A RESPONSE TO DEAN RIPOSA STEPPING DOWN
We the undersigned, as dedicated and concerned student leaders in the College of Liberal Arts, adamantly take issue with how the University Administration has handled matters in wake of CLA Dean Gerry Riposa’s intention to step down. The lack of transparency and blatant disrespect shown by the administration toward student leaders and their own faculty is a serious cause for alarm. Despite attending a university that prides itself on being “student-centered,” we feel we have been disregarded, disrespected, and undermined.
The lack of direct communication to the CLA students from the university is unacceptable. University officials chose to keep information at the administrative level and away from the students, staff, and faculty most affected by the dean’s decision. The CSULB mission states that the University strives to be “student-centered.” If this is the case, why were the CLA students not given any direct notification prior to the Daily 49er article? Is the transition from one dean to another not something that directly affects our college careers? As of this writing, the students have yet to receive any news from the university regarding its plans for the transition process.
On Friday, April 29th, six CLA student leaders met with Provost Don Para to discuss their concerns, only to be disrespected and dismissed. Student suggestions and questions were met by Provost Para’s passive-aggressive answers, which conveyed the message that even our best efforts would be for naught. The provost conveniently hid behind university policy and what little he did share was of no substance. His tangential discussions ranged from the CSU budget to the war in Iraq and proved ineffective and infuriating methods of evasion. To add insult to injury, the CLA student organizations never received any formal response to their initial letter to President Alexander and Provost Para concerning the students’ role in Dean Riposa’s departure. How can the university claim to be “student centered” when public attempts by students to participate are so blatantly disregarded?
The university administration’s lack of transparency has led to widespread confusion and suspicion at all levels of the College. Rumors have circulated that Provost Para has put significant pressure on both Dean Riposa and faculty organizers to stop a petition in support of the dean. The Provost’s attempts to diminish all discussion regarding Dean Riposa’s departure further exemplify the administration’s capricious mishandling of this situation. It is disgusting that a university that prides itself on transparency would resort to such Machiavellian tactics.
To the liberal arts students, the College of Liberal Arts is a uniquely diverse and shared community. The world is our environment to immerse, thrive, and engage ourselves in. However, when the administration forgets that they are nothing without actively engaged students and faculty, the nurturing collegiate environment we have is destroyed. This shameful behavior is unacceptable at any level of authority and will not be tolerated in our College, so long as our University claims to be student centered.
Sincerely, Anthropology Graduate Student Association, Asian Studies Graduate Society, Associated Students of Comparative Literature, Chicano Latino Studies Student Association, College of Liberal Arts Student Council, English Students’ Association, Geography Student Association, History Students Association, Political Science Graduate Student, Association, Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, Student Association.
