In a forum on Wednesday, we heard considerable testimony from students who believe we as administrators don’t take your viewpoints into consideration as we make decisions that affect your lives on campus. We have heard that you often don’t know where to take your concerns and that too frequently you expect no one will listen or help.
We agree that it is crucial that we get to the bottom of the issues presented at the forum and that we respond to them thoughtfully and in a timely manner. We will have a transcribed summary of these issues from the forum organizers. If you have a concern and were unable to attend the forum, please email your thoughts to Dean of Student Services Michael Whaley (mwhaley@wesleyan.edu). We will review these materials, summarize the key issues, assign responsibility among ourselves, and develop responses wherever possible. We have promised a written response by January 19 and a second forum promptly thereafter.
The past few days have been difficult for the campus. We support the values of administrative transparency and accountability. We are here to help you get your education and want you to tell us if you think of ways we can help you better.
In the past few days, students have undermined their own role in university governance. Wednesday’s forum was made chaotic by student organizers who disagreed with each other about the sequence of events, who misinformed administrators about when and how we were being asked to participate in the program, and who changed the rules as the event proceeded. We were prevented from answering your concerns by students who tried to force us to make “yes” or “no” replies to questions that we all know are complex. Tuesday’s action used personal harassment and physical intimidation as tactics. Students disrupted classes to rally each other. Productive discussion will not result from actions such as these.
It is important for you to understand that mechanisms already exist for your input into administrative decisions, particularly those that affect your lives on campus. We understand that you may not know what they are. You can get information and help by contacting our offices and speaking or meeting with staff members. The Wesleyan Student Assembly, your elected representatives, have a voice on all major policy issues that affect student life. You and they may sometimes feel frustrated that decisions do not go in the directions you want, but you need to understand that the decisions and the mechanisms that generate them are in place to protect your own interests, as well as those of future students, current and future faculty, staff and other members of the extended Wesleyan community. Wesleyan includes and is accountable to all these members of the community. As administrators, we rely on these decision mechanisms. We know they do not work to everyone’s satisfaction all the time. We do expect and incorporate feedback about them in order to improve them. But an outcome you dislike does not usually mean we were not listening or did not value and incorporate what students had to say.
Students—not just administrators—are accountable to this community. The WSA should make students aware of the role their representatives already play in administrative decisions through service on the Educational Policy Committee, the Student Life Committee, the Undergraduate Residential Life Committee, and the numerous ad hoc committees on which the university relies to do its daily business. We will not negotiate policy issues with anonymous protest groups. We cannot reach out to students who may have serious concerns about their lives on campus but who will not tell us their names or communicate with us directly and civilly.
We will turn to the Wesleyan Student Assembly for advice on organizing the January forum and including the voices of all students. We will expect to continue this discussion in a manner that shows our accountability to you and yours to the community.
Sincerely,
Doug Bennet, President
Michael Benn, Interim Director of Affirmative Action
Marcia Bromberg, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Judith Brown, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Marianne Calnen, Director of Board Relations
Richard Culliton, Dean of Campus Programs
Justin Harmon, Director of University Communications
Peter Patton, Vice President and Secretary, Interim Dean of the College
John Meerts, Vice President for Information Technology
Nancy Hargrave Meislahn, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
Billy Weitzer, Senior Associate Provost and Dean of Continuing Studies
Michael Whaley, Dean of Student Services
Barbara-Jan Wilson, Vice President for University Relations
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