August 11th, 2007
Four days into a six week contract, outside consultant Greg Tanaka, of Pacific Oaks College, left New College’s employ. He left on Aug. 1, the day after the first public board meeting. While at New College, Mr. Tanaka was part of the WASC Response Team. He met with the Interim Independent Student Council and the Ad Hoc Coalition, comprised of representatives of the IISC, Adjunct and Core Faculty Councils, and the Independent Alumni/ae Association. New College never formally announced Mr. Tanaka’s early leave-taking. After hearing rumors, I
emailed him directly. His answer:
Sorry that you did not get word. I ended my consulting work for New
College the day after the public meeting with the Board of Trustees on
July 31st. With that event an open and civil coming together, I
considered everyone’s contribution truly authentic. But mainly, my
work was pretty much over in the sense that I had focused on
structural rearrangement of the top administration, the trustees, and
the ability of both students and faculty to have voice.
I wish all you well and have the greatest faith and hope in your good
efforts.
Greg T.
Category New College of California | Edit | No Comments »
August 11th, 2007
In a letter obtained from the U.S. Department of
Education, New College independent alumni/ae
were informed that advance funding for New College
student loans has been curtailed, and that the school
must now fund tuition from its own non-existent
reserves and then seek reimbursement from the
Department of Education. Reimbursement will depend on
detailed proof that the school is no longer operating
shell programs, faking enrollments, or using other
devices to defraud the federal student loan program.
The August 6 letter from DOE to New College also
spells out the criminal penalties for violating these
regulations, which may yet land the New College
trustees in an investigation by the U.S. Department of
Justice.
DOE Letter
Category New College of California | Edit | No Comments »
August 10th, 2007
August 2nd, 2007
from Skookum
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Three things happened at last evening’s New College of California’s board of trustees open meeting with faculty, students, and alumni. Perhaps foremost was the call by the Faculty Council for an investigation into criminal wrongdoing by members of the administration and board. Related to this demand was a request by alumni for a list of any relatives of board members who received compensation from the school while sitting as trustees, the amounts paid, and the reasons for payments.
The third thing we learned last night was that Pamela Gilmore is the director of the infamous PHLUTE program which has come under such pointed scrutiny by the oversight agency WASC for flagrant violations of financial and academic integrity. Playing the race card in her defense, Ms. Gilmore said, “WASC was called because people didn’t like having a black woman as academic vice president.”
Referring to her superior in the Graduate Psychology department (Dr. Linda James Myers), Ms. Gilmore was apparently attempting to defend Dr. Myers — the person responsible for supervising her program — in advance of charges being filed. From what we can determine, the forthcoming charges will likely include forcing school registrars to violate federal loan policies, threatening other administrators uncomfortable with defrauding the federal government, and possibly extortion.
While we’re on the topic of criminal wrongdoing, we would be remiss not to draw reader’s attention to this San Francisco Chronicle article about a Hunters Point construction project of the San Francisco Unified School District, in which Pamela Gilmore — then a SFUSD employee — was charged with ‘aiding and abetting felony fraud.’ To top things off in the unraveling New College scandal surrounding the PHLUTE program, it appears that Gilmore’s domestic partner and PHLUTE enrollee is none other than Keith Jackson, former board president of SFUSD, and consultant hired by New College to use his influence at city hall to make a bid for the UC Berkeley Extension Laguna Street campus. Word on the street has it that in addition to his consulting fees, Jackson made commissions on all the related bank loans.
Due to the fact that Pamela Gilmore, Keith Jackson, and Dr. Linda James Myers are all black, Ms. Gilmore seems to think they should be given a pass for white collar crime. We disagree.
Update: Three witnesses saw and two heard Keith Jackson threatening New College professor Harry Britt (one of the faculty calling for an investigation) outside the school. According to one witness, Jackson was heard to say, “If you say that again, I’ll take you out.” The District Attorney’s office has been alerted.| No Comments »
July 31st, 2007
Faculty Council Demands Immediate Resignations, Criminal Investigation
For the first time ever, the Board of Trustees of New College has held a public board meeting. One day in advance, hired consultant Greg Tanaka sent an email to 6 people who attended an ad hoc coalition meeting. He said students will be allowed a 30 min. question and answer period in the beginning of the meeting. The place of the meeting was to be announced, but would be the largest room available. Those who received the email assumed it would be the Cultural Center, and we were correct.
Over 50 people attended the meeting. Although we had been told that only students would be allowed to address the board, anyone in attendance was allowed. As a result, several people who work directly under President Hamilton were able to speak in support of him. When Adam Cornford, spokesman for the Faculty Council, tried to read an official statement, Greg Tanaka cut him off. Another faculty member gave up his time, over Greg’s objections. The official minutes are not available yet. In the meantime, you can read my notes here:
Board Meeting Notes
WASC to New College: You Have Betrayed Your Students’ Trust
Board Failed Fiduciary Responsibility to “Inconceivable” Degree
On Friday, July 27, 2007, members of the New College Board of Trustees, the WASC response team met with Ralph Wolff, PhD, JD, WASC Commission Staff Director and Teri Cannon, JD, WASC Commission Staff. Adam Cornford, Accreditation Liaison Officer and Faculty Council Delegate and Stephanie Adraktas, Faculty Council Delegate, prepared a report, which you can read on this site. The report gives WASC’s timetable for New College, which ends in June 2008.
