying has affected me greatly both physically, emotionally and monetarily. Please read: I have been teaching at Rutgers University, SCILS, Department of Communication as a part time instructor for 24 years. I have always had excellent evaluations and recommendations. I am also the only teacher in my department who wears a skullcap. In the fall of 2012, after the first day of the semester, I was summoned to the office of the undergraduate department chair, Hui Min Kuo through an email. As a child of survivors of the Holocaust who lost his entire family, and a Holocaust historian myself who is constantly fighting against anti-Semitism, I became frightened by this abrupt email which demanded that I appear immediately without explanation. I called Dr. Hui Min Kuo on the phone and explained my fear and asked that she tell me the problem over the phone. After all I had worked at Rutgers for 24 years and what could be so dire and serious? I literally begged her to tell me so I would not imagine a horrible situation. She refused. When I arrived at her office Dr. Nick Linardopoulos, the Public speaking debate Coordinator was sitting there with her. I felt on trial. My thoughts ran wild: Should I have brought a lawyer? Why was she not speaking to me in private? Why was there a witness there? Dr. Hui Min Kuo said a student, after the first day of class, complained to the department that I used You Tube and Twitter in class and that I was selling my own book in class. I explained that I had been teaching in this manner for years and did not know that a teacher had to sell his book through the bookstore. In fact, many years ago I showed this book to Dr. Min Kuo; in fact, I had asked her to put a forward in the book which she did not do. I felt that these complaints were trivial. I could prove that many educators, as was appearing in articles everywhere including the New Jersey Home News, were using different forms of media to teach. In fact, I was asked to use mixed media by the department this past year which I did . Regarding my book, I told them I would contact the Rutgers book store and arrange to have the book sold through them. I did this that week and the book is now being sold through the bookstore for $15.00 more than when I sold it directly to my students. I also told them I never tell my students buying the book is a requirement; it is an option which I have found is better than the textbook. As I said, this was very frightening. Would any one else be brought into this situation for such small mistakes? In today's world where people are accused of accosting women, harrasing and bullying, I had reason to worry. Dr. Min Kuo then asked me if I had taken the required anti-discrimination test at Rutgers. At this point I was even more frightened. Was a student accusing me of touching them improperly? Did I need a lawyer? Was I being falsely accused? My reputation was on the line. (I had taken the test). I tried to diffuse the situation by making a joke. I told Dr. Min Kuo that I had not raped anyone lately. She blew up in my face. I immediately apologized. I was very upset as I felt I was on trial and just blurted that out. She had no understanding of what my Holocaust background meant and how terrifying this was. (I had explained this on the phone to her before the meeting.)j Why in the world was she asking me this question? I am a respected clergyman, police chaplain and former prison chaplain. Rutgers has a record of my taking the test so this was pure harrassment. She yelled at me throughout the meeting. She made me feel like a thief over selling the book even though I said I would correct the issue and told her she was making me feel like a thief. When I asked who the student was who complained against me, she refused to tell me. Looking back, there were a number of incidents with the Chair of the department, Dr. James Katz, whom Dr. Min Kuo reports directly to: he is is in my opinion heading this. He sent me two disrespectful emails in the past about telling me not to call myself a professor (this appeared on my website) and about using my textook. I immediately corrected both. I had not done the website myself (the person who did it wrote that I was a professor) but I changed it everywhere I could. Just this past week there appeared an article in the Star Ledger, dated June 16th about a part time instructor at Rutgers; he calls himself "adjunct professor" and shows the youtube he made on his moustache to his classes. Unlike him, I am a professor of communication and I use my youtubes to teach how to communicate. I possess two doctorates, two masters degrees and Rabbinical ordination, and have taught for 36 years in various universities where I am called a professor. Dr. Katz was very nasty in his emails. In addition, all my classes are filled to capacity at Rutgers and you cannot get in without special permission numbers. One year after all the numbers were used up, I told other students to call the commmunication office to try to get in to the class. The secretary sent me an irate letter telling me never to send students to her. I replied in an email that her verbiage was disrespectful to me. I immediately received an email from Dr. Katz that I