THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200537
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHARON LAROWE, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
James Madison University's Faculty Senate, angered by last week's decision to close the physics department and merge two colleges, decided Thursday to schedule a faculty vote on their confidence in President Ronald E. Carrier.
Professors complained that Carrier did not consult them before making the changes. ``Whenever there's a problem on campus, it's the administration,'' said Dorn Peterson, the speaker of the Faculty Senate. ``Dr. Carrier ignores everybody.'' Peterson is a professor in the physics department.
Peterson said administrators told physics professors of the decision to close the department only 45 minutes before they told the entire faculty at an assembly Friday.
The confidence vote is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in secret ballot.
Votes of no confidence often force college presidents from office, but Carrier is one of Virginia's most senior university leaders.
Administrators announced Friday that the physics department would be closed because it had 10 professors but only about five graduates a year.
Oberst also announced that the university would merge two colleges - the College of Letters and Sciences and the College of Communication and the Arts - eliminating one dean's position.
Current physics majors will be allowed to get their degrees. Nevertheless, they have reacted angrily, turning the physics library into campaign headquarters for the newly formed Student Solutions Committee, seeking to overturn the decision. by CNB