Dear Fellow Faculty,
I have been debating on whether or not to
weigh in on this no confidence issue and after numerous attacks from
emails and such, I just want to make a few points on the subject.
As
a member of the executive council for over four years, I have given my
blood and my sweat to the union and to ultimately making Kutztown a
better place for all of us...faculty, staff, administration. I have
always tried to do what is right in all aspects of my life including
Kutztown. I am disgusted that in the last few days since Dr. Gambone's
email, myself and the executive council have been labeled as
problematic, self serving, sneaky, back stabbers and racist. We have
been called a secret society which has operated in a manner as to try
and deceive the faculty and promote our own agendas.
Nothing
could be further from the truth. First of all, the Executive Council
has not voted no confidence in Dr. Cevallos. We have voted to put the
question forward to representative council and ultimately the faculty
for discussion. There may be members of Exec that have no confidence in
the president and there may be members that have all the confidence in
him. That is up to the individual to decide. However, all of us felt it
was a question that needed to be discussed among the faculty,
particularly because of problems and concerns brought to the union by
the faculty.
This no confidence idea did not come from us, but
from you. There was a Bill of particulars attached to Dr. Gambone's
email that discussed reasons for simply discussing the issue. They were
reasons for considering a vote, reasons brought to us by faculty, not
conceived in the executive committees head. The ELC issue was brought
to us by faculty. The Commonalitlies was brought to us by faculty. IT
problems were and are brought to us by faculty.
The vote by
Executive Council was not brought on as a personal attack against Dr.
Cevallos. Personally, I like Dr. Cevallos. He is a good man that thinks
he is doing what is best. He is excellent with students, and I believe
tries to better the institution. However, that does not exempt him from
critique and criticism of his job performance. Instead of talking and
complaining behind his back, the Executive Council has brought the
issue forward for discussion.
If the representatives on the
council don't feel this vote is necessary, it dies there. But at least
the discussion on this issue has occured out in the open instead of
behind closed doors and behind the back of Dr. Cevallos. I find it very
interesting that all of the opposing emails are about how bad executive
council and the local union are, but none of them have addressed the
issues in Dr. Gambone's attachment. It's great that we all know where
Dr. Cevallos gets his hair cut and how personable he is. What really
needs to be discussed are the issus listed in the attachment. Discussed
is the key word. If faculty truly have confidence in Dr. Cevallos then
that will come out. If they do not, that will also come out. Either
way, the issue will be discussed and resolved.
I got involved to
try and change Kutztown for the better and do what is right. I believe
that the local union is better serving you the faculty and ultimately
Kutztown now than when I first got involved four years ago. Do you
agree? Before you criticize the people that put forward an issue for
discussion, think about what our intentions were and what we have tried
to do to make Kutztown better for everyone.
Paul