Douglas Allen, an assistant professor of social sciences, sociology and criminology, and his 2-year-old daughter Ellie sit with student protesters Sept. 16. Allen is one of the 33 faculty and staff who were dismissed. (Photo by Mason Hart)
Editor’s Note: These are three perspectives of faculty who were dismissed.
Douglas Allen, department of social sciences, sociology and criminology
When Douglas Allen was in Topeka last Friday, Emporia State students were protesting his dismissal at the entrance of Plumb Hall. When he saw their support, he came to show them how much they mean to him and the rest of the 33 faculty members who were laid off the day before.
On Sept. 14 the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) approved the Workforce Management Framework that allowed ESU to dismiss faculty members regardless of their tenured status, including Allen, a tenure track assistant professor of social sciences, sociology and criminology.
When faculty were being called in for their dismissal meeting, they were given little information about the reason for the mandatory meeting.
“We were told to go over to the Earl Center, where we came to the locked door, and they let us in,” Allen recounted. “And then we were walked to a room which I coined the execution chamber. There were probably three or four other rooms with people in them, some people crying and things. And then a dean came in, read a letter and then left us in there with the HR rep to go through the rest of it.”
Since he got his dismissal notice Sept. 15, Allen has been vocal on Twitter about his disappointment in the university and his support of the students standing behind faculty. He even changed his bio to read, “Betrayed Future Unemployed Asst. Prof of Geography.”
On Sept. 16, 90 students came and went throughout the day to protest the recent dismissal of professors across campus. At midday, Allen joined them with Ellie, his 2-year-old daughter, to “support the students who are supporting us” and let Ellie make some protest signs.
“I wanted the students to know that whatever happens, just this show means a lot to us,” Allen said.
At the protest he gave his student Mary a hug to show his gratitude and pride in the fight they are leading.
“I think that it shows that they take the motto ‘changing lives for the common good’ truly to heart,” Allen said. “And I think some of the rest of the people who work here could learn from them.”
Sitting with his young daughter among his soon-to-be former students brought up a range of feelings, including anxiety for Ellie’s future.
“I was at least a little thankful that she’s young enough that I didn’t have to break that news to her,” Allen said. “It was hard enough having to break it to my spouse.”
Christopher Lovett, department of social sciences, sociology and criminology
When Christopher Lovett’s phone rang at 8:15 Thursday morning, what followed was a flurry of brushing teeth and throwing on clothes for the hour-long trip from Topeka to Emporia State for a 9:50 a.m. mandatory meeting to announce his dismissal.
“(They) told me it was at the Earl Center, I didn’t know where that was. I set my GPS for it in my car and got here around 9:20, and the building was locked,” Lovett said. “They came and got me. There was a security guard sitting at one of the front desks and they had separate rooms. So they must have done multiple people all at the same time, and they then presented me with the letter laying me off, effective May 16. I asked for a reason why I was selected. They couldn’t give me a reason.”
Lovett is a professor of social sciences, sociology and criminology who has held a tenured position at ESU for 20 years.
“I said for 26 years, you would think that at least you provide me with the common courtesy of that (a reason), can’t say that I haven’t done enough for the university. My CV is like 26 pages long without talking about my coursework that I’ve taught. I said I’ve done 30 articles and book chapters, nearly 250 book reviews, I’ve taught overloads for the university, without compensation and then this.”
On Sept. 14 the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) approved the Workforce Management Framework that allowed ESU to dismiss faculty members regardless of their tenured status.
Lovett thought he would “deserve better.”
Lovett said he is still processing what happened, saying Sunday was “probably my worst day.”
“I was just drained,” he said. “I slept a good portion of the day. I couldn’t tell if that was depression or whatever. But you know, I feel sorry for some of the younger faculty that were caught up in this. I still (would) like to see what the numbers are. I still think they owe that not only to the 33 that were terminated, but to the general public. To all the alumni. There’s a lot to answer for.”
Lovett said he has not seen any evidence for the reasons he was laid off.
“There is no trust here,” he said. “Not after this.”
In addition to himself, Lovett has concerns for the students at the university. Asking what will happen to all the master’s students and theses under his lead.
His advice to students right now is to “just hang in there.”
“If you’re concerned about your degree, concerned about being a quality teacher, they may have to think about transferring,” Lovett said. “I mean, that’s the logical thing. I can’t see how this is going to help enrollment at all.”
Roberta Eichenberg, art department
Roberta Eichenberg had one more year before she could retire when she got called into a meeting with people she had never seen before to be told of her dismissal from Emporia State.
On Sept. 14 the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) approved the Workforce Management Framework that allowed ESU to dismiss faculty members regardless of their tenured status. The next day, 33 faculty members were summoned to the Earl Center to be notified of their dismissal.
Among these 33 was Eichenberg, professor of art and galleries director.
Eichenberg came to Emporia in 2000, the same year many traditional aged college seniors were born, according to her ESU biography.
She said that before being pulled into her dismissal meeting, she had no warning “at all” about what was happening.
“I think it’s pretty draconian to just not work with the faculty, even though they said that they communicate with the faculty,” Eichenberg said. “I don’t see any communication.”
In addition to feeling blindsided by this decision, Eichenberg was left questioning why she was being dismissed in the first place.
“I put artwork in the president’s office and put artwork in the president’s conference room,” she said. “Makes you wonder about service, loyalties.”
Some of the reasons given to the public to justify the dismissal of faculty were budgetary reasons.
“When I was chair, we also talked about taking a pay cut in order to save positions,” Eichenberg said. “And they didn’t want to do that. And then they just gave us a pay raise, I don’t understand.”
Eichenberg’s worry goes beyond personal and faculty concerns, questioning what an education may mean from a university without the needed professors.
“I used to think pretty highly of Emporia State,” she said. “But recent developments have really put into question, if you don’t have standards, then you’re not producing a good student.”
Sarah Spicer advises The Bulletin on stories about Emporia State’s framework to dismiss employees.