Lemert Speaks

To The Argus:

I have heard that there was a front page article on my retirement plans that contained quite a few errors. I have not seen the article, so if it is true I can only say that I wish a reporter had contacted me for my view of the full and accurate story of my decision to retire.

Rumors of my disappearance are much exaggerated. I have decided to retire at age 74, which most people should see is a reasonable retirement age.

Yes, as rumors have had it, there was a dispute in the department between me and two colleagues – a dispute that had gone on for years but came into the open last spring. As is normal and proper, both sides filed complaints against the other before the proper committee – a committee whose work is done in strict confidence. While we – all parties to the process – were preparing for the hearing, there were other discussions.

From my side, I determined that it was time for me personally to retire. The on-going dispute with one individual in particular was but a small part of the decision. I realized that, though I continued to enjoy my work with students and the teaching especially that it was clearly time for the Department to go on without me.

As for myself, I continue to have a full life at the center of which is family and my young daughter who is growing up fast. I also have a full schedule of research and writing, of teaching and lecturing elsewhere, and of joint research projects with colleagues here and there. I am happy and excited about what lies ahead.
I should add, to be more precise, that Wesleyan University very generously offered me, and I accepted, a full year’s paid leave. So my retirement becomes official next summer. And, also in the interest of the precise story, both sides in the complaints dropped their charges, the case was closed – so nothing came of charges made on either side, nothing!

I have not resigned from anything. I am a member of the Wesleyan community with all the usual rights and benefits and you can expect to see me on campus from time to time doing what retiring faculty do: working in the library, visiting old friends, attending talks and events of various kinds.

I would say to the community that I wish all members of the sociology faculty the very best. They are a brilliant and capable group, generous in their work with students, successful in their research, and generous too in ways that benefit the community as a whole. I emphatically recommend to any students who have not experienced a course in the department to try at least one. You won’t regret it. There is a reason why a relatively small department has so many students interested in its subject matter.

For myself, I say there is no other story than this one. I end some thirty years of service at Wesleyan with unqualified pride in what we in sociology have done to build a good program, as in what I have been able to achieve as a teacher, colleague, and scholar over those years. There are few places where the academic life is supported and encouraged so very well as it is at Wesleyan.

I wish everything good for the school, my friends on the faculty, and above all the students present and future.

Warmest wishes to all,

Charles C. Lemert
John E Andrus Professor,
Wesleyan University