Monday, May 9, 2005
It’s been a month and the student body still does not know why its dean of students was fired.
In a press release April 8, the University said only that someone filed a formal complaint against Richard Johnson and upon completion of an investigation the University fired Johnson.
University Relations said the firing was a “personnel issue” and that it would not provide more details. An Open Records Act request for the complaint was rejected April 18, and questioning University Relations has gone nowhere.
Clearly, the administration has no plans to provide any context for Johnson’s firing. This is a mistake. Students and the University community have a right to know, and the University should provide a reason without having to be asked.
Dean of students is not only a high profile position. The dean is charged with knowing students, interacting with students and providing a resource for students. Johnson was close to numerous students, especially student leaders because of his position as adviser to Student Senate.
Based on the open records request rejection the Kansan received, it was clear the complaint against Johnson involved a student.
Lynn Bretz, director of University Relations, said the main reasons for the University’s silence was because it was abiding by state law and respecting the privacy of those involved.
Ben Eggleston, philosophy professor specializing in ethics, said there could be reasons the University shouldn’t have to disclose grounds for firing employees. Privacy allows the administration to discharge employees without fear of being castigated by the media.
But that is precisely why administrators should disclose their reasons. If the reasons were valid, no one would question them. If illegal activity was suspected — especially illegal activity involving a student — then students should know what was considered unprofessional behavior.
And, ethically speaking, the University should provide an explanation if the lack of disclosure is being used to shield people who are accountable, Eggleston said.
Moreover, by not giving any explanation, administrators are allowing speculation to become the “truth.” Stories are circulating among students, especially those involved in Student Senate, about Johnson drinking with students But speculative stories aren’t fact.
By not commenting on these rumors, the University is allowing gossip to be the only story told.
The University community deserves an answer. The name of the student who filed need not and should not be revealed. The community deserves to know the nature of the complaint. It might be an intrusion in Johnson’s privacy, but the interest of students merits a contextual explanation of Johnson’s firing.
Telling the truth would foster trust between students and the administration while continued secrecy would breed distrust and suspicion.
Much like parents who answer “why?” with “because,” an administration that responds to questions without answers is loathed, not respected.
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