WASC wants Martin Hamilton replaced ASAP. A year’s delay is not acceptable. The Registrar, Admissions Director, and Financial Aid Director must be replaced with fully trained, qualified people, ASAP. Merely expanding the board is not acceptable as there has been “an incredible breakdown in integrity.” Every system is broken, according to WASC.
View Report as PDF
| 2 Comments »
July 29th, 2007
On Wed., July 25, 2007, the New College Humanities department held an Open House for prospective students and their parents. Concerned that New College would not disclose the depth of its problems to prospective students, students and alumni/ae, including this writer, decided to inform them personally. Some created a small flyer with the words “New College is on probation with WASC and may lose its accreditation,” the URL for this website, and information about the new Student Council. Others went further, creating a comprehensive information packet with the full WASC letter and newspaper articles.
Intimidation Efforts by Rasmussen, Tanaka Fail
First, Associate Registrar Craig Rasmussen tried physical and verbal intimidation. He accused us of having “half-truths” on the little flyer. He literally backed me into a corner with his body. Other people in the New College cafe told him to stop.
After Mr. Rasmussen left, it was outside consultant Greg Tanaka’s turn. He physically got in my face and said, “you are killing New College.” He forbade me to tell prospective students about the probation, because “they won’t come. You’ll destroy the revenue stream.”
I informed Mr. Tanaka that half the Spring ASC students left because they felt deceived and ripped off by New College withholding information. As alumnae we felt it was our duty to fully disclose about the WASC probation. Many people had agreed on this action beforehand.
Johanna Coash from admissions played good guy. She flew down the hall and said, “we’re totally going to tell them about the probation.” She practically dragged Mr. Tanaka away.
I sat in back at the Open House and they did indeed mention the WASC probation. The lady in charge smiled bravely and said, “New College is on probation with WASC. Most private colleges in the Bay Area have been on probation. We look at this as an opportunity to better serve our students.” I did not stay for the rest of the program. However, someone forwarded an email from Marjorie Paul thanking everyone who attended “the July 25th lively, informative Open House.”
You’re welcome.
| 2 Comments »
July 29th, 2007
No Injuries
On Wednesday, July 25, 2007, shortly after the Ad Hoc Coalition meeting in room 6, coalition members heard a loud crash in the next room. A heavy wooden cabinet, nearly floor-to-ceiling, was toppling over. A small group of young people struggled to keep it from going over all the way. A tall, muscular young man kept it from falling on the others, who were small women. Eventually they got it upright again. Miraculously, no one was injured.
New College is located in earthquake country. Cabinets and bookcases are supposed to be secured to the walls, in order to prevent injury or death. The cabinet by the door leans away from the wall visibly and is also not secured. This shows a reckless disregard for the safety of students, faculty and staff. At the very least, it is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
| No Comments »
July 29th, 2007
In addition to the cogent remarks already posted regarding the Board of Trustees’ “transitional plan”, I would like to offer the following:
What seems to be really happening, underneath and behind the appearance of something new and different (as well as conforming to WASC’s demands) is that President Martin Hamilton, already discredited by WASC, along with whomever else he chooses, now has the opportunity–for the next year!–to engineer the selection of a new, bloated Board of Trustees. And, since the Board has (technically) ultimate authority with respect to all aspects of the College, what does that selection imply? Also over the course of the coming year, all governance, operational, and academic structures are scheduled to be revamped by the new consultants, who we all understand were hired by President Hamilton, similarly without process. Finally, let’s not forget Francisco Leite, friend of Martin’s from the Brazil project who now has a job with the Science Institute and is the newly appointed “interim” CFO. It is difficult to believe all these people are free of Martin’s influence. It is also difficult to give credence to the apparent sudden and miraculous transformation of the present Board–equally discredited by WASC–into an independent, autonomous and take-charge body.
Now into this already prepared, seamless governance bed, perfected over a full year’s time, the Transitional Plan gives New College a new President, chosen in all the right ways–the only one! This person, whoever it might be, would seem to be inevitably hamstrung by the large and all-powerful Board designed and built–remember?–by the still-ubiquitous President Hamilton. (The paltry number of faculty representatives and the ex-officio–meaning non-voting–student and other members would be no match for the rest of the carefully supplemented trustees.) Maybe someday, then, New College will have a very different problem with presidents from the one it is used to: too much turnover!….And, meanwhile, where is President Hamilton? Where are the (also discredited) Vice Presidents? No word about their fate. Hiding in the bushes?
