Author:
I was disturbed by a couple of the quotes from our administrators in the September 19 feature “The Departed,” and thought I should address them here.
While VP Keates’ move to USC may indeed confirm the quality of staff that Oxy employs, Mr. Tranquada, it must also raise red flags about how the college treats its employees. If Mr. Keates “had other job offers before,” one has to wonder why he decided to leave now, in conjunction with so many others. It demeans the Occidental students and alumni to spin this exodus of loyal employees as some compliment to the institution.
Furthermore, I find it deeply insulting that Ms. Baker from Housing Services would attempt to imply that Serenity Blauvelt quit, just two weeks into the school year, because of “angry students looking for keys”-student services, indeed!
Before Ms. Baker attempts to point fingers at the student body, it might be prudent to reflect on the fact that the “massive turnover” came from Ms. Baker’s department. And who made the decision to give the keys out from the office this year if not the Director? Any anger from students towards that department is her responsibility alone. If Ms. Baker is unhappy with the current arrangement, I would suggest she’s uniquely situated to remedy it, preferably without sniping at the students.
Without regard to their personal motivations, as a student, it makes me very nervous to see that so many members of the Occidental staff would rather be elsewhere, and so suddenly.
Jeff Pecaro (senior, Religious Studies)
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