Chronicle News services January 20, 1997

San Francisco State University counsel noted today at a press conference that a suit has been filed in California Superior Court against the University. The suit, brought by Dr. Wrightway of the History department alleges that the plaintiff has experienced Repetitive Class Syndrome and undergoes considerable pain and suffering. Besides compensatory damages of over $200,000, the suit demands punitive amounts in excess of one million.

Dr. Wrightway claims that he has taught the same general education class for over twenty years, and has been negatively impacted by a series of debilitating conditions. He claims that repeated presentations of the same material over and over again have resulted in physical pain and distress, and have limited his effectiveness as an educator, father, spouse and citizen. "The department won't let me change my syllabus" Dr.Wrightway complained at a recent campus hearing. "They tell me that this class is my strength and that this is the best way to serve the students and campus community. But they don't understand the nature of the condition and that I can no longer function effectively. My natural creativity, curiosity and professional instincts have been virtually squashed"

Dr. Wrightway estimates that over twenty years, he has offered the class to over 6,000 different students. "And that doesn't even include the students who fail the first class and take it again!" he angrily asserted. With classes ranging in size from 60-120 students, and offerings each semester, Dr. Wrightway estimates he has given any given lecture at least 80 times. History Department Chair Professor Geraldo Brush noted that in fact the course has evolved over the period of time in question. "It used to be called Western Civilization, but now is titled in the Bulletin as World Civilization." Dr. Wrightway scoffed at this notion. "It is the same thing," he asserted, "the concepts of civilization do not change with place. I still say the same stuff over and over again"

The repetitive use of the same words and concepts has left Dr. Wrightway in what he describes as a "severely disabled" condition. "I can no longer say words like "paradigm" or phrases such as "cultural divergence" without excruciating and debilitating pain. My wife used to say I was a gifted conversationalist at dinner parties but now my range of thinking and oratory is severely limited."

Dr.Wrightway claims he has repeatedly offered to teach different classes, but to no avail. "I even offered to teach one of the Human Sexuality courses instead. But they told me to keep on teaching what I know best, and to keep my paws out of fieldwork and the local social science laboratory. How am I supposed to grow as a practicing intellectual? My research could finally become exciting again!" Hearing is set at Superior Court for April 1st, and many university members await the ruling.