Selina S. Heppell
Heppell, who has a doctorate in zoology, is the faculty senate president at Oregon State University.
As we cheered for our Beaver basketball teams last month, March Madness took on a new meaning for faculty at Oregon State University. The release of a law firm’s detailed report on Title IX violations at Louisiana State University threw the OSU community into a tumultuous two weeks of intense meetings, testimony and forums to determine if our president, F. King Alexander, was culpable for those violations in his previous role as LSU’s president and whether he was a suitable leader for OSU. A deep-rooted culture of care for students and survivors of sexual assault, coupled with mistrust and demands for accountability, led to a resounding call across the university for President Alexander’s resignation.
The OSU administration needs the trust of faculty, staff, and students – trust that it will support us and uphold our values as an institution. Alexander was hired in 2019 through a highly secretive search by the board of trustees that included minimal faculty review. With this inauspicious start and his entire presidency occurring during the COVID lockdown, Alexander was hampered in his ability to respond to the concerns of the OSU community. Outrage over the LSU violations report developed quickly, especially among faculty working in student services and with survivors of sexual misconduct and assault. As president of a faculty senate with more than 4700 constituents across the state, I sought to manage a growing tide of opposition and to ensure that all voices were heard. Alexander addressed the faculty and provided answers to some of their questions and concerns in a faculty forum that was broadcast to over 800 people on March 15.
Two days later, when the board of trustees voted 12-2 to put Alexander on probation pending further investigation into the LSU report, many faculty felt it was a continuation of the board’s lack of transparency and failure to hear our concerns. To the survivors of sexual assault who testified that day, the board’s decision felt like betrayal. At a highly charged special session watched by more than 700 OSU community members, the faculty senate overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence and call for Alexander’s resignation by 108 to 4, with six abstentions. An all-campus vote by more than 1800 faculty echoed this stand. That same weekend, Alexander offered his resignation.
As concerning as the LSU Title IX violations were, Alexander’s downfall was not due to any action, or inaction, at Oregon State. Most faculty agree that we have an effective Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, Title IX review process, and strong, though underfunded, survivor support services. The no confidence vote was more about Alexander’s lack of leadership during this crisis. He was unable to convince us that he really cared about the students who suffered at LSU, and he offered no specific plans to ensure that administrative cover-ups of misconduct would not occur in Beaver Nation. His responses at the forum were evasive and contradictory at times, far more defensive than visionary.
In contrast, the board of trustees has quickly held itself accountable for their part in the month’s turmoil and the pain it caused to sexual assault survivors. If the new presidential search is conducted with transparency and more faculty engagement, as demanded by a senate motion that passed with an 88% majority, the board can mend its rift with OSU faculty.
Now we begin the process of healing and rebuilding trust. Our culture of care and cooperation has not crumbled because of this crisis – in fact, we are a stronger community now, one that came together to reinforce our values and demand strong leadership. OSU has upheld its support of shared governance through this crisis. We have been heard – and this is the first step of rebuilding trust.
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