Who needs a “transitional plan”, anyway? It has too much potential to serve as shrubbery for the ’shadow government’ to hide behind. Because the chronology previously described has it backwards. A new president should not be plopped into a confining set of structures put together by a discredited leadership. Instead, the new Board and President should be chosen first, according to a fair and representative process; and it is they, along with appropriate involvement of the NCOC community, who should lead the internal structural transformation. There should be no more decision-making by Martin Hamilton and the Board and cronies.
What about all the fertile faculty, student and alumni/ae organizing, you might counter? The staff union? Wouldn’t they counteract any tendencies toward unilateral and pre-emptive power? Yes, there might be greater representation and input; but, when it comes to the crunch, the–according to the current by-laws–Board still has the final say, with still-President Hamilton in the thick of it. Not to mention Peter Gabel……….Also hidden in the bushes?
The real question, of course, is whether or not WASC will buy this TP. At the same time, we should be aware that all of this is still talk. It could be a tease, a lure–and all come to nothing. Notice that the Board warmly welcomes all your input and participation….but there is no mention of any actual sharing (or limitation) of the Board’s authority. And, without that kind of genuine partnership, people feel disheartened and participation withers away.
.
| 2 Comments »
July 27th, 2007
ASC Library Temporarily Unavailable
On July 26, 2007 Heather Young, the new ASC Program Coordinator, sent this email to ASC students and faculty announcing that the program’s offices in the main classroom building on Valencia St. were now for the use of the outside consultants. The administration punished ASC faculty for the creation of SSOS, according to the faculty members who resigned. For the record, SSOS was created by students from several programs. A former ASC co-director wrote an open letter of resignation, citing WASC violations. Here is Ms Young’s email:
Due to the immediate need for the newly created WASC Response Team to use the ASC office space for their essential operations, my coordinating office and the offices of new associate faculty member Marina Sitrin and Michael McAvoy are being moved to 824A Valencia Street. Helene Vosters had already decided to work out of her home office. You can reach myself, Michael, or Marina by phone at 415.593.0505. Discussion will begin about what to do with the ASC library and how to accomodate the needs of adjunct faculty and students within the college. If you have personal items that you would like to retrieve from the office, please contact me by phone or email as the old office is no longer accessible. Thanks in advance for you patience with all the transitions and I apologize for any inconveniences.
| No Comments »
July 27th, 2007
The WASC Response Team emailed this announcement to members of the Ad Hoc Coalition of faculty, students, staff and alumni/ae. Note that outside consultant Dr. Francisco Leite has been made interim CFO. Previously, Dr. Leite worked with Martin Hamilton to create a partnership between his university in Brazil and New College.
WASC Response Team
Dr. Greg Tanaka (Pacific Oaks College)
Dr. Martina Ayala (Pacific Oaks College)
Dr. Francisco Leite (UNAES University Center of Campo Grande)
Prof. Adam Cornford (New College Poetics Program)
Prof. Stephanie Adraktas (Core Faculty, New College School of Law)
View as PDF:
Board Announcement
| 2 Comments »
July 25th, 2007
from The SF Bay Guardian
The troubled school’s been turned on its head
BY G.W. SCHULZ
Wednesday July 25, 2007
Two co–academic vice presidents at New College of California have resigned, and observers say the school’s president, Martin Hamilton, likely will be stepping down soon too as the result of a blistering accreditation report released recently by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The Guardian posted the report on our Politics blog July 15, and since that time, a Core Faculty Council has formed along with a separate group for part-time faculty as part of a plan by the college to establish shared governance and implement responses to the report. The core council passed a vote of no confidence in Hamilton on July 17 and called for a complete ouster of the school’s 13-member Board of Trustees. For the time being, at least, the troubled school’s been turned on its head by the report’s relentlessly dour conclusions and what could be a larger exodus of administrators and overseers.
According to the report, “The special investigation team identified several processes that constitute the fundamental underpinnings of college academic and student services operations, which at New College are nonexistent, lacking in some way, or not consistently followed.” (G.W. Schulz)
| 3 Comments »
Board Member Profiles
Saturday, July 21st, 2007
from Friends of Spartacus
What’s the Deal?
One of the things that puzzles us about the New College of California financial fiasco, is that — with the exception of a handful of stalwarts who have financial interests in the school — the New College Board of Trustees seems to be a revolving door of high-powered bankers, attorneys from the New College Law School, realtors, and Democratic Party politicians. Given that the improprieties and illegalities charged by the oversight agency against the trustees relate in large part to the integrity of financial aid disbursements, questionable real estate investments, and sloppy accounting, one has to wonder just what the heck is the deal. I mean, one of the reasons this scandal is so serious is that it involves the improper handling of federal education funds—something lawyers and bankers and even politicians should be clued in on. So what gives?
Character Counts
Speaking of nepotism at New College of California, we thought readers might enjoy getting to know the school’s Board of Trustees. In our first profile in the series, we look at James Sweeney, former Berkeley city councilman, whose wife Renee until two months ago was the longtime Vice President Compliance and Student Services in the New College Financial Aid Office.
