Who is Maitland Jones Jr.? Why was the NYU Chemistry professor fired? Explained

Professor Jones was dismissed by NYU after students circulated a petition objecting to the difficulty of his course. Jones was dismissed by NYU after students circulated a petition objecting to the difficulty of his course. Let’s see Who is Maitland Jones Jr.? Why was the NYU Chemistry professor fired?

Who is Maitland Jones Jr.?

Maitland Jones Jr. is a famous scholar of the US. American research scientist Maitland Jones Jr. is well known for his remarkable works in Chemistry. Jones graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a Ph.D.

Maitland Jones Jr. has a long contribution to the world of organic chemistry and Experimental Chemistry. He produced a widely used textbook and taught the subject for many years.

Some of his textbooks are:

• Organic Chemistry, Jones, M. Jr., W. W. Norton, New York, 1997.
• Instructor’s Manual and Supplementary Problems Set for Organic Chemistry, Jones, M. Jr., Ovaska, T. W. W. Norton, New York, 1997.
• Study Guide for Organic Chemistry, Jones, M. Jr.; Gingrich, H. L. W. W. Norton, New York, 1997.
• Study Guide for Organic Chemistry, Third Edition, Jones, M. Jr.; Gingrich, H. L. W. W. Norton, New York, 2004.
• How to Survive and Thrive in Organic Chemistry for Dummies. Second Edition, Jones, M. Jr.; Gingrich, H. L. W. W. Norton, New York, 2004.

Maitland Jones Jr.’s Career

Jones’ area of study includes reactive intermediates, with a special focus on carbenes. He has written huge articles in the area of quantum organic chemistry, specializing in particular on the workings of quantum molecular processes. Carbenes, Carboranes, and heterocycles are some of his research interests. He along with his team wrote 225 papers over the span of nearly 40 years. Jones has written various textbooks on organic chemistry.

Jones worked in notable universities like Yale University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Princeton University, Columbia University, Vrije University, Amsterdam, Harvard University, Kiev Polytechnic Institute (1990), Fudan University, and New York University.

Jones began to work at Princeton University in 1964 and continued there until his retirement from the institution in 2007. He then lectured at New York University. He was recognized as one of New York University’s most cool lecturers and won awards for his teaching.

Why was the NYU Chemistry professor fired?

You gotta read this!

At N.Y.U., Students Were Failing Organic Chemistry. Who Was to Blame?
Maitland Jones Jr., a respected professor, defended his standards. But students started a petition, and the university dismissed him.https://t.co/YmhODBtByr

— Union of Non-Tenure Track Faculty @ Michigan State (@untf_msu) October 4, 2022

Students of NYU blamed Dr. Jones for their low test scores and claimed the high-stakes course was tough, which ruined many students’ aim to join medical school. After students circulated a petition objecting to Jones’ difficult class, NYU fired him. Meanwhile, doctors say that Organic Chemistry act as a filter, preventing underqualified students from entering the field of medicine.

But Jones said that the students weren’t making enough of an effort and that the pandemic made them disengaged, anxious, and indolent. They were definitely not attending class, according to Jones. They were unable to respond to the questions because they weren’t watching the videos.

Dr. Jones’ contract was terminated by university deans just before the start of the fall semester.

How people reacted to Dr. Jones Jr.’ suspension?

Alfons López Tena tweeted,

Maitland Jones Jr., a respected chemistry professor, was dismissed by NYU after students complained his class was too hard. He and the chemistry faculty defended his standards, igniting a debate about the relaxing of academic standards.