University President Richard Lariviere arrived an hour and 15 minutes late to a scheduled campus forum on Friday where University students and administration members met to discuss issues concerning students.
About 50 students were there to discuss issues including parking, diversity outreach and the Keep Ken Coalition, which has for months been rallying the University administration to reverse its release of political science professor Ken DeBevoise.
Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs Russ Tomlin announced the University is reviewing the impending termination of DeBevoise, which could result in the administration retaining his contract.
Despite this clear victory for the Keep Ken Coalition, students were frustrated with Lariviere’s showing on Friday.
“Given all of the resistance from the administration, with Russ Tomlin as the exception, it’s just a testament to how much we’re struggling to be heard,” Keep Ken Coalition leader Deborah Bloom said of Lariviere’s tardiness. “We’ve worked on this for months. (Lariviere) is aware of this, but he doesn’t want to bother?”
When Lariviere did arrive, several members of the Keep Ken Coalition approached the forum to speak, including Bloom and University student David Delmar.
“The Keep Ken Coalition has worked so hard with passion and dedication,” Delmar said to the forum’s audience. “Come to a (Ken DeBevoise) class and feel the energy of the class.”
Tomlin addressed the members of the coalition, commending the group’s efforts.
“I asked for a review from the dean of arts and sciences,” Tomlin said. “I’m not going to prejudge it, and we will be in touch with the group. We have received quite literally dozens and dozens of e-mails from this group that asks us to carefully review our decision.”
Lariviere did not address the Keep Ken Coalition directly during the forum; however, he did approach the group afterward to discuss the decision to review DeBevoise’s termination.
“We’re hopeful that the decision made will be the right one, because Ken is such an incredible professor and has such a strong following that he deserves to stay at the University,” Bloom said.
Other hot topics at the forum, which was hosted by the ASUO and ran from 1:15 to 2 p.m. in the EMU Amphitheater, included the parking issue at the University and diversity on campus.
“Parking enforcement should not be a way to increase revenue,” said Doug Tripp, director of the Department of Public Safety. “The number one priority (of DPS) is meeting the needs of the community that we serve, and we’re not meeting it.”
Tripp also confirmed the University is working with the City of Eugene to vacate Moss Street in order to increase parking availability.
Vice President of Institutional Equity and Diversity Charles Martinez said the University is making progress in creating a diverse campus, but more steps need to be taken.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but the economic climate will present challenges for us soon,” Martinez said, outlining new plans for community outreach to help families fill out the FAFSA and find scholarships. “We need to be much more instrumental about helping people through this process. We have a lot of work to do to achieve diversity.”
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