President Emeritus
For our second installment in getting-to-know the New College Board of Trustees, we look at Peter Gabel, former president of New College for 20 years, and professor at New College School of Law since 1975. Peter, son-in-law of fellow New College Trustee Agar Jaicks, now lectures on Spirituality, Law, and Politics, and continues to, “insist upon ethical relationships in all aspects of our communal life.”
| 1 Comment
Half of New College Board Resigns
Friday, July 20th, 2007
Breaking News
One day after faculty, staff, students and alumni/ae formed an ad hoc coalition, half of the board of trustees resigned. Earlier in the week, the Adjunct Faculty Council passed a unanimous statement, which you can read on this site, and the Core Faculty Council passed a no confidence vote in President Martin Hamilton. Martin Hamilton has also resigned, according to faculty sources, although he will not step down immediately.
The board of trustees has created a three member transition team. The core faculty and adjunct faculty are chartering their own councils. Students are organizing a student council. Alumni and alumnae are forming an independent alumni/ae association. Stay tuned for further details.
Contact the New College Board of Trustees
Tell them your ideas to save New College. Demand accountability. Ask questions. Board meetings are supposed to be public. When and where are they held? Who is still on the Board and who has stepped down? Who is on the transition team? These questions have not been answered publicly and I for one want to know the answers.
Contact the Board–Coming Soon
Academic VPs Resign, Keep Jobs
On July 19, 2007, Linda James Myers resigned as Academic Vice President of New College. She continues to be Dean of Graduate Psychology. Her husband, Roger Myers, who was hired with her, continues to be the director of the East Bay Weekend BA Completion Program in Self-Mastery, Leadership and Resilience in Urban Environments and Global Society. Previously, Michael McAvoy resigned as Academic Vice President. He continues to be the Director of the Activism and Social Program.
These resignations were part of the administrative reforms demanded by WASC. Whether WASC will tolerate the former VPs continued presence at New College remains to be seen.
| No Comments
New College of California Adjunct Council Responds to Accreditation Crisis
Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
Adjuncts Organize and Create Council to Help Save College
San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2007: New College of California, a mainstay of liberal San Francisco and considered to be one of the most progressive schools in the nation, was placed on probation last week by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) upon completion of a special investigation by that regional academic accrediting organization. WASC has “serious doubts that the same board and executive leadership that have allowed the problems… are now capable of remedying these serious and pervasive matters,” according to the findings of the special investigation team.
New College of California adjunct professors have created the Adjunct Council to begin addressing the demands outlined in the WASC findings. These part-time faculty members have organized to help save New College.
Adjunct Council representative Gregory Gajus said the Adjunct Council will “create a structure to aid the full-time core faculty of the college in their plans to fulfill the requests of WASC that are essential to maintaining the accreditation of the college.” The WASC report cites the lack of faculty governance and “unilateral assertions of authority by the president and others” as key reasons for the probation.
The Adjunct Council has issued a public statement regarding the current leadership crisis at New College of California following a successful vote of no-confidence in New College of California President Martin Hamilton earlier today by full-time core faculty:
“We the Adjunct Council, in solidarity with the Core Faculty Council, ask for cross representation towards
our common goals. We support the core faculty vote of no-confidence and support the call for new administrative leadership. Further, we call for the immediate replacement of the Board of Trustees, President, and Academic Co-Vice Presidents in compliance with the demands of WASC.”
| No Comments »
ACCREDITATION REPORT BLASTS NEW COLLEGE
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
[Ed. note: At the end of this article, there are two links back to this website. Although Stop Systems of Silence isn’t mentioned by name, we are credited with publishing the WASC report first. Thanks, Bay Guardian!]
from SFBG San Francisco Bay Guardian online Politics Blogs
ACCREDITATION REPORT BLASTS NEW COLLEGE: “Clear and egregious violations of institutional integrity, academic integrity”
By G.W. Schulz
San Francisco’s New College of California has a culture of administrative “sloppiness and arbitrariness” in addition to flawed academic curricula, according to a report released this month by an accrediting outfit based in Alameda and obtained by the Guardian.
The accrediting commission for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges concluded following a special investigation that among other things New College fails to properly maintain student files and questions persist about how well the school handles and awards scholarships and financial aid to students under federal rules and regulations.
The group’s investigation began after it received six detailed letters alleging “various improprieties” and violations of its fundamental accreditation standards such as problems related to the fair and equitable treatment of students and the college’s ability to maintain operational integrity through sound business practices.
New College has long teetered on the brink of financial disaster, and according to the report, nothing’s changed and the school has failed even to make improvements since 2002 when the commission concluded that New College did not have stable revenues or effective financial controls. In fact, the commission learned that New College’s money woes had “materially worsened in the last year” since it bought two properties “without necessary analysis and planning.”
As a result of the investigation, New College has been placed on probation and will now be “subject to special scrutiny and any new site or degree program is subject to review through WASC’s substantive change process.”
