Confusion in neuroscience

Students arrived at their first session of An Introduction to Neuroscience on Tuesday, Sept. 3 only to be told by Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology Dennison Smith that the day's session had been cancelled "due to circumstances beyond my control."

"[Smith] had papers ready to hand out," sophomore Becky Sanagorski, a student in the class, said.

Smith issued a similar announcement on Thursday, Sept. 5, when students convened for the second scheduled session. They were told by Smith that the session had been postponed for reasons he could not tell them.

Sanagorski and senior Josh Levinson, another student in the class, said they did not know why class was cancelled. Levinson said he was upset after the second cancellation because he realized the class was behind the schedule indicated by the syllabus.

According to Acting Dean of the College Clayton Koppes, Introduction to Neuroscience class time will not be lost, and the missed classes will be rescheduled.

Koppes said the course was cancelled because there was "uncertainty about how the course was going to be taught." He added that the uncertainty has since been resolved, and An Introduction to Neuroscience will "go on smoothly without interruption for the rest of the semester."

Neuroscience program director Catherine McCormick said, "Mr. Smith was forced to cancel due to factors beyond his control. We all find the fact that he had to cancel classes very regrettable, but we agree that it was in the best interests [of the program]."

"We want classes to begin as soon as possible," McCormick said.

Koppes would not comment on what was uncertain about how the class would be taught, nor if what was uncertain was who was to teach the course.

The class was originally to have been taught by Smith, Professor of Biology Mark Braford and David Holtzman, assistant professor of neuroscience. But now the instruction will be shared by Braford, Smith and Visiting Professor of Neuroscience Albert Borroni..

In front of the students with Smith at both postponed sessions were Braford, Holtzman, Borroni and Richard Levin, a professor in the biology department.

Levin said that he was only a guest for the two class sessions.

Smith said he could not comment on why Levin attended the classes, but said that he is not part of the teaching team.

Although Holtzman appeared at the first sessions of An Introduction to Neuroscience, his teaching has been cancelled for the semester, Smith said.

Though the courses he was slated to teach are listed as cancelled in the Registration supplement, Holtzman would not comment on whether he is teaching this semester or not.

Sources say that whether Holtzman continues teaching at Oberlin after this semester will be determined via the normal channels - thorough review by faculty committees, the dean of the College and the President.

When asked whether it was Holtzman's decision to go on leave this semester, Koppes said, "Mr. Holtzman agreed to it."

That class was cancelled came as a surprise not only to the students, but also to Smith. "It was a surprise … The reason for cancelling was not one I had anticipated."

Smith said that course enrollment has dipped this week, when typically more students enroll after the first classes. He said,"I think students have handled this very well. Nobody came directly to complain."