The journalism department has been through three department heads in the past 10 years and previous department chair Bill Loving joined the list when he was asked to step down by College of Liberal Arts Dean Linda Halisky last week. Halisky said she hopes to begin the search for a new journalism department chair in the fall.
Halisky said she is unable to comment on her reasons behind asking Loving to step down because she can not discuss the particulars of a personnel action.
Loving said he believes she was influenced by a senior faculty member. He said he has declined the option to resign because he would waive his rights to “appeal and challenge decisions.” He will fight Halisky’s decision.
“The dean offered me the opportunity to resign as chair,” Loving said. “I told her that if she didn’t want me as chair she’d have to fire me and I wasn’t resigning. That’s pretty much how that conversation was ended.”
In the meantime, graphic communication department head Harvey Levenson will serve as “facilitator” to the department until a replacement is hired. As facilitator, Levenson will aid the faculty in coming up with a mission statement for the department, create a positive image of the department and “assist in establishing a unified direction,” as reported in a department faculty meeting Aug. 9.
During a mid-June meeting, Halisky told the journalism faculty that she wasn’t sure about Loving’s ability to lead the department and was uncertain if Loving would continue as department chair, Loving said.
“Toward the end of the school term the dean said that I as a chair was antagonistic and took sides in the department, that I was telling the faculty that it was ‘my way or the highway’ and that when I won I would rub people’s noses in it,” Loving said. “When I asked the dean when I had done these things, she repeatedly refused to give me any specifics.”
Halisky said Loving has done some fine things for the department. Instead, she said, her main concern is with the department as a whole and the difficulty with the faculty getting along. Halisky has mentioned to the faculty that if the department doesn’t settle its issues, she will consider moving the department to communication studies. She said she has confidence that the faculty can come together.
“There are (alumni) that would be very unhappy about seeing the program disbanded,” Halisky said. “I think we can do it and I think all of us will be better off, at least in the short term, where it is. If we have to move it then we will move it to a place where it will have a strong home.”
Loving said his biggest concern is that Halisky has no vision of the department and that she will “destroy the department rather than deal with the mess she’s created.”
“I believe in this department. I believe in the students,” Loving said. “What we do here is important. What our grads do is important.”
Journalism senior Erica Bashaw said she has been distracted by the faculty’s issues. She has noticed problems in the department and said the attitudes of some of the faculty have bordered on petty and unprofessional.
When the “Best For” edition of the Mustang Daily came out, a journalism professor commented on “how silly and high school the (public relations) writing was,” Bashaw said.
“Every student wants to feel supported and respected by their professor,” Bashaw said. “When that doesn’t happen, it’s really unfortunate. That shouldn’t happen. Faculty should be mentors and role models.”
Bashaw said some professors would discuss arguments or talk about somebody not getting along with another during class. She said they did not mention specific names.
“It’s no secret that the journalism department is dysfunctional,” she said. “The longer you’re here, the more obvious it becomes. It’s as if we’ve forgotten about the larger mission of the journalism department.”
Recent Cal Poly graduate and former Mustang Daily arts editor Cassandra Keyse said she also had also experience with professors voicing their disapproval about department issues in class and around the department.
“As a student in Teresa’s class my last quarter of college, she made numerous comments about how she felt about the department so it was obvious,” Keyse said. “She didn’t have any sort of censoring mechanism during classes and it interfered with her teaching.”
Despite the obvious bickering, Loving said one thing that can’t change in the department is the faculty’s priority to teach the students.
“The dean’s choices do not relieve us of that obligation,” Loving said.
Halisky’s decision, he said, provides an opportunity for the journalism department to take a good hard look at how it operates and how the dean operates. Currently, the department is made up of six faculty members, which makes it hard to get a consensus to move forward, said Tess Serna, administrative systems coordinator of the journalism department.
“One (faculty member) has very strong political views that cloud and create a road block for any decision trying to be made,” she said. “Another (faculty member) can’t deal with change and is very resistant to change.”