The college’s PHLUTE program (Pilot Hybrid in Leadership in Urban Transformed Environments) does not have a clear and published curriculum, the report concluded, and students are expected to handle an exceptionally large load of courses while only attending one-fourth of the necessary classes for the credits involved.
The school’s contention that students can get a degree in two years “seems highly questionable on its face.” The commission also called the PHLUTE program a “gross misapplication of academic advising, program administration and program design” due in part to doubts about the depth of the work involved for students and whether students who have to work while attending school can handle so many courses.
According to the report:
“The commission has repeatedly found that, in addition to longstanding and ongoing financial challenges, New College did not have systems and structures in place in very basic areas of operation, including governance, faculty oversight of academic matters, assessment of student learning, and financial management and accounting.”
Read full article here:
ACCREDITATION REPORT BLASTS NEW COLLEGE
| No Comments »
WASC Puts New College on Probation
Friday, July 13th, 2007
BLAMES LACK OF INTEGRITY, POOR JUDGMENT BY BOARD AND PRESIDENT
On July 5, 2007, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, WASC, the body which accredits colleges and universities, put the New College of California on probation. The WASC report, which you can read here, squarely blames a “failure of effective leadership” and a “broad culture of error and poor judgement.” “The leadership has not honored the most basic principles of institutional integrity, shared governance and sound management”. [p.7]
WASC Chastizes Hamilton for Blaming Problems on Whistleblowers
“As noted by the team, ‘The dominant administrative perspective would seem to be that the complaints received by WASC are motivated or orchestrated by one or a few disgruntled persons and that the events alleged are virtually without merit.’ New College’s written response confirms this stance by stating, ‘The institution can be seen as a target of opportunity, particularly for a group who may band together and act in concert, selectively representing information in a manner that creates a picture that seems to depict a pattern of more widespread difficulties in operations than is actually the case.’ This view of the state of New College, reiterated by you at your appearance before the Commission, demonstrates a failure to appreciate the severity of New College’s problems and a lack of willingness to address these issues honestly and directly.” [p.10]
The report lists serious violations, especially concerning the PHLUTE program, EPI, Presidential scholarships, poor record keeping and back-dated records, and fiduciary concerns including financial aid.
WASC Report
Pres. Hamilton Announces WASC Probation, New College Announces Blog
On July 14, 2007, Martin Hamilton announced to the New College Community that WASC had put New College on probation 9 days earlier. New College created a blog where people can discuss the changes they wish to see. Has free speech come to New College? To read Hamilton’s letter and participate in the blog, visit:
New College blog
Update: New College Blog Censored. 7/17/07 an alert reader tells us that a comment critical of the administration was removed from the New College blog.
Update 7/21/07 A link to the WASC letter was retroactively added to Hamilton’s letter of the 14th, as if it had always been there. Previously, blog moderator Kathy Voutyras stated that New College would post a synopsis of the letter. Considering that the letter is now all over the Internet, there is no way for New College to control this information. Kathy refuses to allow posters to link to this site. If Kathy censors your post, send it here. We welcome all voices from the New College community.
| 2 Comments
Interim Independent Student Council Statement
The following statement was approved by consensus at the initial
interim student council meeting this morning.
San Francisco, CA, July 25, 2007: In response to the WASC letter of
action, as well as ongoing structural and policy issues, students at
New College of California have organized an Interim Independent
Student Council to ensure that the needs of students are properly
addressed in the changes which are taking place at the school. In
addition, this council seeks to create a more permanent
representative body to advocate on behalf of students.
In many colleges and universities, a seat on the board of trustees is
reserved for a student representative. The lack of formal student
representation at New College is symptomatic of the crisis in
leadership and governance articulated by the WASC report. Creating
fair and inclusive structures of representation will be crucial in
restoring students’ trust in the school, and establishing a safe and
positive learning environment in the long term.
The Interim Independent Student Council has issued a public
statement, following the Adjunct Council’s call for new
administrative leadership, and the core faculty’s vote of no
confidence in New College of California President Martin Hamilton:
We the Interim Independent Student Council, ask for the participation
of our peers, in the charter and formation of a student body
organization, which is inclusive of and responsive to the needs of
all New College students. We ask for the support of faculty and
staff in this endeavor, and commit to working with the Faculty
Council and Adjunct Council to achieve our mutual goals. We support
the public statement of the Adjunct Council, and reiterate the call
for new administrative leadership, and the immediate replacement of
the President, Academic Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.
Further, we call for the process of appointing new administrative
leadership to be inclusive of student, staff and faculty voices, and
that all meetings, decisions and official correspondence in this
process to be made available, without delay, to the entire New
College community.
In our own organizing efforts, we aim to be radically inclusive and
completely transparent, and we appreciate the patience and
understanding of our fellow students as we overcome the difficulties
in communication inherent in a programmatically diverse, multi-campus
institution. Lastly, we reiterate our call for the involvement and
participation of all New College students, as we work to save our
school.
North Bay to Board: What Faculty Council?
Dear New College Board of Trustees (BOT),
There is a critical issue that the faculty and staff at the North
Bay Campus would like to ask the Board to address.
