Senators name a new president Academic Senate elects new senate president after controversy over vaccancy

Michaia Hernandez Online Editor

Pierce College faculty senators voted Monday for the succession of the Vice President of Academic Policy to President of the Senate, denying the claim of the same position by the Vice President of Curriculum.

The Pierce College Academic Senate, one of the organizations that make up the school’s shared governance model, voted 15-9, with eight abstains, to instate Vice President of Academic Policy Kathy Oborn into the presidency.

“I respect what the senate decided,” said Vice President of Curriculum Margarita Pillado. “I wanted the sense of the senate regarding this issue.”

The succession of the presidency has been heavily debated by members of the Academic Senate, particularly by its executive committee.

During the first few days of August, former president John Zayac--elected last May for a two-year term--expressed his intention of leaving his post for personal obligations.

Though Zayac didn’t formally inform the other Senate members of his plan to leave until Aug. 17--his resignation was slated for Aug. 23--he began discussing through email his departure from the college with the members of the executive committee more than a week before his announcement, according to multiple accounts from those involved with the situation.

A series of emails were then exchanged, where the executive committee members discussed how to move forward with the situation.

In the event of a vacancy--described as existing when the person holding the position “announces his or her resignation to the Academic Senate”--in the office of the president, the vice president of academic policy is responsible for filling the position, according to the Senate bylaws. However, Zayac, whose term as the Senate president commenced July 1, felt that his situation has unique circumstances,