Cancelling national VPA dean search disregards public voice
The recent decision by Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina to recant his commitment to a national dean search for the College of Visual and Performing Arts shows blatant disregard for student and faculty opinion.
Last year, students and faculty were upset that Spina did not plan on opening up the dean search nationally to find the best possible candidate. After the dissatisfaction, led by graduate student Sky Harris, Spina announced via e-mail that Ann Clarke would be named dean preceding a national search, as reported by The Daily Orange February 21, 2008.
His decision on Friday to name Clarke indefinite VPA dean is in direct opposition to that e-mail and shows little concern for public opinion.
It never seemed that Syracuse University was serious about finding candidates outside of the school. None were introduced to the students or faculty.
If the planned search was called off due to financial considerations, one of the myriad of reasons offered by the VPA department chairs for the move, then that should have been said bluntly and directly. It may not be ideal, but it is understandable to have to make financial decisions in difficult economic times.
Instead, the finances excuse was couched in a list of reasons, which all together was anything but convincing. It seems like the school was just waiting for all the commotion and protests from last year to die down so they could pass the decision. If all major decisions were delayed because of public dissent, it nearly renders the protestors’ opinion irrelevant.
Clarke could be the best dean for VPA. But that’s not the point. The point is taking public opinion seriously. Which is exactly what Spina’s decision doesn’t do.
