Now is an interesting moment in the evolution of Radford University. What happens in the next few months may well lead to a new path for the university. A new chapter in its history is being written—for better or worse.
Let’s start, though, with next week. Two interesting meetings were supposed to take place on campus. The second one just got postponed to March 19. The first meeting is an open forum hosted by the Student Government Association to discuss campus wellness facilities.
This meeting will take place Monday, March 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Bonnie Auditorium. The Dedmon Center has undergone extensive renovations. Dedmon, in addition to being the home of RU’s basketball teams, was the primary fitness center on campus with a weight room, cardiovascular machines, racquetball courts, an indoor track, and a pool. Lots of students used the facility on a regular basis.
But after the renovation, university officials made the decision that, with the exception of the pool, the other facilities would not be open to the student population at large and would instead be available only to athletes in official athletic programs. If you’re not an officially recognized student-athlete, then no more racquetball, no more intramural basketball games, no more elliptical machines, no more indoor track.
Radford University students are, to generalize, a pretty passive lot. But the Dedmon situation actually has a few of them up in arms. Some even decided to start a Facebook group called “Open Up RU Dedmon Center to ALL STUDENTS.” The group, at last check, has 1,600 members.
One RU student addressed her concerns about the topic in a particularly eloquent letter to RU President Penelope Kyle and to the Board of Visitors. Cynthia Coughlin, addressed a litany of concerns. About the Dedmon Center, she wrote:
“It is my understanding that $15.7 million was spent on refurbishing the Dedmon Center and that the funding stream was the RU auxiliary account. I believe I am correct when I say that the parking tickets and student fees I have paid as well as those of my peers goes to the auxiliary fund. All students have contributed to the restoration of the Dedmon Center. The use of the Dedmon Center is now reserved to Radford University student-athletes. The question of fairness: By allowing only student athletes access to the Dedmon center collegial working relationships among students is compromised and shared governance and participation at all levels of University life is damaged. How is this fair? How does this promote diversity? How does this reduce tensions and promote equality?”
We’ll come back to Coughlin for more thoughts later. But for now, students can attend the Monday afternoon meeting and hear comments from the panel, which will consist of Norleen Pomerantz, vice president of student affairs; Robert Lineburg, athletics director; and Matt Williams, president of the SGA. A Question & Answer session will follow.
A second open forum was to be held next week on Thursday. According to a notice from University Relations, “President Kyle and other members of the university administration, including Provost Wil Stanton and Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration Evelyn Wilson, will discuss legislation passed by this year’s session of the General Assembly that will affect Radford University and the impact of the state-mandated budget reductions on RU. Open discussion is encouraged and a question-and-answer period will be provided. All members of the Radford University community—faculty, staff and students—are invited.”
But just today (Saturday, Feb. 28) the university sent a notice stating that the date of the meeting had been changed. “Since at this point in time the General Assembly has not announced the extent of any budget reductions that might have to be imposed upon Radford University for the next fiscal year, the open forum originally scheduled for Thursday, March 5, has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 19, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Bondurant Auditorium,” an RU e-mail read.
If you had some sort of scale to measure the amount of anxiety among RU’s faculty and staff right now, that scale would be registering off the charts. Everyone knows budget cuts are being mandated. Everyone wonders what and who might be getting the ax. But thus far, information has been sketchy and sporadic, allowing fears to fester and more rumors to swirl.
Perhaps this meeting—probably months too late to alleviate accumulated anxiety—will at least inform people, somewhat, of what the future might hold. People seem to fear the unknown more than the harsh realities of hiring freezes, departments being combined, majors and minors disappearing, staff being eliminated, and salaries being frozen—at least the salaries of those who don’t have “president” or “provost” in their titles.
According to a smattering of sources on campus, some of what is currently happening at RU includes:
• Anthropology has been discontinued as a major and is being combined with Sociology.
• Departments being asked to do an expedited review (meaning “justify their existence”) include Geography, Physics, Geology, Chemistry, Philosophy & Religious Studies, Sociology, Mathematics, Dance, Theatre, and Foreign Languages.
• Theatre and Dance are expected to be combined.
• Interdisciplinary programs being asked to do an expedited review include Appalachian Studies, Women’s Studies, International Studies, and Peace Studies.
• Student Affairs Administration and College Counseling programs have been cut from the Counselor Education grad program.
• The Harvey Center has been removed from Waldron Hall, with its staff being integrated with McConnell Library. There is a planned re-opening at some point in the future.
• And a few sources contend that there is a movement afoot across campus to move a large number of general education courses online.
Whether all or any of those decisions are based on budget or some previously devised master plan is up for debate. And that’s one of the problems. RU employees are fretting, but little honest communication has been available to allay concerns. And while employees are unhappy with the direction they think the university is heading, faculty and staff refuse to go on the record for fear of retribution. “The precedent has been set,” said one RU employee. So we’ll look to the aforementioned RU senior Cynthia Coughlin for commentary.
“On Thursday January 22, 2009, two days after the beginning of the semester, I received a letter from Dr. Paula Brush stating, “I am very sorry to report that the decision has been made to eliminate the Anthropology major,” Coughlin said in her letter to Kyle.
