Teachers demand answers about the future of Rutgers-Camden

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By Maddie Webb

The Rutgers-Camden faculty met with Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis in the beginning of November to get some answers regarding the sudden dismissal of Howard Marchitello, Dean of the Arts and Sciences Department, who was dismissed from his job in the middle of the semester.

More than 100 teachers and staff were in attendance at the November 10th meeting, with dozens more joining on Zoom. Though Chancellor Tillis had come to answer questions about the dismissal of Dean Marchitello, he soon made clear he would not be able to address this issue, citing it as a personnel matter.

There has been speculation surrounding the dean’s sudden firing, as faculty suspected the possible reasoning for Marchitello’s firing to be linked to his criticism over the gap between the salary equity among the campuses. He has also shed light on how underfunded the Rutgers-Camden campus is and how often it is overlooked by the administration.

The Rutgers Teachers Union, AAUP-AFT, wrote on the matter regarding the lack of transparency on how the school is truly run. The University currently uses the RCM budget model, a budgeting system adopted in 2014 under the Barchi administration, that manages the school’s finances. The problem with this system is the pressure placed upon the departments to restrict what they can spend. The focus is turned to what will save money for the school rather than pushing the focus on what is needed for academics. It was reported that Rutgers-Camden professors are paid 24 percent less compared to the New Brunswick and Newark campuses.

Tillis was expected to address the unanswered questions circulating these past few weeks, mainly as to why the Dean was dismissed with no clear reason in the middle of a semester. Although he did not give a clear explanation, he highlighted low enrollment rates resulting in a 20 percent drop in tuition revenue in the past year and the competition to keep up with other colleges to entice potential students, implying these as possible factors for the Dean’s dismissal. He refused to give a precise reason as he was “ not allowed to disclose information” concerning the dean.

However, Tillis acknowledged that it was “a misstep on their part and did not anticipate the effects of their decision,” referring to the process of dismissal enacted by himself and Provost Dan Hart, who was also at the meeting. Audience members were not happy with the Chancellor’s response.

“I’m having a very hard time sitting here listening to this, because we invited you here to provide an explanation for what is not simply a misstep. It’s an injury,” said Lorraine Minnite, chair of public policy and administration, addressing Chancellor Tillis’ response to the firing of the dean.

She, along with the many others in the room, voiced their outrage and disapproval over Tillis admitting to the dismissal as a “misstep.” The tension in the room grew as Tillis continued avoiding questions regarding the Dean. He tried to guide the meeting in a different direction around his new plan for the campus and its future. He mentioned the challenges facing the campus and ways to push forward, saying that he intends to provide more funding to the new experiential scholarship program as well as working with legislation to gather funding for infrastructure.

“We need to imagine new programs and new certificates that will excite students about Rutgers-Camden,” said Chancellor Tillis on his new vision for the campus with the help of the new interim dean, Dr. Robert Atkins.

After the dismissal of Dean Marchitello, Tillis announced the new interim Dean, a nursing professor who briefly worked in the childhood studies program at the Camden College of Arts and Sciences, explaining the mid-semester switch up as “an opportunity to adjust to the role” before the spring semester. This comment from Tillis did not sit well with those present, calling it a “power grab” by Tillis.

Syd Johnson, president of the Student Government Association, spoke on behalf of the student body questioning whether the chancellor had considered the effect his decision would have on students and staff. Tillis responded, “That decision was taken in great consideration as of the effects on students and faculty. We were trying to get the person [interim dean] ready for the position,” which further caused a wave of frustration in the room.

“You can be forgiven for thinking that [Marchitello] was doing a good, excellent job as dean under extraordinary circumstances, a global pandemic overlaid with a reckoning of racial and economic injustice- we have weathered rough seas and drawn on reservoirs of resilience and grace to get to this moment. But our new chancellor has found Howard wanting, more than a little,” said Bill Fitzgerald, associate professor of English and president of the college’s Faculty Senate.

Immense support for the dean was evident and it was clear the impact he had on his staff as well as the school. The Meeting began with a resounding applause for Dean Marchitello, and ended with a standing ovation. He began by quoting a scene from William Shakepeare’s play, Hamlet,comparing himself to Hamlet who declared himself which would lead to his death.

“This is I, Hamlet the Dane.’- this act of self-naming is undertaken a great personal risk to Hamlet indeed will lead to his evitable assassination,” said Marchitello.

The interim dean took over on November 15th, when Marchitello returned to the Camden English faculty. A search committee has been formed to find a permanent dean. On November 19th, the faculty issued a “Vote of No Confidence” for both the Chancellor and the Provost. The vote resulted in 94 to 56 with 19 who did not participate. Though these votes have little to no power, it is a move made by faculty to show their dissatisfaction on the dismissal of the dean. Confidential voting on this issue was expected to have taken place all through the end of that week as well.

Following the “Vote of No Confidence”, Tillis sent out an email to staff discussing the lack of handling of the situation involving the dean.

“Now, I understand why this looked like new leadership coming in and shaking things up. That was not my intention, and I regret that,” he wrote.

Only time will tell if tensions will continue to rise among staff and teachers in the upcoming spring semester.