Montage The
St. Louis Community College–Meramec
MARCH 11 , 2010 Vol. 45 Issue 12
‘He’s gone’
Staff and students want answers following Stephen Petersen’s removal
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MoPIRG VS. NOpirg
Students vote on the MoPIRG reaffirmation election.
Editorial Board
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Students demand accountability regarding administrative decisions.
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Second-hand Spring Fashion
ARCHIVE PHOTO
Vice President of Student Affairs Stephen Petersen, Ed.D., talking to Georgiana Matteucci, student embassador, the first semester he took his position at Meramec. vide them. Pai, while addressing the SGC at their Carlos Restrepo According to Missouri contract law, meeting, said again that he could not men- Editor in Chief any person under a probationary con- tion the exact reason why Petersen’s conAt 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, president tract, such as Petersen, may not have his tract was not renewed. He recommended of the STLCC-Meramec campus Paul Pai, contract renewed “without [the board] students write a letter of recommendation Ed.D., held a meeting with all the manag- assigning reasons therefore and without for Petersen’s next job. ers who worked under Vice President of affording a due process hearing.” In other “With that [letter of recommendation] Student Affairs Stephen Petersen, Ed.D. words, no reasons need to be given for the coming from you all, that really is much At this meeting, Pai said that Petersen refusal to renew. more powerful than what I would say in “was gone.” Pai claimed that, due to privacy, Pe- my recommendation letter,” Pai said. “Dr. Pai came in and just very mat- tersen’s removal will not be discussed. Pai also said that he initiated the deciter-of-factly stated that Dr. Petersen was “Certainly, there’s really not much sion process to not renew Petersen’s congone,” said Claudia Potts, manager of that I can say,” Pai said. “This is a per- tract. the South County Education University sonnel matter; we need to protect his pri“The person who has to initiate this Center, who was at the meeting. “My first vacy. Basically, he’s gone; I’m confirming type of recommendation is nobody else reaction was, ‘Dr. Petersen had died,’ but that he’s gone. Yesterday was his last day. but me,” Pai said. “This burden falls on in his next breath he said, ‘Yesterday was That’s all I can say.” me.” his last day.’” Joann Ordinachev, the chair for the Petersen declined to comment at this With those words, Pai announced to school’s Board of Trustees made a similar time. the staff that Petersen’s probationary con- statement. tract had not been renewed. Monday was “I can confirm that Dr. Peterson is in fact his last day as vice president of stu- no longer with the college,” Ordinachev dent affairs. said. “The board is not at liberty to comBefore he was hired in 2008, Petersen “Dr. Pai asked if there were any ques- ment on personnel matters in the interest worked in different administrative positions. I was the first one to speak,” Potts of privacy.” tions throughout Missouri universities. said. “I am very proud of the fact that I Students, however, were not satisfied In 2007 he was appointed assistant vice raised my hand and said I wanted to go with this answer. chancellor for Alumni Relations at Washon record to state that ‘In the 16 years I On March 9, the Student Governance ington University. have been here, he was one of the best Council expressed their support for PeAn article from WashU’s website things to have ever happened to St. Louis tersen. At their meeting, which Pai also praised his performance. Community College.’” attended, the SGC members approved a “Steve brings a wealth of experience According to Potts, Pai did not re- statement to be made at the next board of in many facets of student and alumni respond. trustees meeting in support of Petersen. lations, as well as administrative leader“I was confused,” Potts said. “Why “As a student body, we have been ship to Washington University,” said Pawould they let the most effective person served well by the vice president of stu- mella Henson, associate vice chancellor of that I’ve dealt with in 16 years of the col- dent affairs. As an organization which alumni & development programs. lege go? I was totally confused about how also serves the students of this instituPetersen also worked at St. Louis that could happen. I felt helpless, and the tion, the SGC has lost a valuable resource University as interim vice president for only thing I knew to do was to speak up and friend in Dr. Petersen. He has earned development and university relations. to say that, in my opinion, he was one of our respect and support,” states part of SLU’s website modeled almost identical the very best that we’ve had.” the text agreed upon at the meeting. “The praise for Petersen. The reasons as to why Petersen was SGC’s hope is that the board of trustees A clean record let go have not been given to staff or stu- will reconsider the continued employdents – nor is the school required to pro- ment of Dr. Stephen Petersen.” Continued on page 3
A clean record
Montage editors find cheap, chic fashion alternatives for students.
Montage Reader Poll Should students pay the optional $7 fee for MoPIRG?
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B
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A. Yes, MoPIRG does a lot for the students B. No, I pay enough for my classes as it is C. We pay an extra MoPIRG fee?
April 1 Poll Question
How much will Dr. Petersen’s absence affect the Meramec campus? To vote, visit: www.meramecmontage.com