The timing of the late November/early December WASC visit date in which they will determine the step with our accreditation puts the college at grave risk for damagingly low enrollment numbers for the Spring. New students who are enrolling for the Fall 2007 will be enrolled at an accredited institution. Should we lose our accreditation (worse case yes, but needs to be considered) in the year, the Fall students will be ‘taught out’ according to WASC policy (listed in their handbook of accreditation). However, since we do not know what WASC will do at the time of the late Fall visit, we do not know if the Spring new students will be enrolling in an accredited institution. This lack of clarity will have a grave impact on our enrollment. What student would want to plan on coming to a college in January, if they were not going to find out if it was going to maintain its accreditation until a couple of weeks before they were to begin?
We have students that move to Santa Rosa from all over the nation to attend our program. I would feel very uneasy having students move when we do not know 100% that we will stay accredited.
We in the North Bay would like to the Board to try to negotiate a later (February 1, 2008) WASC visit date, so that all new students enrolling in January can be guaranteed that they will enrolling in an accredited college and thus will be able to receive their
accredited degree and all that goes with it.
Additionally, I have a number of issues that I would like to take up with the BOT concerning your July 26, 2007 statement of action. It is deeply disturbing to me that this came to me via a student list serve. It was not sent directly to me from the BOT. This type of unsystematic communication only serves to undermine whatever remaining trust that staff and faculty may have of the BOT, which, honestly, is not much.
The information held within the letter from the BOT is distressing in many ways. Most significantly, the fact that the BOT will take the next year to find a new president is unacceptable. Equally distressing is the lack of mention of the resignation of BOT
members and executive leadership. WASC specifically takes aim at the Executive Leadership and the Board of Trustees for their roles in bringing New College to its current state. The July 5 WASC report says on page 8,
“The Commission has serious doubts that the same board and executive leadership that have allowed the problems described in this letter to persist are now capable of remedying these serious and pervasive matters. New College will need to demonstrate at the time of the next visit that it has in place the board and executive leadership that understands the magnitude and
seriousness of these issues, appreciates the impact of these problems on the integrity of New College credit and degrees, and has instituted a clear set of strategies to address each of the matters raised in this letter. The willingness and ability to govern must be evident in order for New College to meet the
requirements of the Standards (CFRs 1.3, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10). ”
The current actions being taken by the BOT do not demonstrate that the board fully understands or appreciates the seriousness of WASC demands. WASC is clearly indicting that the current New College executive leadership and BOT must leave and new leadership with the ability address their concerns is established. Key to fulfilling WASC’s demands is the immediate hiring of a new interim president who has the demonstrated ability to lead a college though such challenging times. WASC can likely recommend a number of highly qualified and progressive people who could fulfill this role. It is essential that a highly qualified interim president from outside of the college is found and jointly approved by staff, faculty, and students immediately, meaning within 30 days.
I am shocked at the Board’s official recognition of a Faculty Council. There has been no cohesive, democratic process by which this council was created or approved by the Faculty. The North Bay Campus has not recognized the so-called Faculty Council, nor should the BOT. I urge the BOT to rescind their recognition of the Faculty Council until such a body is legitimately formed and recognized by all academic programs throughout the college. I will be contacting WASC to inform them that the North Bay Campus and many other academic programs do not recognize the so-called Faculty Council
and do not accept the BOT’s recognition of such body.
Who are the “outside citizens” added to the Development Committee and soon to the BOT? And what process and criteria did the BOT follow to invite these individuals onto the BOT?
What does it mean that staff, faculty, and students will be added to the BOT as ex officio members? I urge the BOT to add at least two representatives of students, of staff, of faculty as full board members.
Overall, I am shocked and dismayed at the actions of BOT. These actions, and the methods by which they are being communicated and decided, are in keeping with the historic patterns of organizational dysfunction that have led us to the current state.
I urge you to more carefully consider your actions and NOT to proceed in this current manner. Please consider my criticisms and recommendations as my way of honestly contributing to the future development of New College.
Respectfully,
Kendall Dunnigan
July 18th, 2007
Adjuncts Organize and Create Council to Help Save College
San Francisco, CA, July 17, 2007: New College of California, a mainstay of liberal San Francisco and considered to be one of the most progressive schools in the nation, was placed on probation last week by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) upon completion of a special investigation by that regional academic accrediting organization. WASC has “serious doubts that the same board and executive leadership that have allowed the problems… are now capable of remedying these serious and pervasive matters,” according to the findings of the special investigation team.
New College of California adjunct professors have created the Adjunct Council to begin addressing the demands outlined in the WASC findings. These part-time faculty members have organized to help save New College.
Adjunct Council representative Gregory Gajus said the Adjunct Council will “create a structure to aid the full-time core faculty of the college in their plans to fulfill the requests of WASC that are essential to maintaining the accreditation of the college.” The WASC report cites the lack of faculty governance and “unilateral assertions of authority by the president and others” as key reasons for the probation.
