NEWS

Goldsmith Answers Student Senate Accusations

Dean's role in search committee debated

by Elizabeth Heron

Since the publication of the newsletter Sketch by the Student Senate, it has become clear that a level of miscommunication exists between Senate and the administration.

Sketch, distributed on campus last Friday, expressed Senate members' dissatisfaction with their role in the search for a new director of Residential Life and Services and accused Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith of taking inappropriate action regarding the search. Senate named Goldsmith's recommendations, solicitation of applicants, attendance of committee meetings, and general involvement with the search as actions they considered to be intrusive and unfair.

"As far as most senators are concerned, Goldsmith's role in the committee, or its deliberations should have been non-existent. His exertion of influence over the committee, and his accessing of the candidate's files have both undermined and tainted the process which was created to be fair and equitable," said senators in Sketch.

Yet the administration claims that Goldsmith's involvement with the committee is not only standard, but part of his responsibilities.

"The article appears to imply that I'm simply another member of the community when it comes to this search. But in point of fact, this is a committee I charged in order to enable me to make a hire that will have the broad support of students, administratio, and faculty. There is nothing nefarious or unusual about [my involvement]," said Goldsmith.

"Ultimately, this appointment is my responsibility," said Goldsmith. "It requires that I stay in touch with the committee, not to direct its work, but to be assured that we stay on the same page. It would be irresponsible of me not to do the work necessary to build a high-quality, diversified pool [of applicants]."

In response to Senate's fears that Goldsmith's involvement with the search is improper, President Nancy Dye said, "The idea that the officer who makes appointments should not communicate with the committee is not correct. Goldsmith did nothing inappropriate."

In light of this new information, Senate feels that there is something inherently wrong with student-administration responsibilities in search committees. "Somewhere along the way, we should stop and say maybe half of the problem with this is that this is perfectly normal behavior. Granted Pete Goldsmith can say 'ultimately the final decision is mine, I have to work with this person.' But if that's the case, why is there this big hoohah about forming a search committee and having students tell [the administration] about what the best means of finding this person is, if they're just going to go over our heads and make the final decision anyway?" said senator Chris Anton.

Goldsmith saw his role in the search committee process as being fair and consistent with his profession, and did not want to give the impression that he did not care about student input. "Nobody should feel co-opted by this process." Alluding to Sketch, Goldsmith also said, "I've been involved in ways that are entirely appropriate, and if there have been any challenges to the integrity of the process, they were made by public divulgence of matters from within the search committee."

Senate was concerned that their role as student representatives to the committee was being taken lightly. Erika Hansen, junior senator, said, "Nancy Dye came to Student Senate and said that we should be integral. But it became very clear that although we were commissioned by Nancy to be a part of the search committee, we were not members of the committee."

Senate also was displeased that search committee meetings were held in their absence over Winter Term and during class times, and were not given adequate time to review files on the candidates before decisions could be made. Linda Gates, chair of the search committee, said, "Scheduling is tricky. It's difficult to find times when everyone can meet. But our process seeks to be inclusive."

Anton felt that it was not enough to apologize, and that scheduling changes need to be made. "It's very common for anybody, especially administrators, to say it's very hard to coordinate people's schedules. But at the same time it's very obvious when you say 'we're more willing to dismiss the fact that three student members can't be there than we are that any one faculty member can't be there,'" said Anton.

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Copyright © 2000, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 128, Number 14, February 18, 2000

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