The closed hearings that will decide Penn State Altoona theater professor Nona Gerard's fate begin tomorrow and continue on Saturday. As the hour draws near, letters urging Penn State President Graham Spanier and PSA Dean William Cale to overturn the charges against Gerard and restore her to her job are pouring in. I reprint a selection of them below.

Dear Dean William Cale:

As regards Nona Gerard, I want to say that I have worked with her for the past five years in the pre college program at Carnegie Mellon University. She has always been a hard working, dedicated, professional teacher who is highly thought of in the Pittsburgh Theatrical community, as well as being a supportive colleague. Her teaching skills and passion for her students are second to none. To even consider losing a person with her qualifications seems fatuous at best and sheer madness at worst. I strongly want to add my voice to all those who have spoken out on Nona's behalf and on behalf of the right of free speech. It's a frightening thought that someone may be dismissed from a position they've held for 16 years for merely expressing their opinion. The iron curtain has fallen; let's not re-hang it in the Halls of Academe.
Respectfully
yours,

Ronald H. Siebert. M. F. A.
A.E.A., S.A.G., A.F.T.R.A

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January 21, 2004

Mr. Graham B. Spanier, President
Penn State University

Mr. William Cale, Dean and Chief Executive Officer
Penn State Altoona

Gentlemen:

I am writing in support of the wonderful theatre artist Nona Gerard, who currently is in danger of losing her faculty position at Penn State University, Altoona.

As current President of the Unseam'd Shakespeare Company and as a strong supporter of the arts who has had the pleasure of working in the past with Ms. Gerard, I want to express my deep respect for Ms. Gerard's professional abilities. She is a spectacularly gifted actress and director.

Beyond my personal knowledge of her talents, however, I also write in defense of the actions of Ms. Gerard that apparently have embroiled her in the current controversy at the University. My understanding is that she opposed the creation of a new major on campus based on her concerns about the quality of the programming.

I have a son ... currently enrolled at Ithaca College as a very dedicated theatre arts design major. As Andrew and I examined the programs of various colleges and made the choice about where he should attend college, the quality of the courses and professionals in his desired major was our primary focus. In my view, Ms. Gerard's actions were designed to protect her students.

Our educational institutions are one of the foundations upon which we build our ethics. They should foster freedom of expression and the ability of a professor to act in the best interests of the students. The current crises arising from corporate executives who acted in their own best interests and in order to preserve their corporation at all costs should have taught Penn State to commend rather than condemn Ms. Gerard's expressions of her personal viewpoint in that matter.

My understanding is that Ms. Gerard also is under fire for presenting a play, "Sexual Perversity in Chicago." I find it incredible that a university, which should be a bastion of free speech and intellectual diversity, would take umbrage with the exhibition of a play by one of America's premier playwrights, David Mamet.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my expressions of support.

Sincerely,
Wendy S. Taylor, Esquire

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President Spanier,

I'm sure that by now you have received numerous emails and letters in support of Nona Gerard. I myself wrote a letter to Dean Cale months ago when this whole business started, and I testified before the committee on January 5. That being said, I couldn't let this opportunity pass by without appealing directly to you--the man who will make the ultimate determination on whether Nona retains her tenure or not. I know that you will make a fair decision, based upon the recommendation of the committee, and on your own reading of the evidence. What I hope you will consider above all else is what this means to the students. I think that sometimes it is easy for teachers and administrators to get caught up in politics and personal agendas and forget the reason why we all do what we do--for the students. I was fortunate to have spoken with several of Nona's students over the past several months and the one thing they all agree on is what an outstanding teacher Nona is. Indeed, her numerous awards and recognitions support this opinion. Not one of them thought that Nona had anything in mind in speaking out against programs and personnel except what was best for them, the students. She is a generous, selfless person, and while no one will disagree that she is quite outspoken, her voice comes directly from her heart and speaks for those without voices. Please keep this in mind when you make your decision.

Thank you for your time.
Doug Mertz

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Dear President Spanier,

I have been a professional theatre director and former university professor of Theatre in the United States and Europe for 30 years. I have known the work of Professor Gerard for my 6 years in Pittsburgh, and have known her personally for two of those years. It has rarely been my good fortune to work with a colleague with such outstanding professionalism and commitment to quality and education.

This past fall, I was invited to Penn State Altoona to guest direct a student production. That is not ordinarily a job I would have accepted. However, based on my knowledge of Professor Gerard, I knew her students would be trained with care, enthusiastic and bring a strong work ethic to the table. Indeed, everything I suspected was true. It was a wonderful experience for us all.

The first rehearsal, I sat in a circle with 13 new faces I'd never met. Wanting to get a little insight into what drew them to theatre, I asked that question. Every single one of those students said, "Nona". As an educator, I am sure you are aware of how rare the odds are for that to occur. When I asked why, they mentioned her discipline, her willingness to work so many hours, the level of professionalism she expected of them and displayed in herself, her sense of fun and knowledgeÝand the larger, more diverse world she had shown them. That's a world that must be in theatre professional's minds, or you cannot possibly do theatre, the art of practicing living.ÝIndeed, I always thought that was the mission of Higher Education.

I join with the professional and academic theatre community in Pittsburgh and many other citiesÝof whichÝknowledge of Professor Gerard's tenure threat has spread, in expressing my surprise and outrage that this would happen in a major university of quality, such as Penn State University. I would be honored to have Professor Nona Gerard on any artistic team I put together, in any place in the world. She would always step up to bat and hold her own with any single person in this business, be it professional theatre or academic theatre.

I am sure that you will review this case with fairness and wisdom. The university system would face a tremendous loss if Professor Gerard's tenure is revoked. Indeed, higher education all over the United States would take a blow if a dedicated and commited teacher such as Professor Gerard was forcibly removed from her position.

With respect,

Dr. Marci Woodruff
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Dear President Spanier,

As a 1951 Penn State alumnus and frequent contributor to university theater arts departments, including Penn State Altoona and Penn State McKeesport, I would like to recommend the continued tenure of Prof. Gerard.

I have known her and her work for many years and have always admired her dedication to perfection. She is deserving ofÝour strong support.

Sincerely,

Bill Molloy

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Dear Dr. Spanier,

I am a Full Professor of theatre at Pitt and a former teacher of Nona Gerard. I have directed her. I have taught her playwriting and script analysis. I would like to say that I think you have a treasure in her, someone you should work to keep rather than to get rid of. She is strong, strong-minded, and she has high standards (not to mention extremely talented). Were I in your position, I would welcome someone who insists on standards as she does. She may speak bluntly and some people may not like blunt speech, but that is not a reason to revoke her tenure. In fact, tenure allows free speech, blunt or not.

Sincerely,
Kathleen George

I'll post updates as they become available.