had no right to write this to her and lambasted me in his email. In my opinion this was all bullying. One of my students, a practicing Coptic Christian wrote in a letter that he "personally heard it that Rabbi Dr. Rosenberg, who wears a skullcap and is outspoken on behalf of the Jewish community, is a target from many of the Muslim students on campus. I know this because beinga student in his class, I have heard this from students in a variety of ways." He himself has been harrassed by Muslim students on campus. Several months into this semester I heard from a student at Rutgers that my name was not listed as teaching on the summer schedule; this was the first time I had not taught summer school in ten years. The administration did not even give me the courtesy of notification so I could get another teaching job for the summer. I emailed the secretary who told me to email Dr. Kuo; she would not reply. Dean Karen Novick replied that last summer attendance was lower than expected and apologized for not informing me (too late for me). In a Rutgers newspaper, the Targum, Dr. Novick was quoted as stating she wasn't certain that registration was lower. I then found out the real reason was that Dr. Linardopulos was asked to teach a hybrid course; so the original statement of lower attendance was not the real reason. After finding out about the summer I was concerned about my teaching in the fall. After all, I have been teaching six classes a year at Rutgers for 24 years. I contacted Dr. Novick by email who kept telling me that they were still interviewing candidates for teaching and it was not decided. I was always told it was a personnel issue and they would not tell me anything. Until today I have still not been told if I am teaching this fall. I have always been notified about summer teaching in february, and about fall teaching by the end of march. I have been looking into other teaching jobs since no one will tell me about the fall. Everywhere I turn it is too late to get a job. Just this past week, after countless emails and phone calls to the department, I received a fedexed letter stating that I was not being rehired because I was unqualified to teach the "new curriculum" they had instituted in the department . In fact, I had taught the new curriculum for two semesters, fall 2011 and spring 2012 and received excellent evaluations frm the students AND the department. In addition, I just learned that Dr. Kuo has resigned and Dr. Katz is taking a two year sabbatical from the department. One of my main questions is, since I complained to all the Rutgers teachers and administrators including the President's office that I feel that the original complaint came from someone anti-Semitic (what student on the first day of class would make a written complaint based on such trivial items?) and the statement from my Coptic Christian student was ignored , isn't this a bias charge? No one from the administration got back to me about any of this. Please understand my Holocaust background is a world in which any accusation can lead to something serious. I have been suffering from extreme emotional and hysical distress since this occurred and the way this was handled by the administration. I cannot sleep. I am convinced this is anti-Semitic, harrassment and bullying. I believe it occurred because I am a staunch Zionist, speak out and wear a skullcap. It is interesting to note that Dr. Katz once said to me"are you staying out of trouble?" Of course this was referring to my speaking out on Jewish issues as seen in the media (radio, tv, newspaper). Many people have tried helping me resolve this. They are told this is a "personnel issue" which only makes me more concerned regarding my reputation. I prefer to settle this in an amicable fashion by continuing at Rutgers. I had no choice but to go to the media and speak out. My part time lecturers union has told me they cannot help me ; they only deal with monetary issues. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Posted by on 06/21/2012
NEED A LABOR ATTORNEYTHAT WILL HANDLE THIS ON CONTINGENCY. If I WIN PROFITS WILL GO OUR SYNAGOGUE AS A DONATION, TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOLOCAUST FUND AND TO YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH A SPEECH DEPT. AS WELL AS TO THE METUCHEN EDISON CLERGY ASSOCIATION TO HELP THE NEEDY. This is a matter of pride. At their last meeting of the board they threw out students who wanted to speak about tuition hikes. Soon our kids will no longer be able to afford Rutgers. Also they are taking in substantial foreign students who pay full tuition thus raising the SAT scores needed to get in. This is a fight on behalf of adjuncts, students, and the people of NEW JERSEY. I SEEK NO PERSONAL GAIN. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG rabbi to sue rutgers after teaching since 1990
Posted by dr. rosenberg on 06/26/2012