The Adjunct Council has issued a public statement regarding the current leadership crisis at New College of California following a successful vote of no-confidence in New College of California President Martin Hamilton earlier today by full-time core faculty:
“We the Adjunct Council, in solidarity with the Core Faculty Council, ask for cross representation towards
our common goals. We support the core faculty vote of no-confidence and support the call for new administrative leadership. Further, we call for the immediate replacement of the Board of Trustees, President, and Academic Co-Vice Presidents in compliance with the demands of WASC.”
Allegation 101 When there is a suspected date rape, you don’t want the accusation looked into by administrators at New College
Thursday, December 14th, 2006
from SF Weekly
By Matt Smith
Article Published Dec 13, 2006
The college president, wearing light washed jeans, a solid flannel shirt with fishing flies embroidered over the pocket, and a grizzled two-day shadow on his face, questioned the motives of the former teacher who tipped me off to this situation, noting that she herself had had a sexual affair with Laxton. [The teacher acknowledged the affair.]
Hamilton noted that the alleged rape incident took place off campus. He also explained that he faces a constant battle to raise money sufficient to keep the school afloat. And he said he’s struggled intellectually with the alleged victim’s request that the school enact a formal policy curtailing employee-student sexual relationships.
He acknowledged that he, too, has dated a student, but that the affair had ended some time ago.
As for the school’s fraternization policy, “it’s an evolving document, and it doesn’t say there was to be no relationship, but there shouldn’t be a supervisor’s conflict of interest,” said Hamilton.
There’s certainly merit to New College’s nontraditional way of running a university– as long as the matter at hand isn’t alleged sexual assault.
During a visit there last week, I chatted for a while with gay-rights pioneer and New College professor Harry Britt. He described his experience of helping to shape students with few prospects, the ones who might not fit into a more formal university setting. These students became prospects for graduate school. Perhaps there’s even a positive side to the place’s apparently free-spirited social atmosphere, in which employees and students study together, work together, hang out in bars together, and sometimes date each other.
But when this ferment results in allegations of sexual abuse, as it tends to from time to time in universities all over America, the responsible, ethical response happens to be formal and strict. It’s imperative for school representatives to apprise the student of her right to call the police, inform her of the availability of independent rape advocacy services in and outside the university, and conduct an earnest investigation into the allegations, then follow up in a way that makes students know they have a right to feel safe from predators– even if that means disciplining a valued employee.
“You want to be fairly efficient about it,” notes Doris Ng, supervising clinical attorney at the Golden Gate University School of Law Women’s Employment Rights Clinic.
That’s in part because a young woman who believes she’s been raped is not in a good position to efficiently stand up for herself.
“A lot of people don’t know their rights, or have access to people who can advocate for them,” says Julie Patino, an attorney with Equal Rights Advocates.
“There might have been a different outcome if people could do advocacy for her from outside the college. I’m guessing that the student was feeling like, ‘What do I do?’” says White, the S.F. Women Against Rape director.
Read More
| No Comments »
Love of New College, Statement by SSOS Member
Monday, November 6th, 2006
by Gioioa von Disterlo
[This statement was read at the “New College and Jack Leary Healing Forum” on Wed. Nov 1, 2006.]
Love of New College
My name is Gioioa and I am in my second semester at New College of California.
I came to New College of California as a childhood survivor of physical and mental abuse and an adult survivor of emotional and sexual abuse. Because I have been exposed to violent systematic trauma repeatedly, I have had the grim opportunity to see sides and tactics of systems of oppression that most people only learn about in classrooms. Because I have a strong mind, I was able to make connections and see patterns between these dominant systems and had the constant drive to understand these systems at work. This is what brought me to New College. New College offered me the space to study how my personal trauma connected to larger social systems of dominance, violence and oppression.
New College offered me not only an opportunity to study these systems, but the skills and guidance necessary to take action. New College offered me a space to reflect on my experiences and share them with others that see the plight of the oppressed and have dedicated their lives to work in solidarity with them. New College made me believe there is validation in the collective fight between the oppressed\dominated\ and abused and those in solidarity with us, and that New College was on my side fighting with me. I was completely devastated when I learned that the same systems, the same structures that physically and mentally stripped me and the other survivors here today of our dignity are operating with complete authority at New College. Regardless of the source from which they were revealed to us, these facts remain:
- John Leary, the founder of New College was a pedophile and a sexual abuser. This fact is easily corroborated through simple research.
- Martin Hamilton, the president of this school, and other lead faculty members of New College:
- Knew this fact well before the release of the article in the SF Weekly
- Failed to take steps to notify possible survivors of John Leary’s abuse and provide appropriate support services to them.
- Failed to take steps to notify students, faculty, and community members of John Leary’s history of sexual abuse and provide the appropriate support services to us.
- Have actively engaged in silencing those of us who have tried to start a community dialogue around this issue.
The Myths
I would like to discuss why this information, regardless of the source through which it was revealed, is cause for the entire community to take immediate pause and focused action.
