Scheren and Matthews resign from positions

Physical plant loses several employees

Director of Facilities Planning Bob Scheren and Director of Facilities Maintenance Gene Matthews have announced their resignations. The resignations come just a few months after Vice President of Operations Donna Raynsford announced she plans to retire in June.

Scheren was asked to resign last week. February 27 was his last day.

"We are entering an enormous period of construction, and the College feels it will be best served by retaining the services of an outside company," College President Nancy Dye said. "You need a lot of different kinds of expertise to draw on, not only architecture."

Scheren declined to comment.

Dye said Facilities Reasearch Management, a company based in Madison, Wis., will be charged with overseeing Oberlin's upcoming building projects. A new employee will be Oberlin's user representative. He will spend part of his time in Oberlin.

Dye said, "The thinking was that we needed some folks working for the College to supervise and make a lot of decisions. It's just a matter of a business decision."

Matthews will begin work at Case Western Reserve University April 15. He was offered the job last week.

"As part of my professional development, it's the next logical progression," Matthews said.

Matthews has been named Director of Plant Services at Case Western Reserve University.

"I grew up at Oberlin," Matthews said. "I started out at Oberlin 25 years ago as an electrician."

Matthews said he will miss Oberlin. He will continue to live in Oberlin for the remainder of the school year.

"There's only one Oberlin," Matthews said. "In my heart, I'll always be an Obie."