In what could only be considered an explosive development, twenty-one former University of Louisville faculty members who served under infamous Dean Robert Felner have penned a letter to the UofL Board of Trustees. The letter, which is in response to perceived inaction and mismanagement by President Jim Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz, addresses a number of issues that have not been appropriately addressed by the University.
If anyone had any doubt at all about the validity of claims made by commentators on this website, read the letter. Your eyes will be opened and you’ll quickly come to recognize the severity of complaints raised within.
For your convenience, we’re providing the text of the letter in its entirety below.
August 22, 2008
To: University of Louisville Board of Trustees
From: Twenty-one former UofL faculty members who served under Robert Felner
Re: “The Felner Affair” in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
We write this letter to the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville in response to what is being referred to in newspaper, TV, and blogosphere reports in Kentucky and elsewhere as “The Felner Affair.” We are former UofL CEHD faculty members who served under Dean Robert Felner. Some of us left UofL in part because of Dean Felner’s abusive and unethical behavior.
We take issue with President Ramsey’s assertion in news reports about the “Felner Affair” that input from faculty to the higher administration was nothing more than “anonymous crap.” We would like to set the record straight by presenting the facts.
Setting aside alleged misconduct currently under federal investigation, Robert Felner’s actions included the following: He –-
- brushed aside repeated queries by faculty about his excessive and questionable expenditures;
- created a hostile workplace, which included influencing voting;
- publicly humiliated people, screamed at them, spread falsehoods about them;
- professionally undermined those who dared to oppose him;
- made inappropriate personal advances;
- made a mockery of accepted collegial governance policies;
- violated principles governing the hiring of new faculty and the promotion of other faculty;
- showered resources on those who supported him;
- denied resources to those who stood up and questioned him, and threatened them with dire consequences;
- hired an excessively large number of administrators, many of whom inflicted cruel and unfair sanctions on faculty not in Felner’s favor; and
- cultivated inappropriate relationships with female employees, giving some questionably qualified persons extreme salaries.
Read the rest of the letter after the jump…
In response to these actions by Felner, we, the faculty, followed appropriate procedures seeking relief. First, we went to Dean Felner in an attempt to resolve issues. When that failed, some of us met personally with and or wrote to Provost Shirley Willihnganz, and some of those complaints were copied to President Ramsey. Some of us met with University sexual harassment officers. More than a third of all full-time faculty members in the College met with the faculty grievance officer. More than thirty grievances or complaints were sent to the Provost’s office, most of them bravely signed. To our knowledge, nothing was done, and Felner often bragged openly at faculty meetings that he had the full support of the Provost and President.
After the administration failed to take action, and the situation continued to deteriorate, the faculty of the CEHD in an open meeting in March of 2006 voted “No Confidence” in Dean Felner. Felner sat in the same room and observed the proceedings. Such a vote is an extraordinary event, extremely rare and courageous, especially in the presence of an oppressive dean.
We are insulted by President Ramsey’s response to this crisis. The items listed above, and especially the “No Confidence” vote, contradict the notion that the faculty were cowards and resorted only to “anonymous crap.” On the contrary, faculty stepped up repeatedly, knowing that any overt action would make them vulnerable to severe retaliation. Universities take pride in their tolerance and collegial style of governance, and the faculty should feel free to speak their mind to the higher administration and be counted. Yet, when faculty did exactly that, they were systematically ignored and further targeted for abuse by Felner.
It’s troubling that President Ramsey and Provost Willihnganz seemed to convey the view that Felner was merely “cleaning house” in the College. Professors who left CEHD are highly accomplished, award-winning scholars and teachers, many with exemplary national reputations who were eagerly welcomed at other institutions. Not only did the University of Louisville sacrifice a great deal, the Greater Louisville Community also paid a significant price in losing faculty who served the public in unique ways and with distinction.
During Felner’s employment, progress slowed in many important areas, in part because of the considerable time and effort he invested attacking those who disagreed with him, and defending himself against accusations. We know Felner used the U.S. News and World Report annual rankings to justify his actions. We question the validity, accuracy and relevance of data provided for the rankings which created a misleading image that the CEHD at UofL had made dramatic improvement in a very short time. While the normal improvements were being made by faculty, morale was plunging and good faculty were leaving in increasing numbers. We believe a closer look would reveal that any achievements during Felner’s deanship were made despite him, not because of him
Notwithstanding the abominable actions allowed during Felner’s tenure, we continue to love UofL and want to see it thrive. To do this, however, requires responsible leadership. The present scandal calls for accountability, and we believe the Board of Trustees should address this in a meaningful and substantive manner. Please note; one or more of the undersigned has information, or based upon information and belief, would assert and produce appropriate substantive support for each of the above mentioned issues.
