Faculty raise issue with journalism layoffs at retreat

Journalism faculty expressed concern at the college's annual retreat last week about the recent layoffs of four key employees, in what was the faculty's first opportunity to approach the college's dean as a group since the layoffs were announced earlier this month.

Faculty members pressed journalism Dean Kevin Klose for the college's budget documents and Klose's fundraising records since taking the helm about a year and a half ago. Concerns about the journalism college's finances have mounted since assistant deans Steve Crane and Marchelle Payne-Gassaway, public affairs director Matt Sheehan and fellowship director Lucinda Fleeson were laid off in early August due to what Klose called "financial issues."

Several sources, who asked that their names not be released because they feared reprisal, said Klose gave "unsatisfactory" budget information at the retreat, which was held in Knight Hall on Thursday. They said he told concerned attendees that he would meet with faculty members individually to review the budget if asked.

Klose, who many speculated was hired partly because of his history of successful fundraising, said he has raised money during his tenure as dean but declined to give any specific figures, saying it is difficult to fundraise since the college has a deficit, sources said.

When asked, Klose did not rule out the possibility of additional cuts to help deal with the college's deficit, several sources said.

Klose could not be reached for comment following the retreat.

Because the laid-off employees had many responsibilities, faculty and students have expressed concern about who would take over duties once carried out by Crane, Payne-Gassaway, Sheehan and Fleeson, and how such duties would be allocated.

At the retreat, Klose said a plan detailing how and what changes will be made to accommodate the recently cut positions will be available by next week, sources said.

Associate Dean Katherine McAdams will tentatively replace Crane in advising graduate students in addition to her other duties, which include undergraduate advising, according to graduate students who had met with Klose to discuss the layoffs.

Graduate students have been especially vocal in their opposition to the layoffs and what some call a lack of transparency at the college.

Multimedia journalism graduate student Kerry Davis created the Facebook group, "Reinstate Steve Crane at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism," which had 59 members as of last night. On the group's Facebook page, Davis encourages members to sign various petitions calling for Crane's reinstatement and greater transparency from Klose.

"After learning about the dismissals of Assistant Deans Steve Crane, Marchelle Payne-Gassaway, Matthew Sheehan, and a fourth staff member, the Philip Merrill student body, current and former staff were shocked and confused by these actions," one petition reads.

According to documents obtained by The Diamondback, Klose requested names and resumés of possible replacements for existing employees as early as September 2009, although no names were specifically mentioned. This e-mail, along with letters between Klose and Provost Nariman Farvardin, suggested cutting administrative positions as a possible solution to the college's budget woes.

"Meanwhile back on center court im looking for the pick of the very best young (yes that word) smart swift loyal savvy exec wanna-bees who could fill two slots i'll gladly empty to accommodate them," Klose wrote to Emily Hartz on Sept. 15, 2009. Hartz was the incoming assistant dean for business operations at the journalism college at the time.

In her response, Hartz expressed confusion over what two positions Klose had referred to.

Student Government Association journalism legislator Michelle Chan, a junior business and journalism major, said it is "unfortunate" that a permanent plan was not put in place before classes began.

She added that the SGA has heard from concerned students who were upset by the layoffs.

"They were shocked because they didn't expect it," Chan said, adding that the college should strive for greater communication between its administration and students. "That's something the school should definitely work on."

Journalism students used such wording as a "crushing blow" and "absolutely devastating" to describe the layoffs.

"Marchelle Payne and the others are large spaces of our school and a part of our community," said Samantha Link, a senior journalism major. "For them not to be here anymore is depressing and is definitely going to have an impact on the school."

Link added that Payne-Gassaway helped several of her friends stay enrolled at the university.

Payne-Gassaway and Fleeson have not responded to calls for comment, but Crane said he respects Klose's decision.

"Budget cuts needed to be made. I understand that. There were no other options that were any better," Crane said. "I'm obviously not happy to lose my job, but none of the other options was particularly palatable."

Sheehan did not comment on the layoffs and instead wished his former colleagues good luck.

"It has been a pleasure working for my alma mater and a place I've called home for the last 12 years," Sheehan wrote in an e-mail to The Diamondback. "I wish my former colleagues all the best in this new era for the journalism school."

Crane directed the school's master's program, oversaw its Capital News Service bureaus, guided this year's transition into the new Knight Hall building and taught a smattering of graduate and undergraduate classes. Payne-Gassaway helped recruit, schedule classes and advise students. Sheehan was a part-time assistant to the dean who helped develop the college's website. Fleeson was the director of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright exchange program.

vafai at umdbk dot com