Excerpt from WDTN
Wright State University Faculty Senate had a procedural vote Monday afternoon on if they feel a vote of "no confidence" is due for president Cheryl Schrader.
They needed 22, or 2/3 of the senators to vote yes, but only received 17, so it does not proceed.
The motion filed was to suspend the rules, and send the decision for discussion among the full faculty.
This came after an email was circulated to senate members asking for feedback after many senators received emails from co-workers, not on the senate, asking them for the vote.
History professor Dr. Noeleen McIlvenna was one who sent emails, because she said it is one of the last resorts before a possible strike.
"Nobody wants that," said McIlvena. "So this would be a measure, perhaps to prevent that. It would bring the administration and the board to finally understand how deeply we believe in preserving the academic mission."
The president of the faculty senate, Dr. Travis Doom, said he was not surprised by the close vote of 17 yes's, 15 no's.
He said the senate tends to move cautiously and has a delicate process they like to follow and this was only discussed since the email circulated Sunday, so it did not provide adequate time for the senators to discuss.
Doom said the reasoning behind asking for the "no confidence" vote is "morale is the lowest I can remember it being. That has an impact on the nuance that they attribute to everyday actions."
This vote comes after about 18 months of contract negotiations between faculty and the board of trustees, but Board Chairman Doug Fecher said president Schrader "has had to make tough choices to facilitate a financial recovery and is certain she will continue to make the difficult choices necessary for Wright State to prosper and excel."