THE NEWSPAPERS WILL NOT RUN THIS. EVERYTHING HERE TRUE. I FEEL SAD FOR MY STUDENTS. THERE IS ANTI-SEMITISM AT RUTGERS AND IT IS BEING COVERED UP. PLEASE SHARE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR KIDS. BEN RABBI ROSENBERG 732 5722766 5 FAIRHILL RD. EDISONN NJ FROM A MAJOR LABOR LAWYER... WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME HORRIBLE DR0WNING ADJUNCT BOAT . I read over your comments and tried to evaluate them from every possible angle. As you may be aware I had taught at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 53 years with 17 of them as a full time faculty member; Executive Masters Program Director and Department Chairman. I have also been an Adjunct at several UNiversities and know the full spectrum of the position they play with the academic structure. That being said as you are aware Adjuncts are the slave labor of the university. In virtually every environment they lack any form of protection in their teaching position. There is no requirement to rehire them on a continual basis and if in fact a full time faculty member desires to teach your course for the first time they are entitled to do so. I had been an Adjunct at the University of New Haven Graduate School of Business for 35 years and literally "owned" the courses in which I taught. The curricula was changes and in spite of the fact I was the only person qualified to teach the courses, I was unceremoniously dropped. The program recently restarted and my former courses were renewed, but I was not asked to teach. The question then arises in situations such as yourself, are there any grounds upon which you have a sustainable basis for seeking recourse against the institution? The discrimination laws do in fact apply to Universities and Colleges. There are several cases involving faculty who have either not been promoted; terminated; not granted tenure based upon race, creed, religion ,sex, and/or national origin. The burden of proof is always upon the complaining faculty. There are virtually no cases involving adjuncts do to the fact they are legally employees at sufferance. Where cases do exist most of them involved the failure to hire initial due to the previously mentioned areas of protection. Where this all gets tricky is when the University uses or creates a "pretext" not to rehire or to terminate. It appears that you were in fact set up or at least fell into a confluence of circumstances which played directly into the hands of the powers that be. On the facts you have set forth you have an extremely difficult road to pursue recourse. The complaints against you are being utilized by the University directly related to "competence and qualification." These are traditionally the basis for terminating or not renewing faculty. Your 20 year run as an adjunct certainly is supportive of the fact that the School; Department Chair; Dean and students felt you competent...what has suddenly changed? You indicate is was a new curricula which although you taught it last year with obviously no student complaints, you have to separate yourself form your teaching under the old vis-a-vis the new. Just want to share. I will be teaching at another college. However this is the story of adjuncts without tenure. I tried to help others but we are all in the same boat, without tenure adjuncts are the slaves of the university system. I truly believe I was harassed and bullied as are so many other adjuncts, but at least I FOUGHT BACK. The union is worthless as they deal only with pay raises. IF you are an adjunct and have treated this way I feel sad for you, but unless adjuncts unite to fight back this will remain the story . Thank G-d I AM A RABBI AND MAKE A LIVING. Many of my colleagues in academia are starving. BEN ROSENBERG
Posted by DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG on 07/09/2012
Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 12:00 am Contracts disatisfy part-time lecturersBy Matthew Matilsky / Staff WriterDailyTargum.com | 1 comment A part-time lecturer accused the University of being unfair toward part-time employees in a YouTube video, which was eventually shared on Twitter by former University football team players, Ray Rice and Khaseem Greene. His business card reads “Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg,” professor at Yeshiva University and part-time lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University. Rosenberg recently learned he would not be teaching public speaking at the University this summer, a course he has taught for 23 years. He thinks he lost his job over trivial arguments because his relationships within the department are unsteady. Karen Novick, associate dean of the Department of Communication, said Rosenberg’s case is a “personnel issue” and did not indicate whether enrollment levels were the exact issue. “Within the department as a whole I believe enrollments were down a little,” Novick said. But Rosenberg’s dissatisfaction with the University is shared among part-time lecturers across departments. “We hear about $1.5 billion to be spent on the merger and the potential of another $10 million if the University decides to leave the Big East, so the funds are there,” said Eleanor LaPointe, a part-time lecturer in the Department of Sociology. “Are we educating students … or are we wheeling and dealing in athletic conferences?” Because of state budget cuts in 2010, the University suspended plans to negotiate raises for its staff, according to USAToday.com, whose research points out that since 