Loving said Halisky is putting the department at jeopardy because of a strong friendship with senior faculty member Teresa Allen.
“I’m deeply disappointed the dean has put the department at jeopardy for the sake of her friendship with Professor (Teresa) Allen,” Loving said. “This dean has perpetuated the dysfunction of the department.”
However, Halisky maintains that her relationship with Allen is no different than her relationship with any other professor.
“It is my policy when faculty are unhappy I listen to them and I send them back to their department to try to work it out, and that is what I did in the case of Professor Allen,” Halisky said. “We are not and have never been social friends. We’re friendly but we don’t have a special relationship of any kind.”
Amid allegations that Halisky did not ask the opinions of other faculty except Allen regarding Loving, Halisky said she that has met with faculty three different times — in mid-June, early in July and early in August — but would not go into detail about what was discussed. She said she asked the faculty what was working in the department, what wasn’t working and what Loving is doing well and what he could improve on.
As for the reaction of the students, Halisky said she expects uncertainty and concern but is not anticipating a huge impact. She plans to meet with students and the journalism faculty in the fall to present a “united front” that shows the faculty has moved forward from their disagreements. She also plans to allow students to ask questions.
Halisky’s plan for the faculty to move forward and past the quarreling is for them to solve their problems together as a group. Benchmarks will still be set up, but Halisky said she has not decided on a timeline.
“If they are committed to the student and the betterment of the department, I hope this will prevail,” Halisky said. “These are grown-ups; they have expressed this commitment to (the students) and this program and I’m trusting them.”
The faculty’s previous goal of being accredited will now be long-term, Halisky said. Emphasis will now go toward building a stronger program that uses the opportunities Cal Poly provides, embrace it’s potential and move on.
However, Bashaw said real thought needs to be taken before the department can move forward.
“If we hope to see any improvement in the journalism program we need to really think through these manic changes in leadership,” Bashaw said.
Levenson, who was previously a department chair at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, Penn. and has 28 years experience as a department chair, said he will serve basic duties such as signing papers and be a voice for the journalism department. He will advise the journalism faculty if they would like it, he said.
“My philosophy is the way to get things done is to surround yourself with good people,” Levenson said. “Let them do what they do and support them; get the job done without interfering.”
While referenced by name on a number of occasions, I was not contacted by the Mustang Daily to comment on various charges put forth by Professor Loving regarding his removal as chair of the journalism department. I’m especially troubled by his inflammatory comments that seem consciously intent on breaking apart the department rather then, for the greater good of the students and department as a whole, accepting some responsibility and moving on to work with remaining faculty members in a positive direction. Professor Loving would like to blame me (or others) for his leadership problems, thus diverting the focus from him to someone else. But I will remind him that I was only one of five faculty members called to the dean’s office to discuss his leadership as chair. What was said at these individual meetings was confidential, and as far as I know, not discussed outside of that office. But from what I understand, as a result of this input, and I imagine other factors I am not privy to on the administrative level, the faculty was ultimately informed of the dean’s decision to change chairs. The need for a leader who had a solid vision for the “new media” future was one of the top reasons we were given. Failure to facilitate more camaraderie within the faculty was, I understand, another top reason. I will add that I am not the only faculty member, during Professor Loving’s two-year stint as chair, who sought out the dean for issues regarding leadership problems within the department. I am only the one he chooses to focus on. I call on Professor Loving, now, to work in earnest with the remaining faculty to chart a new, positive course for the department and the students.
Teresa Allen
hmmm, do I smell a passive-aggressive?
Dear Teresa Allen,
As a journalism student, I’d wager that your being associated so heavily with this issue is a result of your often outspoken disrespect and bias toward certain students. More specifically, I am referring to your repeated trashing of PR students and their ability to write and generally contribute to the department. I cannot claim to have ever overheard you behaving this way first hand, but your opinions are well-known among journalism students.
