What will John A. Logan College look like in the future? This summer? This Fall? Two years from now? Having fired (we at Muddy Williamson are not constrained by terms like RIF, layoffs, converted contracts; if you're unemployed, you've been fired) 55 people, most of them faculty, how does the school carry on? Many of those fired were tenured professors. If the make up of the faculty is to be so radically changed, will this be the same school? Some of those dismissed were renowned for their teaching, student leadership and scholarly authorship. Rumor, and the attitude of the administration, indicate that quantity and specifics of the individuals selected for dismissal was of a purpose. That purpose was to work their way through some with less seniority in order to get to some the administration would prefer disappear. Rumor has it that at least one board member has been bragging that they got rid of some "bad apples". If true, the stated reason for the firings was a lie.
Interim President Ron House has said that it is their intention to call back as many of the 55 as possible. Thirteen people were called back Tuesday night. The reporting is garbled. WPSD TV-6 apparently had a different reporter on hand, as did the Southern Illinoisan, who sent their Perry and Franklin counties reporter. Putting it kindly, the Southern's article, in this morning's paper, was gibberish. However, assuming that at least the quotes are accurate, or close, Interim Vice President of Administration Larry Peterson, crows about the reorganization, put in place after the ouster of former President Mike Drieth, but says nothing about the massive faculty layoff. Of those brought back, few were faculty. Of those staff mentioned in the article, some were to fill newly created positions. Nothing brings on the ire of taxpayers and legislators like growing administration at a time of budget constraints.
Peterson refers to checks and balances, with an astounding lack of self awareness. Everyone at the school acknowledges that he is the de facto president, with Ron House a figurehead. Given the top down, good old boy, nature of the administration of John A. Logan, checks and balances are a joke. The institution is currently run by Don Brewer, Bill Kilquist, Larry Peterson and Jake Rendleman, reporting lines be damned.
Interim President House says there is no timeline to recall faculty but that there is a two year window, during which it can take place. Two years is a long time not to know where the mortgage payment is coming from, what to do about health insurance or whether to enroll the children in school the next term. It's also a long time for a college to have it's core faculty gone. While there are reports that most of the recalls were in the biological sciences, not so much for social sciences (none) or English (none).
Course staffing aside, who will run the college in two years? If memory serves, the Logan Board said a permanent president would be in place in nine months. The clock started ticking in October. That would mean July. How will they get quality candidates to apply? To come to Illinois? To dive into the chaos that is now Logan? To work for a micromanaging board? In the wake of the mysterious firing of Mike Drieth? Larry Peterson is also an interim and supposedly done in December. Board chairman Don Brewer's term will expire next year. Who will inherit the shell they have made of the College and what form will that shell take?
A few points on the article above. At the BoT meeting I attended, I believe 13 rif-ed people were brought back of which 9 were faculty. The article above states, "Of those brought back, few were faculty.". I would classify that as inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteIt also stated, "Of those staff mentioned in the article, some were to fill newly created positions." I didn't recall any of those being brought back to newly created positions but to fill retirements that had occurred. Not sure why you are quoting an SI article, which you yourself stated was "gibberish", as fact.
This all started with the ouster of Dreith. He protested the takeover of the Administration Building by Brewer henchman Larry Peterson. Then there was the appointment of Ron House, who really answers to Peterson. Peterson drove Shawnee Community College into the ground, yet he became important to Brewer because he would execute every directive given to him. No, nobody will want this presidency. You don't give $290 large to a guy that wasn't doing his job---you just fire him. The downfall of Dreith, who was an advocate of shared governance, started the dominoes falling which led to the slaughter of faculty and staff.
ReplyDeleteThe slaughter of the innocents is the beginning, as the great and fearless leaders of the College bitch, moan and groan about finances, falling enrollment, student to staff ratio etc. But the real truth lies in poor decisions made by this and previous Administrations.
ReplyDeleteAll the money that was and is being expended has yielded fudged enrollment numbers, botched software implementation, infrastructure improvement contracts given to out of county cronies, and staff layoffs with a vendetta to remove those who have fallen out of favor with this administration. There is a clear failure to meet the objectives of the college's mission and the Brandi Husch incident is one of the many failures.
The failure of responsible conduct towards the Community, Student and Employees in terms of financial responsibility and good stewardship is pathetic.
The huge failure to have qualified credentialed instructors in programs is another issue with cronyism and nepotism being a deciding issue, the same goes for hiring practices.
The woes at the college are far too many to be enumerated on this forum.
In truth, the tax payers, students, and the state will carry the burden of poor decisions made by this and previous administrations and a belligerent Governor, the feuding legislature and their failure to show leadership. This will be the scapegoat that the taxpayers will be buying and paying for several years to come. Spare RIF's anyone?
GO VOLS!
Amen.
ReplyDeleteThe real tragedy is the reign of terror that has silenced this website. No guts, MW?
ReplyDeleteRumor has it that at least one board member has been bragging that they got rid of some "bad apples". If true, the stated reason for the firings was a lie.
ReplyDeleteWHY I VOTED YES TO A UNION!
https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/1409Advocateforweb.pdf