Sincerely,
Bryant Stamford
Pedro Portes
Ellen McIntyre
Yash Bhagwanji
John Burke
Laura Cherry
George Cunningham
Joe Devitis
Christos Dimitriadis
Kara Gallagher (Mohr)
Elizabeth Kirsch
Andy Kemp
Chong Lee
Phyllis Metcalf-Turner
Justin Moore
Jennifer Olive
Elizabeth Rightmyer
Lea Smith
Bernie Strenecky
John Strope
Randy WellsPlease note, because of the timeliness of the issues cited above, we felt the need to forward this letter now. Faculty and staff who are presently at UofL were not invited to participate. Moreover, at this time of year, it’s extremely difficult to contact faculty spread across the country, because many are out of the office and not available. Thus, although there are twenty-one signatures on this letter, a substantial number, if timing were not an issue and there was perceived to be no need to protect those still in the employment of the University, we believe many more signatures could have been obtained from those who would support the contents of this letter.
Additionally, for you non-believer types, here’s the letter in PDF format.
31 responses so far ↓
1 Interested Observer // Sep 2, 2008 at 9:13 am
There IS strength in numbers! It is a shame that Felner created such an environment of fear and paranoia that these faculty members could not have presented such a front of unity before making the choice to leave the university, but it is wonderful that they are now feeling able to voice what they know to be true. As one of many of Felner’s former victims at another institution, I am standing up and cheering for these people who are finally able to be heard.
2 SC // Sep 2, 2008 at 9:35 am
“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be te most oppressive” C.S. Lewis.
Let us reject now and forever any excuse for fundamental mistreatment of human beings based on progress, needed change, benchmarks, scorecards, or intolerance.
I applaud the courage of these 21. I hope at some point everyone who has been a “victim” to Felner’s actions and the Administration’s inaction will be able to openly and honestly step up and speak out.
3 jane doe // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:45 am
and that KK where? on her own? unstable?
without even “bad” guidance?
4 beenfollowing // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:46 am
As long as the administration continues to justify its actions, it is unsafe to reveal. In their current CYA mode any dissenting speak will also be minimized and covered over. Also, we have been set up by administration in the past with promises of help only to see that the fix was in and those using these avenues for help became targets of reprisal.
I guess it is really hard for someone to say, Oh, we messed up, we see that now, sorry we didn’t see that sooner, we can fix the some of the damage done to people.
Ramsey seems to really believe that the faculty was unsavory, lazy, louts that needed to be removed and hurt. He has said nothing to contradict this. Therefore, he will not think of those hurt as victims but as bad children who needed to be put in place. No, it is still very dangerous here.
5 Novena // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:12 am
“A Still, Small Voice No Longer”
I hope the 21 ex-faculty letter ignites the “still small voice within” (Gandhi) that permits the power of the ‘weak’ to overcome the power of the ’strong.’ It is fear and apathy that foments tyranny; and robust free speech is its most potent threat. Thanks, Jake, for empowering us to exercise it. Thanks, 21 ex-faculty, for exercising the spirit of defiance. Perhaps– with more concerted struggle–pure vanity, PR surgery, and facile ostentation will go out of fashion at the UofL. Remember, folks, tyranny is awful–even fiercer than death.
6 Mike Jones // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:41 am
Looking at that list of former faculty saddens me. Many of them have gone on to do great things at other great universities.
Just think what could have “Happened” here.
Thanks Felner and friends!
7 At UofL // Sep 2, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Speaking out at UofL will get cost your job in many cases. Just last week a School of Business Staff filed a grievance against one of their Deans. This person just lost their job…”position eliminated.”
8 beerme // Sep 2, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I think it is time for a change at UofL. Does anyone know what UofL spent remodeling offices so the V.P of Devlopment could be closer to the President in Grawmeyer Hall. I hear UofL is a pretty tense campus these days.
9 INTEARS // Sep 2, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Like Mike Jones, I am not only saddened, but I am also in tears. We lost the best and the brightest.
Thanks, Bobby. I hope you find your place in a prison cell. I also hope some of your cronies follow you there. What a shame, Mr. President? Do you know any of these faculty members? They were the cream of the crop. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Many are not listed and many are still suffering under the incomptent leadership.
Sorry, under such conditions, this university may never become Metropolitan Research 1 university.
Can someone produce a complete list of all the faculty members who left during Felner’s regime. There are many more faculty members than 21 who wrote the letter.
10 Bravesouls // Sep 2, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I would like to congratulate the brave souls who wrote this very powerful letter.
