Garrison removed from post
at KSU:
Chairman can stay on faculty
By Scott Cook
Record–Courier staff writer
June
25, 1998
Kent State University
Professor George Garrison will no longer be chairman of KSU's Department
of Pan-African Studies as of June 30, following a lengthy review process
resulting from differences between Garrison and col- leagues within his
department.
"It was my judgment
to remove Dr. Garri- son as chair," Joseph Danks, dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences, said Wednes- day. "The primary reason is his loss of
support from the faculty of the department."
Danks sent an
interdepartmental memo dated June 23 to members of the Pan-African Studies
Department, including Garrison, noti- fying them of his decision.
Danks said that
despite Garrison's removal from the chairman's position, he can continue
his tenure at the university. Garrison also has the opportunity to appeal
the decision with the provost, he said.
Garrison declined
comment Wednesday on the decision or if he will remain at KSU.
Problems developed
in the fall of 1996, when several faculty members within Pan- African Studies
voiced their disapproval of Garrison's administration of the department.
The faculty said Garrison was "aloof and distant from the students," according
to a copy of a May 22, 1997 letter from Garrison to a Pan-African Studies
professor.
Garrison responded
in a letter to Danks, calling the faculty's actions "blind ambition," and
"simply fabrications, distortions and intentionally misleading."
Danks tried unsuccessfully
to mediate with the groups before the faculty called for an "Extraordinary
Review" of Garrison last fall.
Review Committee
Chairman John Gargan, a political science professor, said there "was a
diversity of viewpoints" while reviewing the case.
"The (committee)
did not make a recommendation as to the retention of the chair," Gargan
said, adding its final report included suggestions for preventing such
an incident from recurring.
Former Pan-African
Studies Chairman Edward Crosby, who was one of the faculty members concerned
with Garnson's lead ershipstyle, said Garrison's plight was lamentable.
Garrison could
not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Danks said he
expects to name an interim chairman soon, noting it will be filled internally.
The permanent chairman will be named next year. |