WKU student protests over dean resignation continue

Reporter: Olivia Eiler

Monday, April 1

Students continue to protest after the open dialogue.

WKU students are continuing to protest after the provost participated in an open question and answer session.

On Monday, April 1 at 12:23 p.m., the WKU Student Government Association announced a dialogue with provost Terry Ballman. The dialogue would take place the same day, at 3:15 p.m.

Many students said they felt the announcement came too late.

Ryan Linton, a communication studies major, said he heard about the event from a GroupMe message around 2:15 p.m.

“I’m kind of concerned about the limitations of having it [on such] short notice and why it was done in the way it was,” Linton said. “Was it done so in a way to have students not come?”

Matthew Kerman, an acting major and protester, heard about it even later.

“She walked by our group- the provost did,” Kerman said. “And she told us that she was having this meeting. Three of us went to go sit in on it and ask questions and hear what she had to say.”

The event started with a discussion of the ongoing Comprehensive Academic Program Evaluation (CAPE). According to WKU’s website, CAPE is intended to ensure that academic programs are sustainable and productive.

Ballman described the purpose of CAPE.

“We’re in a position, like many universities, that we’re facing financial challenges,” Ballman said. “As you know, the burden of a college education now rests heavily on your shoulders, because our states do not provide us much support. We want to make sure that your education is affordable and that you have access.”

She also described the challenges facing WKU’s Potter College of Arts & Letters.

“Unlike accounting or social work or things where you know exactly what the folks are going to do when they’re done, it’s a little more ambivalent in Potter College,” Ballman said. “There’s not a direct connection necessarily between the discipline and what people are going to do for a living. The big question across the country is, ‘What is the role of the arts and letters in the 21^stcentury economy?’”

Ballman assured students that suspended programs will be taught out for students currently enrolled in programs.

Students at the event also asked questions about former Potter College dean Larry Snyder’s resignation.

Ballman told students that Snyder was not asked to resign because of professional misconduct or illegal activity. She said Snyder will be remain a full professor.

One student asked, “Was it a forced resignation or did he willingly resign?”

“He chose to resign,” Ballman responded. “So that was his choice. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Another attendee asked, “Was Larry Snyder asked to resign?”

“I don’t have a comment on that,” Ballman said.

Linton and Kerman both expressed frustration.

“She refuses to answer if he was asked to resign,” Linton said. “If he was not asked to resign, there would be no problem answering that question.”

“She tried to be civil, and I appreciate that,” Kerman said. “There was a lot of stuff she said that contradicted itself. She avoided the topics and the more specific details that we’re talking about, in terms of things with Dean Snyder.”

Ballman said she doesn’t anticipate the reason for Snyder’s resignation ever becoming public knowledge.

“I’m leaving here unsatisfied,” Linton said. “The answers she provided do not allay any of our students fears. We appreciate her respect for our protesting and her openness to want to communicate us. I am glad for that. But also, it seems like empty promises. Hopefully we are proven wrong, but so far this administration has not done so.”

Students at the event also questioned Ballman on the washing away of chalk slogans.

Students protesting Snyder’s resignation chalked several phrases across campus late Sunday night, including the phrase, “Tell us why.” On Monday, WKU employees in marked vehicles erased the messages with power washers.

“In spite of my name being used, like Ballman out and all that stuff, it’s beautiful,” Ballman said. “It’s First Amendment speech. That’s what the university is supposed to be about.”

Messages for the upcoming SGA election remaining untouched. Ballman declined to comment on how the protestors’ chalk differed.

In a tweet at 4:05 p.m., WKU President Timothy Caboni stated, “[I] was made aware of some reports of chalking being washed away on campus. I have communicated to WKU facilities that our university supports this type of expression and that it should not be erased. We appreciate students letting us know.”

After the event, Kerman said he hoped students would continue to stand together.

“I’d like the next step to be more people coming together and making sure that [the administration] actually pays attention and listens to what our concerns are,” Kerman said. “Whether or not we get an answer or whether or not our dean comes back, we need them to know that this is something that we care a lot about.”

Ballman and SGA President Stephen Mayer said they plan to host another open dialogue within two weeks.

Ballman also said WKU’s administration will conduct a national search and name a permanent dean for Potter College by Jan. 1, 2019.

Friday, March 29