By Kara Augustine
At the September 30, SGA Senate meeting, Jeff Osgood, a graduate student working on his Ph.D. in Urban and Public Affairs, rose from his seat to address the council.
Osgood asked if President James Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz could be invited to come to the next meeting and address the Student Senate about the investigations surrounding former College of Education and Human Development dean Robert Felner, currently under federal investigation.
“As far as I know, nobody has talked to the students,” Tim Brauch, mathematics Ph.D. candidate, said. “The President and Provost went to the Faculty Senate. They talked at Board of Trustees meetings. They have held press conferences. I believe they have even talked to the Staff Senate. They have not talked to students.”
Last week, William Pierce, Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs, released a letter to the graduate students addressing concerns that have arisen due to the Felner scandal.
“This letter that Pierce sent out to the graduate students is the first time that the university in any official capacity has said anything to students about the situation,” Brauch said. “That almost sickens me because the university is here for students.”
In late June, the federal investigation began and it was reported that Felner was being reviewed for possible embezzlement of grant money and several other accounts. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Brauch felt the situation pointed back to Felner, not greatly affecting students.
Then, on September 8, questions surfaced about a Ph.D. that was awarded to John Deasy after studying only 9 credit hours at the University of Louisville. When this happened, students such as Osgood reacted with disbelief.
“My first reaction was to think that all of this was speculation,” Osgood said. “And, a university that has such tight controls and academic prestige wouldn’t let something like this happen.”
Brauch also was disappointed when he heard about the Ph.D. allegations.
“I felt like there should have been safeguards in place,” Brauch said, “and I was disappointed that something like this was able to slip through.”
“Going through a Ph.D. is not an easy thing. You are dedicating your heart and your soul to something,” Osgood said. “Then, to hear that somebody’s abused such a prestigious thing that you are working for, kind of puts a damper on your spirits.”
The letter sent to graduate students from Pierce relayed one new set of information. Pierce communicated that he would be willing to write a letter for students who are in the job market. This letter would reassure that the applicant’s progress was legitimate, that that person is not linked to the isolated Deasy events in any way and that the Graduate School has full confidence in the person.
Along with the letter, President James Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz have taken some other measures to inform students about the investigations. According to Provost Willihnganz, Student Government Association President Rudy Spencer has been updated due to his membership on the Board of Trustees. Also, they were invited and will be attending the SGA Senate meeting on November 18.
“I have had a lot of conversations and so have the SGA V.P.’s with the President and the Provost about the Felner issue and how students are reacting to it,” Spencer said. “I think that they believe they have done a good job of communicating to the right people and holding those conversations with us as execs.”
Provost Willihnganz has also expressed that she is open to meeting with students to discuss the progress and attainable information of the investigations.
John Drees, U of L spokesman, said, “I think it is important to both the Provost and the President to be open and honest and work with faculty, staff and students. We look forward to sharing the results of the reviews to the campus community.”