11 Novena // Sep 2, 2008 at 4:03 pm
“Storm of Fear–Turning into Drizzle?”
Early on I could see Bobby was an obnoxious bully, an arrogant brute, an odd blend of bantam rooster/Little Napoleon. Even so, I opposed him at times. At other times, I admit fright–mostly because I feared he was either wired wildly and/or had no moral compass. That combustible mix made for crazy actions, outright meanness, and manifest calamities. (That’s why I could never fathom his sycophants being so enabling–it had to be due to their sheer self-interest.) And that, too, was part of our fear and part of his/their intimidation. The other part is that so many of us knew that UofL operates largely on political decision-making, not what is necessarily rational, just, and caring for all campus constituents. Add both the personal and institutional fuel to the fire and you generate an ethos of repression, silence, apathy, and hopelessness. Now, I think the emperors are nearly naked; they are far less intimidating. Now, when their exposure becomes almost total, we should be ready to fire the silencers.
12 Steve // Sep 2, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Well stated, Novena — and thanks for every eloquent word of it.
I like your prose a lot more than your poetry.
13 beyung // Sep 2, 2008 at 6:31 pm
BRAVO Novena! Silence, cowardice, and apathy rule the halls of the U of RI. To all of those who kept their silence when faculty and staff were persecuted, punished, banished - to all of those who pretended to care for the people Felner admonished - then turned their backs - I say - your time will come too. The people of U of L have put you to shame.
14 Novena // Sep 2, 2008 at 8:17 pm
“On Intellectual and Moral Suicide”
Steve, beyung, Bravesouls, Intears, beerme, At UofL, Mike Jones, beenfollowing, jane doe, SC, & Interested Observer,
Thanks for commenting (the essay is my best genre). Beyung reports that we’re more forceful than the folks at URI, and that is promising to hear. Yet, thus far in this thread, only a handful of UofL people have joined the dialogue. Apathy can cause erasure of the human spirit. And there is no genuine happiness in being too faint-hearted. I, too, have gone through such phases in the Bobby saga, so I understand. Still, I wish we could take some real steps to confront our fears and take more risks. Granted, it’s not easy; but it beats suicide of the heart and mind. Come, join in.
15 Guess who? I was there... // Sep 2, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Well, the long awaited letter is out. I hope Felner reads it. However, I guess given that he did not care how he treated people before, he probably does not care now. My guess is that he is planning some type of an escape. Seems throughout his life he escaped and changed lives. It appears that throughout his life, he has repeated the same cycle. He goes to an institution, begins to develop an inner circle, starts to bully (etc), then he begins to demonstrate some clear wrong doings and then eventually the complaints add up and the admin can’t ignore them.
At UofL, he caused so much professional and personal hurt. I am glad that this letter was sent and published. I fully support these people and the others who were not inclined to sign it.
In terms of where all of this ends up? I hope Felner goes to another institution, one with barbed wire, high walls, simple dress code, planned meals, some very interesting nighttime entertainment, and best of all, an organizational structure that will deal with his behavior when he first starts up again…
Thank you Jake
16 Always Amazed // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Sounds like the feds might want to invest in a database, like the one they have for sex offenders, to register the whereabouts of dudes like Blobby and the dude we read about from George Washington.
17 Bruce Maples // Sep 2, 2008 at 10:30 pm
It’s very sad when a so-called “leader” feels it is necessary to publicly embarrass those who disagree with him. I’m not talking about Felner; instead, it is Ramsey that is the most troubling person in this turmoil.
You can publicly support your leadership team without denigrating those who disagree. Unfortunately, President Ramsey is ensuring that he will only hear “happy talk” from now on, by the way he has treated those who tried to tell him the truth.
No one is as blind as those who refuse to see.
18 FunnyStuff // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:06 pm
It’s too bad that the trustees and President Ramsey focus on athletics to the exclusion of everything else. This sort of mess could have been avoided.
19 Give us a break... // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Thank you to 21 much-missed colleagues. Your letter clearly lays out the horror we all experienced, and the failure of the administration to respond to our repeated requests for help. Let’s keep pushing from both the inside and outside .
20 Give us a break... // Sep 2, 2008 at 11:32 pm
“Evil consists in intentionally behaving in ways that harm, abuse, demean, dehumanize, or destroy innocent others - or using one’s authority and systemic power to encourage or permit others to do so on your behalf. In short, it is knowing better but doing worse.”