2006 the school has spent almost $1.5 million dollars on its athletic department. Aside from the lack of funding, part-time lecturers have no job protection, Rosenberg said. Part-time lecturers are not promised more than one semester of work at a time. “This affects every part-time lecturer on this campus,” Rosenberg said in his YouTube video. “We are nothing. We are trash. We are slave labor. We have no rights.” LaPointe wrote two letters to The Daily Targum in October and December 2011 describing the problem further. “The growing ranks of [part-time lecturers] … make notoriously low wages, have little or no health care coverage, are often expected to engage in unpaid work … [and] may not know whether they will have a job next semester and are increasingly treated as replaceable ‘units,’” LaPointe said in her letter. Regardless of how many students are in a class, part-time lecturers are paid $1,500 per credit hour, or $4,500 for a three-credit course, LaPointe said. But their contracts have expired, and negotiations are under way for new ones, she said. Steve Peterson, a part-time lecturer in the Department of Math and chief negotiator for the union representing part-timer lecturers, said the University has denied his requests. Peterson said part-time lecturers want a longer contract terms, compensation for overseeing independent study and a 3 percent raise, based on their current yearly income from the University. But the University refused the first two requests and countered the third with a 1 percent raise, based on how much they make in a semester. “Our contract is very simple, we’ve just been stonewalled for over year now,” Peterson said. “It’s been very frustrating for us.” The University is not discussing any issues surrounding the contractual negotiations, said Greg Trevor, senior director of University Media Relations. “The negotiations are ongoing and continue to be productive,” he said. LaPointe said the University treats part-time lecturers like “replaceable units.” The request for part-time lecturers to receive their raises, proposed by the AFT-AAUP branch at the University, would cost the school a fraction of what it spends on the athletic department, LaPointe said. She said the issue is just as grave for students, many of who will enter the same or equally unreliable careers. Worse still is when part-time lecturers suffer because they oversee independent study. “It is hard to say no, but if you agree to it, you are donating your time ... time that may be very precious, especially if you are teaching multiple courses on multiple satellite campuses, multiple jobs or even at multiple universities,” LaPointe said via email correspondence. Rosenberg said he can still make ends meet with his other jobs, but said it is unfortunate that other part-time lecturers might not be as lucky
Posted by dr. bernhard rosenberg on 07/13/2012
DR. ROSENBERG SPEAKS OUT. THE TEACHER WHO CARES. THE ROSENBERG REVOLTION SHARE WITH OTHERS. REGARDING RUTGERS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhvPRkS9a8&feature=youtu.be
Posted by DR. ROSENBERG on 07/15/2012
732 572 2766 this is happening throughout the country. Your kids or grandchildren may be one of these crying. I TAUGHT SINCE 1990 AND HAVE NO TENURE AS AN ADJUNCT. They got rid of me in June so that I COULD NOT MOBILIZE THE STUDENTS. Students from other countries pay full tuition, they want them not the students who reside. in the state. This is the truth. ben rosenberg Rutgers raises tuition 2.5 percent; students claim they can't Purchase Image Rutgers University senior Kaitlin D'Agostino (right) is comforted by a friend as she reacts to the tuition increase approved by the Board of Governors on Wednesday because it means she might not be able to afford to stay at the school. / Bob Makin/Staff Photo Written by Bob Makin @ReporterBMakin •Filed Under •News •Rutgers University •East Rutherford NEW BRUNSWICK — Despite Rutgers University Board of Governors Chairman Ralph Izzo’s shock that students had to choose between food and tuition during experiences shared during the board’s monthly meeting, the board increased tuition 2.5 percent and overall expenses 2.2 percent on Wednesday. The increases are in keeping with inflation and expected to be the lowest cost increases among the state’s public universities and colleges, said Daniel H. Schulman, chairman of the board’s finance committee. “I am pleased that for the second consecutive year, in-state tuition charges at Rutgers will be increasing at or below the rate of inflation,” Izzo said. “In the face of significant budgetary challenges, the staff and faculty of our university continue to identify new efficiencies in order to provide an affordable, high-quality education for New Jersey’s top high school graduates.” Dozens of students protested outside the board meeting, chanting “Keep Rutgers public,” referring to costs that they said are beginning to resemble a private institution. While they did, Nancy Winterbauer, vice president of university budgeting, explained a delicate balance between quality and affordable education that will include more than $20 million in cuts to the university’s budget. “It will come from cuts across all of the