Post Classifieds

Faculty cut revealed

By Madi Cox

On May 6, 2011

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Three staff members and one faculty member will be dismissed from Lyndon State College in order to balance the budget, according to Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges Tim Donovan.

"I have made the decisions with regard to staffing changes relative to the budget and all of those people have been notified individually," Donovan said following a meeting with employees on Monday.

David Plazek, a political science professor, has been notified that he will not be reappointed to LSC.

"It was heartbreaking. It's been a real tough pill to swallow because I love this school and I love my job. I just felt lucky to have this job and everyday I was one of those people that were lucky to go to a job that they love," he said.

Plazek has two years left before he leaves the college, although it is possible that things may change in that time to improve the deficit.

It's not that up in the air. The way I heard it put is there is a little bit of wiggle room," he said. "There are people who have suggested to me that there going to find a way to improve our financial situation. There are ideas floating around that eventually everybody's job will be saved."

Social sciences professor Janet Bennion is unhappy with the news that Plazek's position has been cut.

"We're deeply concerned about this. We know that students truly love David. He's a very popular published scholar, probably the most popular in our department," she said. "We'd hate to see him go and we hope that there's a way to keep him in our department so we can fulfill our needs in the social sciences, in the global studies concentration, in the gen ed program."

While employees have been individually notified, those involved in unions have the opportunity to look for alternative ways to solve the deficit.

"I think nothing's set yet. We have an opportunity now to try to find other solutions so I don't think anything's set in stone yet. We may be able to save positions. This is all two or three year procedure here," said mathematics professor and Chair of the Faculty Assembly Jim Bozeman.

Plazek is not as optimistic about the possibility of saving his position.

"Obviously in my situation I'm not too optimistic that there is going to be room for me. When I talk to the people in the know it seems like they're pretty certain about this decision," he said.

Some faculty members are concerned with the decision to let go of faculty and staff.

"The chancellor is really emphasizing that we need to be positive and make the external community beyond the internal college community understand that we're a strong college. It's hard to do that right now," said English professor Andrea Luna. "And even when he's right, it's hard to hear his message when it feels like he's telling us basically to buck up and act like nothing's happening."

The three staff members who have not been reappointed have not been revealed to the public. The chancellor explained that if individuals wish to discuss their employment, they may, but he will respect their privacy.