Philip Zimbardo
21 Novena // Sep 3, 2008 at 5:52 am
“Holy Eucharist at Belknap”
Yes, the comments are picking up. Some are saddening, some despairing, others hopeful and wise. I have some small, free advice for UofL leaders. Tamp down the tawdry, the ostentatious (e. g., the beer and circus, the colossal barbecues before the games). Pull in your vanity and arrogance. Imagine not that it is “Happening at UofL,” but what we could become with more sacrifice, honor, and integrity (and less PR dodging). Be more humble and caring to everyone you pass on the quad. Appreciate honest labors, from the lowest paid secretary to the old prof you label “deadwood.” Lastly, have the common courage to break daily bread with us, to sit down and listen to us–before it is too late.
22 Lucky // Sep 3, 2008 at 7:42 am
Thanks to the 21 signers. Thank you for not inviting those still inside the cage. It would have been very difficult to decide.
I am curious about the silence of Felner’s and his “Leadership Team.” Why have they not come forward to defend him or themselves? If there are legitimate counters to anything said on the blogs or C-J, why not write and say so?
23 jane doe // Sep 3, 2008 at 12:32 pm
what leadership team, you mean karen’s click?
24 Pessimistic // Sep 3, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Lucky, why would they say? Nothing has changed. They do not feel any heat or anykind of pain. There salaries are gone up, not down. It is too early to say but new Dean has not yet confronted any one of them or removed them from any position of power. I am not sure that he would anything like that. He is Ramsey’s buddy and most likely appointed at the request of the leadership team. They all still have the power to enjoy. President, Provost, and Board of Trustees are still supporting them.
25 Lookintomore // Sep 3, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It would be interesting to review e-mail exchanges between Felner and his “Leadership Team. These -mails may include how to use grants and how to harass some faculty, staff and students.
26 Lucky // Sep 3, 2008 at 3:24 pm
If none of the leadership team members (e.g karen) have contradictory evidence to anything said on these blogs and elsewhere, then they should all be immediately removed from their positions. The provost and president have the responsibility to do SOMETHING. It would be one simple way to respond to this crisis that would make an incredible difference for those still suffering under them. I doubt Dr. Haselton will do it; this seems to be the job of the provost. Besides Dr. Haselton is interim, not permanent. I think he has the good sense not to become permanent.
27 wc // Sep 3, 2008 at 5:35 pm
FYI–The President and Provost have finally apologized publically.
This is important and should be recognized as such.
28 jake // Sep 3, 2008 at 5:38 pm
If anyone has details– EMAIL ME!
29 Ed Springston // Sep 4, 2008 at 4:54 am
Great job as always Jake. For the 21 who signed this letter I say thank you. So many incidents occur in every organization, not just U of L but local government, that to see someone have the courage to go forward is a noteworthy example for others.
I applaud you for your courage and conviction.
30 Why // Sep 5, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Yes, the faculty who stood up and signed this letter are very accomplished. Felner was not clearing out dead wood or doing what needed to be done at CEHD, as Ramsey stated. Looking at the top of the list, Pedro is now an endowed chair, The Goizueta Foundation Distinguished Chair of Latino Teacher Education, at the University of Georgia, which is ranked higher overall than UofL. Ellen is now a department chair at NC State, which is also ranked higher than UofL. She was a University Distinguished Scholar while at UofL.
All of the professors who left, those who signed this letter and those who did not, must be commended for even finding another job despite Felner’s continued harassment. If Felner were clearing out nonperformers, he would have gotten out of their way as they tried to leave. Instead, he harassed professors and obstructed their paths as they sought new jobs and negotiated for new positions. As Novena wrote earlier, if he found out that someone was negotiating with another university, he would sometimes call people at those institutions and slander the professor trying to get away. Imagine talking to a prospective employer and having to warn him that someone, your dean as a matter of fact, may be calling to tell him outrageous things about you, not that you would even know what those lies would be. Congratulations to all who were able to escape.
31 Bruce M. Tyler // Oct 20, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Bruce M. Tyler
585 Hawthorne Ave.
Shelbyville, KY 40065—12993
Tel. 502-647-9190
Cell 321-2846
October 5, 2008
Dear Letters to the Editor:
The Provost Carol Garrison Doctrine
The University of Louisville has revealed in the former Dean Robert Felner debacle and in its resistance to opening the records of financial donors to the McConnell Center that a mercenary mind-set has taken hold of the leadership class there. Namely, President James Ramsey, Provost Shirley Willihnganz and Associate Provost David Howarth in a twisted way think that abuse and tormenting faculty members is how you run a University and it is part of becoming a top metropolitan institution of learning. Some faculty members across the campus are terrified and fear retaliation for the slightest deviation from this academic dictatorship.