units,” Winterbauer said. “It’s going to be more deferred maintenance, less full-time faculty, less library books. It’s going to be all the things we traditionally have to do to tighten our belt. “One of the board members mentioned that our administrative units have seen double-digit decreases in their staffing because we have not been able to keep this place going with the growth in enrollment and tuition increases that we’ve had,” she added. “But we’ll do it again because the board was clearly focused on trying to keep this tuition increase as low as possible while still maintaining the quality of service that we offer.” To further ensure that Rutgers remains accessible to all qualified New Jersey residents, the board allocated an additional $2.4 million in university funds for student financial aid, bringing the total Rutgers Assistance Grant budget to $27.5 million, Winterbauer said. RAG awards are used to supplement state and federal financial aid offerings, she said. (Page 2 of 3) Sixty-one percent of Rutgers undergraduates received some form of need-based financial aid last year of either grants or subsidized loans, Winterbauer said. The board of the state Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will meet Wednesday to approve Tuition Aid Grant award levels for 2012-13, said Gabrielle Charette, executive director of the agency. Based on increased funding for the program that was signed into law, those levels expected to increase, Charette said. Out-of-state woes But that won’t help Kaitlin D’Agostino, a senior originally from East Rutherford whose parents moved to Massachusetts after divorcing. She said the approval of a 4 percent tuition increase for out-of-state students combined with her ineligibility for TAG money might force her to drop out of school with only one year left. Winterbauer suggested that D’Agostino transfer to a more affordable school in Massachusetts. D’Agostino said that would not be cost-effective because she would lose too many credits. “I chose to go to Rutgers because it’s an excellent research institution,” said D’Agostino, who is studying African, Middle Eastern and South Asian languages and literature. “Whether in-state or out-of-state, Rutgers should be affordable. That the vice president of budget affairs should say I should go to another school shows how proud they are to retain their students who want to maintain academic excellence. “I’m trying to get an education, but I have no money to do that,” she added. “I don’t how I’m going to come up with $5,000. I lived here for 12 years in East Rutherford. I moved not by choice, because my family got divorced. I never wanted to move there. I always considered myself from this state. But there are people from other countries who move here and live here for a year, and they get to pay in-state, but they’re barely residents of New Jersey. This is my home. I’ve lived here so long. My home is kicking me out.” DR. ROSENBERG SPEAKS OUT. THE TEACHER WHO CARES. THE ROSENBERG REVOLTION SHARE WITH OTHERS. REGARDING RUTGERS -----Original Message----- From: chaimdov <chaimdov@aol.com> To: chaimdov <chaimdov@aol.com> Sent: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 10:52 pm Subject: video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlhvPRkS9a8&feature=youtu.be
Posted by dr. rosenberg on 07/19/2012
-----Original Message----- From: chaimdov <chaimdov@aol.com> To: president <president@rutgers.edu> Sent: Thu, Jul 19, 2012 8:30 pm Subject: dr. rosenberg •Home •About •Professors •Schools •Best Professors Lists • Hi, Guest! [ create account | login ] Home » United States » New Jersey » Rutgers - State University of New Jersey » Bernard Rosenberg Bernard Rosenberg •Name: Bernard Rosenberg •School: Rutgers - State University of New Jersey •Location: New Brunswick, NJ •Department: Communication •4.9Overall Quality •5.0Helpfulness •4.9Clarity •4.7Easiness •0Hotness Number of ratings 10Submit a Correction Rate this professor Email this page Post this on Twitter •User Comments and Ratings •Professor Rebuttals • Date Class Rating Comment 4/4/12 PUBSPYU Good Quality Easiness5 Helpfulness5 Clarity5 Rater Interest1 Best teacher I've ever had, feel sorry for those who cannot get onto this course!!! Report this rating 2/22/12 PubSp380 Good Quality Easiness5 Helpfulness5 Clarity5 Rater Interest3 Why is Professor Rosenberg not teaching Public Speaking in the Summer? I waited the entire year to take it with him and now he isn't teaching it? Every single person who has ever had him has told me he is amazing. Report this rating 9/4/11 PUBSP220 Good Quality Easiness4 Helpfulness5 Clarity5 Rater Interest5 BEST PROFESSOR FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING HANDS DOWN.It is impossible to fail this class. Even if you barely do anything you will likely get at least a B as long as you participate and show up to class. I only did two speeches and got an A Report this rating 8/23/11 acds1111 Good Quality Easiness4 Helpfulness5 Clarity5 Rater Interest4 Great guy, great class! Take him if you can! Report this rating 11/12/09 PubSp380 Good Quality Easiness5 Helpfulness5 Clarity4 Rater Interest2 This guy is the best! He's funny, nice, and very approachable! He'll help you in any way you can because he cares about his students. Take him! Report this rating
