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Magel Ii Under Fire ·see pages 8 & 9
o Pressopo/itan
Issue 24
Volume 8
Ten·u re Eludes Prof Bob Darr
Lisa Arndt Reporter
Associate Editor
This story is being run against the wishes of Dr. Huckfeldt. After the story was written, he expressed concern that any publicity about his case could harm his chances of being rehired.He wanted us to hold publication until the appeal process was concluded. I decided the story had significant news value and should be published at this time. I hope that publication will not affect the outcome of Huckfeldt's appeal. The original story idea came from one of Huckfeldt's students who was concerned about the situation. At no time did Dr. Huckfeldt nor anyone else attempt to use this newspaper to circumvent the administrative process at Metropolitan State College.
An MSC professor appealing an administrative decision that he be fired said a new tenure review prncess with "fuzzy and fluctuating criteria" is to blame for his predicament. Dr. Vaughn Huckfeldt, an assistant professor of Computer and Management Science, said the CMS faculty has made a fi,nal appeal to MSC President Paul Magelli to overturn a tenure denial decision made by acting Vice President of Academic Affairs Kenneth Rager in November. If Magelli upholds the decision, Huckfeldt will not be teaching at Metro next fall. According to Huckfeldt, the new process, which went into effect last fall and for the first time required a dossier from each candidate for tenure, was not clearly explained to him. "I was told to prepare a brief dossier that should not go into a lot of detail. I certainly didn't put everything into it that I could have," Huckfeldt said. "I was fooled by the instructions. What the new process really required was an in-depth dossier. Mine was compared to others who prepared extensive dossiers. It looked brief and short." Dr.Jett Conner, faculty advisor to the vice president for Academic Affairs,explained the tenure process, saying each faculty member is probationary for three years, and each year is evaluated and given a new contract if deemed worthy. The fourth review decides whether the faculty member is granted a permanent position or fired. Conner said this system, called "Due Process," is not complex. Dr. Vaughn Huckfeldt "You must simply obtain a fourth-year facult} contract," he said. continued on page e
Confusion ·Reigns Ov.er Leadership Robert Smith Reporter
This Leprechaun isn't the onJy Irishman in town. See page 3.
Sometimes, everyone starts out meaning well, but the good intentions end up disappearing under a flood of recrimination. That's the situation between student government's Club Affairs Committee and the Student Organization of Human SeTvices. What started out as an idea for a planning session and stress management training during a SOHS retreat at Grandby, Co., has ended up in threats of law suiti and charges of misuse of funds. In December the CAC approved $800 of a $1,300 SOHS request for funds for the retreat, planned for January. Not getting all the money asked
for caused SOHS to reorganize the event, and it was not held in January. It finally took place March 8-9. · A Feb.14 letter from the CAC to the SOHS alleged misuse of CAC funds. A March 12 letter to the CAC from Faye Rison, SOHS faculty advisor, alleged a personal slur by CAC Chairman Nick Trujillo, and threatened a civil discrimination suit. How things got to this point is a tale of confusion; confusion in the leadership of the SOHS, and confusion in the policies of the CAC. According to Trujillo, then-SOHS president Larry Sheffey contacted him by phone on Feb. 5 and said that some things were going on that weren't kosher. Trujillo said Sheffey told him the
retreat hadn't taken place, there was no schedule of events for the retreat -therefore no need for the moneybut he (Sheffey) was being pressured to pick up the money. Also on Feb. 5, the SOHS sent Sheffey a letter requesting his resignation. Rison said the letter was sent, in accordance with club policies, after Sheffey failed to attend several meetings. She said she tried several times to contact him by phone, but was unable to reach
him. Sheffey was not available to sign for the money needed to pay the deposit for the retreat, Rison said. She called David Conde, MSC assistant vice president for student affairs, and asked what she should do. Conde told her to continued on p1119'5