The right to complain or write rebuttals is a dead letter despite the right to do so is clearly a faculty right written in the Redbook (the Constitution) that governs the University. This dictatorship at the University of Louisville is allegedly necessary in the quest for high standing and rankings. The Felner case exposed it as nothing short of mercenary and the protest letter sent to the Board of Trustees signed by 21-brave souls against it offered un-impeachable evidence of it.
Apparently, the more faculty members are tormented and academically tortured by the likes of former Dean Robert Felner this is considered positive evidence that progress is being made. The faculty members who are favored are turned against the faculty who object to abuse and being tormented and tortured by what seems to be an emotionally disturbed administrators like Dr. Robert Felner. At least this is the view of the brave 21-faculty members who signed a letter addressed to the Board of Trustees and this Board spent more time defending President Ramsey and denouncing the signers than investigating Dr. Felner.
President James Ramsey called these signers’ gripes and rebuttals and grievance letters “anonymous crap” and only reluctantly apologized after others protested his hostile and unsympathetic attitude and his defense of an academic harasser. Now, Ramsey has appointed a bunch of pro-Administration faculty members and administrators to investigate him and white wash his callous actions and license to allow a Felner to lord it over faculty members with impunity. There is no plan in the works to restore the good names, reputations and careers of the abused and tormented, those who have been academically water-boarded, so to speak.
The abused faculty, as best as I can tell and I’ve been told, is on their own and must file grievances or a lawsuit for redress of grievances. The so-called reform committees only have the power to “recommend” changes and cannot and will not act in any other fashion to protect and defend the abused faculty. Again, the abused are left with means to restore their status and will not be made whole from the abuse inflicted by Dr. Felner. In essence, Dr. Felner is getting away with his abuses of faculty members.
The Administration only acted on the issue of Dr. Felner’s misuse of public funding, not on the treatment of the faculty, and this is made clear in the August 28, 2008 letter sent to the Board of Trustees who, at least, the key leaders of the Board, went on record to defend Ramsey and Willihnganz and not the abused and tormented faculty members.
In 1998, I served on the University Provost Search Committee that interviewed and finally hired Dr. Carol Garrison out of three candidates. I served on that Committee because President Donald Swain and Provost Wallace Mann, Jr. wanted me to serve on it because they thought I would be a keen observer and an appropriate person to observe and interview the candidates.
I recall very distinctly that Dr. Carol Garrison said that if we wanted to move to a top-ranked University at Louisville that when faculty members see themselves being left behind and others move forward because of tough standards she planned to put in place that they would scream and these people would have to be ignored because that would be the cost of progress and moving to higher standards. Moving to higher standards, as it turns out, has been confused with a Marine Corps approach of kick in ‘em the rear end to getting ‘em going or kick them out of the way.
This get tough policy has little to do with moving to higher standards. Many unhappy faculty members were placated and allowed to achieve full professor status under the easy-going Boyer Plan, or its remnants, in the area of Service and Teaching rather than in the field of scholarship based on book publications. There was no getting tough here but the illusion of it to win over faculty friendly to the administration after public reports of widespread faculty unhappiness and the administration sought to raise the favorability ratings of the administration by the faculty and, in turn, to isolate and repress faculty who rebelled against abuses by people like Dr. Robert Felner.
I remind you that the Human Relations document on Personnel 1-10 Discriminatory Harassment under Roman II. Definitions, number 3 in part says, “Employment or academic decisions made in retaliation for a person’s unwillingness to submit to such conduct…” of abuse was approved of by the University despite a prohibition against this abuse or submission to it. However, if you dare openly gripe, file a complaint about retaliation or other grievable offenses it is certain in many places at the University of Louisville that you will be targeted for adverse treatment and isolation. I know this to be true in the History Department in my case and now the 21-0brave souls in the Department of Education and Human Development have confirmed this hostile treatment is a policy.
Many administrators have used the Dr. Carol Garrison doctrine to punish and retaliate against faculty they don’t like or those who register formal or informal rebuttals too strongly or file lawsuits or University Faculty Grievance Committee complaints. This happened, I argue, in my case. Dr. Robert Felner was no aberration, he was a product of an understanding that became policy and President James Ramsey’s hostile reaction to Dr. Felner’s victims’ gripes as “anonymous crap” was a predictable response. The University of Louisville’s old slogan was “Dare to be Great” and now it is “It’s Happening Here! (It became a bunch of public crap but was ‘anonymous crap’ until exposed to the public. In short, the Ramsey Administration was only concerning with hiding crap in both the Felner case and in the McConnell Center donors’ names scandal. There is nothing top-rank about these doings at U of L. Now is the time for a change at the top and middle management ranks at University of Louisville. Ramsey, Willihnganz and other Deans must go and go now!
Sincerely,
Associate Professor Bruce M. Tyler, History Department
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