Posted by dr. bernhard rosenberg on 07/19/2012
-----Original Message----- From: chaimdov <chaimdov@aol.com> To: chaimdov <chaimdov@aol.com> Sent: Sun, Jul 22, 2012 5:57 pm Subject: Fwd: : MY STUDENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN KIDS LIVES MOST OF THESE GUYS ARE MY FORMER STUDENTS THEY HAVE SPOKEN OUT ON MY BEHALF. Hard to explain what it means to have made a difference in these kids lives. dr. BERNHARD ROSENBERG 732 572 2766 Seven former Scarlet Knights are currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pictured from left - Tiquan Underwood, Jeremy Zuttah, Derrick Roberson, Eric LeGrand, Desmond Wynn, George Johnson and Gary Gibson. Howard Barbieri (2007-10) Baltimore Brandon Bing (2007-10) N.Y. Giants Kenny Britt (2006-08) Tennessee Kevin Brock (2005-08) Buffalo Anthony Davis (2007-09) San Francisco Ryan D'Imperio (2006-09) Minnesota Eric Foster (2003-07) Indianapolis Justin Francis (2007-11) New England Gary Gibson (2001-04) Tampa Bay Courtney Greene (2005-08) Jacksonville Clark Harris (2003-06) Cincinnati Kevin Haslam (2006-09) Oakland George Johnson (2006-09) Tampa Bay Eric LeGrand (2007-11) Tampa Bay Brian Leonard (2002-06) Cincinnati Joe Lefeged (2007-10) Indianapolis Kevin Malast (2005-08) Tennessee Joe Martinek (2007-11) N.Y. Giants Devin McCourty (2005-09) New England Jason McCourty (2005-08) Tennessee Ray Rice (2005-07) Baltimore Derrick Roberson (2003-06) Tampa Bay Mohamed Sanu (2010-12) Cincinnati Alex Silvestro (2007-10) New England Desmond Stapleton (2007-11) Pittsburgh Tiquan Underwood (2005-08) Tampa Bay Jamaal Westerman (2004-08) Miami Desmond Wynn (2007-11) Tampa Bay Jeremy Zuttah (2004-07) Tampa Bay
Posted by dr. bernhard rosenberg on 07/22/2012
To Whom it May Concern, I am a concerned Rutgers student writing about a really influential professor I had in the Public Speaking class I took in the Fall of 2011. In this class, I learned how to stop repeating phrases like "umm" and "so" in my speeches. He taught me how to cater to the audience, be concise, be clear, and be coherent. His style of teaching, such as through offering criticism during the students speeches allow for students to gain confidence and improve on the spot. He took extra time preparing me for an interview I had for a scholarship and I was able to get to the finalist stage. I have recently been in contact with him and found out that he will no longer be teaching the class for Fall of 2012 due to his 'skills' and 'qualifications' that did not meet the new course content. Being his student for Fall 2011, I can tell you that he adjusted his class, even though he did not agree in entirety with the new curriculum. The emphasis in Dr. Rosenberg's class was still in the oral aspect as it should be in a PUBLIC SPEAKING course. The new curriculum seemed to take emphasis away from the oral aspect. For example from having students regularly reading long passages from a book, taking away time from practicing speech or watching effective speakers. However, he routinely checked his students written rough drafts to make sure they complied with an effective speech and asked his students to read from the new book. As students in his class, we found of more benefit to read from the book that Dr. Rosenberg offered, which though being concise, allowed us more time to PRACTICE speech. You do not learn how to effectively use hand gestures and avoid filler words through reading a book. I know that not having Dr. Rosenberg teaching Public Speaking is going to have a negative impact for the course. What makes me upset even more is that how Dr. Rosenberg was given very short notice (since June) about not teaching this Fall. As some one who has been at Rutgers for decades this is not morally correct. You might say that I am just one student, but if you look at Dr. Rosenberg's student reviews you will find many other people that would agree with me. I would like to see a great Professor return to Rutgers and at least be further notified what are these vague 'qualifications' that Dr. Rosenberg does not possess? I look forward to hearing from you,
Posted by dr. bernhard rosenberg on 07/26/2012
Regarding the article "Rutgers steps up efforts to go global, attract foreign students " Rutgers has become nothing more than big business. New Jersey residents are not being admitted to Rutgers because the students cannot compete with the grades and SAT scores of the foreign students. Out of state and foreign students pay substantially more tuition than in state students. I taught at Rutgers from 1990 until June of 2012. Even though the Communication dept denies it, I was told to give 20% A's and 20% C's and D's to my students. From my experience the foreign students who took accelerated courses in their native countries did better at Rutgers than NJ Students including some athletes. Obviously the higher grades would have gone to the foreign students in most cases. I refused to comply. I am no longer teaching at Rutgers. Need I say more. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Posted by ROSENBERG on 01/05/2013

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