Letter to the Editor

Recent Tensions

It seems like every week I read something new in The Minaret about administration-faculty problems. Talk about dysfunction at its finest. There are two specific instances that need addressing. In the end, they both come down to the same issue: ineffective leadership and cronyism.

The first case of dysfunction here at this school is the recent shakeup of the Criminology Department. Dr. LaRose and Dr. Smith are as dedicated to their students as the students are to Dr. Smith and LaRose. I would be hard pressed to find two more respected, more genuine professors here at the University of Tampa. Yet, that does not stop Ron Vaughn and Co from leaving these two outstanding people and professors basically in occupational limbo.

They can’t vote for the Chairperson and they don’t have a say in curricular decisions. Instead, not only do they get strong-armed into moving to another department by the Administration without a clear reason, but the Administration then hides under the umbrella of confidentiality when the Minaret tries to find out what exactly is going on. Furthermore, the unnamed faculty source saying that professors not going along with the reorganization would be fired is entirely believable. They’ve railroaded Dr. LaRose and Dr. Smith in this case, and as I will discuss shortly, Dr. Maddan as well. What purpose does this unnecessary reorganization really serve? Certainly not the students who complete most of their coursework within the Criminology Department.

In the end, the University of Tampa has become more about the Administration doing whatever they so choose rather than making sound, logical decisions that benefit the students of the University of Tampa. Dr. Smith and Dr. LaRose represent the best this institution has to offer. Having them getting treated this poorly by the Administration just proves the point that the students are no longer the Administration’s number one priority.

Another fine example of the utter dysfunction is the recent incidents involving the Administration and Dr. Maddan. Instead of addressing Dr. Maddan’s concerns, the Administration and their crony Evan Chiporas have gone on the offensive, with the latest move being the censure of Maddan. Dr. Madden has, in essence, been punished for exposing these strong-arm techniques used by the Administration that I asserted previously. That should be of great concern to the students here at the University of Tampa.

The Administration, with Chiporas as their henchman, has attempted to erode the rights that we all should enjoy, both faculty and students. One right we all should have here is exposing injustices and acts of deception when warranted (certainly Dr. Maddan’s vote of no confidence reflects the exposing of Administration injustices). It would be one thing to expose legitimate confidential information.

I can see punishment being warranted if that were the case. But it is another thing to call something confidential just because you may not like the backlash that would come of it (as is the case with the Provost’s actions here). From what I have read thus far, the act of labeling things confidential is so arbitrary and overused that its almost laughable to think of some of the documents that would be considered “confidential” by the Administration. Dr. Maddan is one of the most respected professors around this campus, not only by his students but by his peers.

It is a damn shame to see him get hung out to dry for speaking up against the perceived wrongs of this institution. If Chiporas or the Administration disagrees, then they have the right to speak up, but I do not see them responding to the claims that I and the Minaret have made as they have had plenty of opportunity to do so thus far.

The policies of this school allow for, and in some ways encourage, deception and unfairness by the Administration. The Minaret quoted Anita Levy of the AAUP (an independent figure) by describing that the policies were ‘ “exceedingly brief, vague, and inadequate when it comes to setting forth specifics” and “disturbingly silent with regard to faculty rights in [judicial] proceedings.”’ How much authority are we willing to cede to the Administration before we have absolutely no say in the things we are able to do here? If Ron Vaughn and company won’t listen to the students and faculty or do what’s best for the students at UT (as they have failed to do here), then I suggest he and all others who agree with his policies step down.

We cannot have the Administration’s power go unchecked as it has for too long. Because if we do let them run free, we will see more honest, hardworking people like Dr.’s Smith, Maddan, and LaRose get treated unfairly without any consequences. Students may not take interest in my piece because these instances deal with faculty, but I assure anyone reading that there is nothing stopping the Administration from trampling on the rights of students like me or you.

I want to graduate this Spring from the University of Tampa believing this is one of the greatest institutions in the country. But unless changes are made, one of the lasting impressions I will have of this school will be one of dysfunction and mismanagement.

If any of the Administration takes offense to what I have said thus far, or believes that what I have said to be incorrect, then please take the time to respond in the Minaret. In the end, all that us students and faculty want is more transparency, an honest debate, the right to speak freely, and most importantly, the ability to be treated fairly.

-Anonymous