“Had my plans materialized,” Coughlin wrote, “I would have completed a degree in Anthropology. When, without notice, Anthropology was eliminated from the curriculum I chose to have my credits re-evaluated. I understand that I could have completed the degree as I had already declared Anthropology as my major. When the University signaled their lack of commitment to the program and its phenomenal faculty, I looked elsewhere for academic satisfaction. I am pleased with my new major, Interdisciplinary Studies, (although I have heard rumors that this program may be eliminated as well).”
Most students at RU haven’t really noticed exactly what is going on at their school. Many probably don’t care. But those like the conscientious Coughlin need to be heard and, I believe, they speak for faculty and staff too afraid to speak out. Coughlin added in her letter to Kyle:
“I am shocked by the tone and tenor of Radford University’s handling of the budget problems and what appears to be developing; a dismissal of most things humane and artful. On what criteria are these ‘rich and diverse’ components of our pluralistic campus life being slated as unworthy for continued inclusion? It can’t simply be money and if it is please show us, completely and transparently, the data. I must add, that by Radford University’s lack of fidelity to its own stated core values (shared governance and participation at all levels within the University community; collegial working relationships among students, faculty, administrators, and staff; being an active partner in the viability of our region; academic freedom and debate) the University is being experienced by me and my peers as untrustworthy and ill-equipped or unwilling to act in the students best interest.”
In all of this uncertainty, one thing is certain: the next few weeks should offer some interesting discussions at Radford University.
Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Holden Caulfield // Feb 28, 2009 at 12:37 pm
This article is spot-on. I work at the university and I can tell you that for as much anxiety that finds its way into conversation amongst faculty and staff there is much more unspoken worry that stays bottled up. Nobody knows where the axe is going to fall. I’m just glad that some of these concerns are vocalized by students who have no fear of being fired. That statement isn’t just being dramatic, either. Not too long ago in a departmental meeting I voiced some similar criticism and was basically told that even though technically nobody can be fired for their opinion we as employees should still be careful about what we say and how we say it. Just further evidence that free speech (at least from employees) on college campuses is as welcome as budget cuts.
2 Dapper Dan // Mar 2, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I beg to differ with the final comment in this article, where the author says the next few weeks should offer interesting discussions. The next few weeks probably will not offer anything of the kind, at least not in public. If a comment does not feed the egos of the RU brass it is met with an astonishing amount of administrative venom. No faculty member in their right mind would go near one of these so called open discussions. One of these days, you’ll hear of someone asking why Kyle and Stanton took such hefty raises when everyone else got stiffed. Now THERE is a discussion we’d find interesting. Not going to happen, of course.
3 The Man Who Snarls // Mar 4, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Radford University, which was so bent on improving its reputation as a party school a couple years back, is now developing a whole new reputation as a school where money comes before education.
I wouldn’t dare want my kids to attend this dive, considering I had them. My one year at VCU taught me that, even at larger schools, administration can actually give a damn about more than their salaries. I say pay Kyle less, pay the BoV less, because neither is displaying a shred of competence or integrity.
4 Curious leadership // Mar 5, 2009 at 7:56 pm
The isolated decision-making and profound lack of transparency, the oppressiveness toward alternative views, the possible gutting of core humanities and interdisciplinary programs… these are some of the deeply confusing and troubling concerns regarding RU senior administrators. What leadership and management ideas have these folks been listening to?? If the core values of the university mean anything, shouldn’t this be the time for their fullest expression?
5 TehShay // Mar 6, 2009 at 1:09 pm
We need stronger voices than just Facebook to get our point across. I don’t like what’s going on here, and Pretty Penny will see her precious money slipping away as more and more students decide to attend elsewhere as a result of her highly ill-informed “decisions.”
6 AnimeFan // Mar 6, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I have to say that while I was once proud to call myself a student at RU, nowsdays, I’m ashamed to be connected with this university and it’s programs and would NEVER recommend this college to anyone at this point in time. While I understand that the economy and budget are a factor in some of the recent changes going on at RU, I think the simple fact is that the administration simply DOESN’T CARE about the students that it is supposed to serve anymore. People in the higher up offices at RU are more concerned about dressing the school up to compete with VT and making themselves look good to the press and others to listen to and consider the students on the campus.
I was outraged that MY money was used to fund the Dedmon refurbishing yet suddenly I’m not worthy enough to use the equipment there. Suddenly, the program I was debating on returning to complete my degree in, Anthropology, was cut without warning to ANY of the students and many of the staff.
Plan and simple, while money and position always drive large institutions, Kyle and the BoV needs to stop looking and treating RU like their own personal cash cow and do the job they were given which is to SERVE the students that are PAYING their salaries and giving their time and effort to this school!
7 Laurel // Mar 6, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I think the most important thing we can do is to make sure we’re at that meeting on the 19th–and that we remind our friends about it too. At least that can get some kind of ball rolling. The more people who show up, the more people who speak up, the more of an impact we’ll have.
I hope so, anyway.
8 We Got This // Mar 21, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Good news everyone! Radford’s students are coming together under S.A.L.A. (Students Advocating the Liberal Arts) to spread the word about what is going on and FAST. In 3 days, our Facebook group got almost 120 members and is growing exponentially. We have faculty and alumni support. We have contact with local newspapers and news channels. We also have received donations from alumnus who are sympathetic to our cause to use for an intense advertising campaign around campus and in our community. Before the meeting on Thursday afternoon, we hope that the entire student body will know about our effort and join us.
The Students will not let this fly.
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