I would like to begin by addressing some misunderstandings surrounding the issue that I have encountered. It has been brought to my attention that many people, … caring and sympathetic and dedicated allies, believe that the true issue is the integrity of the SF Weekly.
By those that have not actually seen what this system, the system of oppression, of violence, of dominance actually looks like, it has been argued to me that my comfort and the comfort of other abuse survivors should be found in knowing that the SF Weekly nothing more than a right wing tabloid. Let me be extremely clear when I say to you that the violent system threatening New College is not the SF Weekly. The greatest threat to New College is the system that operates under the assumption that abuse is something to be silenced and concealed.
| No Comments
Where Your New College Tuition Goes
Monday, November 6th, 2006
The PDF below is New College’s IRS Form 990 for the year 2004. 990 is for tax exempt organizations and is a public document. This form includes the President’s salary, other key employees’ salaries, expenses such as the purchase of new buildings and vehicles, and depreciation of computers, software, vehicles buildings, etc. See for yourself where New College gets its money and where the money goes. Thank you to the talented web researcher who discovered this document and made it available to the general public.
2004_newcollege_990.pdf
| No Comments »
New College System of Governance Discovered Buried in Website
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006
Your intrepid webmistress has uncovered the arcane secret of where the New College administrative structure is hidden in the New College website. The New College website lacks a site map, or a list of faculty, and many other things one would expect on a college website. We forgive this because New College is alternative and we love it, but this is frustrating for those of us who use the Internet for information and communication.
[Update: New College added a partial site map for the Spring ‘07 semester.]
After several sessions spent digging through the New College website, I have discovered the new, improved system of governance, as envisioned by President Martin Hamilton to make New College run smoothly, with no gaps in communication. This system was begun a couple of years ago. I first found it listed under the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Special Visit Report. After creating this website, I found it again, on President Martin Hamilton’s subweb, listed as “Strategic Plan.” The language is turgid, but it’s worth slogging through to get a picture of what has been going on behind the scenes. Apparently there have been many attempts to “restructure” New College throughout Mr. Hamilton’s reign. If anyone can summarize the report in more accessible language, please do so–please!
New College of California Special Visit Report aka Strategic Plan
| No Comments »
Wounded by the New College Healing Forum
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006
by Holly Harwood
[The opinions stated here are the views of one person. They do not represent SSOS.]
Systems of Silence Still Active
I learned an awful lot at the so-called “Healing Forum” at New College today. I learned that the current administration at New College seemingly lives in a plastic bubble outside of the rest of American society. I learned that the current administration, including the head of the psychology department, considers it “respectful” to silence abuse survivors when they show rightful anger and speak above a whisper [many survivors find it physically difficult to speak up. I know I did for many years]. Another survivor was silenced by artificial time limits that ignored her speech impediment. She bravely forced out each word, loud and clear, but painfully slow. Halfway through, Dean Linda James Myers called time on her. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities are to be given extra time as a reasonable accomodation. According to the Office of Civil Rights and the Dept. of Education, this is a civil right. To quote Dean Myers from her own message to New College,” it is clear there can be no peace without justice.” How can there be justice when she violates our civil rights?
It is considered “respectful” by the administration to minimize abuse and the suffering caused by beaurocratic incompetence. After all, the abusive systems at New College aren’t as bad as the genocide in Ethiopia, one student who survived such violence pointed out. The Chairwoman of the Board, Cathrine Sneed, seemed to think the dysfunctionally oppressive systems at New College aren’t as bad as police oppression in the ‘hood, so let’s move on. This attitude of minimizing what student survivors shared was disrespectful to them and their courage. Survivors of sexual assault who do recovery work learn not to compare or minimize the abuse they went through, as it disrespects the suffering of the person whose abuse is being minimized–often the person who is minimizing is disrespecting his or her own journey! As a survivor herself, Ms Sneed should know better than to disrespect the student and other survivors of the New College Commmunity. I feel Ms Sneed negated her apology and revictimized survivors.
Is this what my beloved college is reduced to? “At least we’re better than genocide and police shootings, so let’s put this aside and move on?” Not in my lifetime!
Look who we can’t say we’re better than:
Dennis Hastert, Republican Speaker of the House, who acted pretty much the same way Martin Hamilton did when the Foley scandal broke. Mr. Hastert doesn’t understand why he is being held accountable, just as Martin Hamilton doesn’t understand why he is being held accountable. Hastert doesn’t understand why people are calling for his resignation, just as Martin Hamilton “feels attacked” by people who are angry that he “forgot” to tell the New College community about Leary’s crimes. Mr. Hamilton said he was “too busy” with other things, even after his trip to South America.
Too busy? Do we need a President who is “too busy” to address major crimes against minors committed by the founder of New College? Only someone living in a plastic bubble wouldn’t realize that pedophile priests are a major hot button issue in America. That the rest of the administration apparently agrees with Mr. Hamilton, and offers as excuses that they, too, felt it wasn’t a big deal, and that they also were too busy, strains credulity.
| No Comments
