Members of the Keep Ken Coalition, who intended to present University President Richard Lariviere last week with a letter asking him to reconsider the administration’s decision to release political science professor Ken DeBevoise, sat down instead with Russ Tomlin, senior vice provost of academic affairs. Among its main complaints, the letter described the coalition’s feelings of being ignored and stonewalled by the administration.
The coalition wanted to meet with Lariviere in light of the $2.3 million buyout agreement between Mike Bellotti and the University administration that allowed Bellotti to leave his post as athletic director to become an ESPN analyst. Lariviere told the press he wanted to make University affairs more public, and the coalition wanted to ask him to “back up his promises with action,” according to the coalition’s press release.
However, Lariviere was not in Johnson Hall when coalition members arrived at 2 p.m. Thursday, the time they had sent in a press release the day before to the media and other higher education administrators.
Tomlin then invited coalition members to talk in his office. Earlier this academic year, the political science department asked DeBevoise to leave the University after spring term.
“The Keep Ken Coalition said very clearly to Russ Tomlin that we have been consistently ignored in our efforts and that we felt strongly about Ken DeBevoise being kept at the University,” said Deborah Bloom, University junior and Keep Ken Coalition spokesperson.
The Keep Ken Coalition formed in late January and comprises past and current students of DeBevoise from all over the country.
“I greatly value my meeting with the students last Thursday,” Tomlin said. “I listened with care to thoughtful, powerfully reasoned arguments and came away impressed with the commitment and the caliber of these students. While it’s inappropriate … to discuss the particular case the students are committed to, I am glad we took the time we did, nearly two hours, to discuss their earnest commitments to higher ed, undergraduate education at the University and their teacher and mentor.”
Tomlin, who declined to provide additional details about DeBevoise’s release for contractual reasons, referred to Lariviere’s comments at last week’s press conference about Bellotti’s buyout.
“The president’s words echo sentiments already treasured in the academic side of the University,” Tomlin said. “Still, where we fall short, we will redouble our efforts, and where we have done well, we’ll continue to move forward.”
Members of the Keep Ken Coalition expressed gratitude that Tomlin was open to
their arguments.
“Tomlin was receptive to the idea that the decision to let DeBevoise go might have been a poor one and that he is willing to look into it further,” Bloom said. “He seemed sincere, so let’s see if he can do the right thing.”
University senior and coalition member David Delmar said he thought there was a difference between words said and actions taken by University administrators.
“(The coalition plans) to demonstrate that, despite our gratitude at being heard and taken seriously for the first time thanks to Tomlin, we will not allow gratitude to lull us into complacency,” Delmar said. “We will make sure that our movement continues to be taken seriously and that its goals are met.”
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