Sincerely,
any old jour student
I think there’s better ways to say stuff to Loving than the comments section of the Mustang Daily.
I agree with Professor Allen that she should have been given the opportunity to weigh in on a story that, in many ways, seems to focus on her. I’m frankly surprised her perspective was not included.
As a journalism senior, I hope we as a department can now have an open and honest discussion about where we stand, and where we hope to go. After all, we’re in this together.
I’d have to say that I agree with Dr. Allen and Erica here. I had a class with Professor Allen a couple summers ago, and I found her class inspiring. After my internship at a news station and her class, I felt very empowered–even as an English major–to continue in journalism. I don’t remember hearing her opinions on the journalism department at all, and I don’t think that her opinions got in the way of the class in any way. She was always very professional. I don’t think it’s right to publish a story which comments on someone’s character without including a comment from them before it goes to print.
I’m still a little uncertain as to what exactly happened. Loving said he would not resign, but did Halisky actually fire him? All of a sudden there’s a new “facilitator,” but what technically happened to Loving? Is he still a professor?
Also, I hate to say it, but the department has had these kinds of problems for as long as I can remember… which is basically starting in 1998 when I was a freshman. I guess journalism attracts very strong personalities so it’s to be expected. The dynamics between faculty weren’t always as bad as this article makes them out to be, but there has always been some sense of unease, especially with the department chairs.
Good luck. Hope everyone can get past this somehow. I think the department has a lot to offer when it’s not bogged down in politics.
Did anyone proof this? Jesus. Somebody run a spell check.
that’s why it’s called “new media.”
As an incoming Journalism freshman this fall, this article is obviously very disturbing to me. Can anyone tell me honestly if in their opinion there is a chance that the journalism department will be “disbanded?”
You entered the University knowing that your department was unaccredited? That’s faith!
Hi to both Russes. Regardless of what’s going on at Cal Poly, accreditation isn’t such a big deal in journalism schools these days. Some of the biggest and most well-respected schools, such as the University of Wisconsin, have flat out given up their accredited status, arguing that the process focuses too much on issues that don’t impact a student’s education. A recent study bore this out, finding no real differences between accredited schools and non.
Yes, should us incoming journalism freshman run for the hills, take the wait and see approach with an emergency plan in place, or just stick with it and hope everything turns out for the best?
to incoming freshmen,
cal poly has been an awesome experience, especially the journalism classes. they’re not only fun but i have learned some excellent real world skills. this summer i have been interning for a major market radio station in los angeles and i what i have learned from the journalism department has really helped me here. i really disliked cal poly when i first arrived, it wasn’t until i found the jour department that i felt like i was doing something useful. you will enjoy the classes, and if you don’t you can change your major. it is not that hard to do despite what people may say.
Freshman-I am only a year older than you, but I would advise either switching majors or transferring schools (and quick). Cal Poly does not give a lot of attention to the majority of its liberal arts programs (after all, it’s name does have “polytechnic” in it). I am going to be a sophomore journalism major this year. I am looking into a transfer. Cal Poly certainly is not what I had expected it to be. Don’t get me wrong, some people love it and it really does excel in some programs, but the school is just not for me. Just so you know, if you are thinking about going into PR, we currently do not have a PR professor. Also, if the journalism department in moved to the communications department, imagine how much of a hassle that would be for students. We would probably have a change in our curriculum and who knows what else we would have to go through. I wish I had gone to UCLA…
When you eventually apply for a job, no one in an interview is going to ask you about any department chair situation, no matter how chaotic it may have been, much less about the irrelevant “accreditation” issue (which no one in the industry really cares about or ever mentions — only shut-in academics with nothing better to do).
Your time at any liberal arts undergraduate program, at least in terms of how it may help you find a job, is what you make it yourself, on your own, with your own drive, and what you can show people you’ve done.
Nothing job-wise today is going to depend simply on a faculty-distributed 3.5 GPA bachelor’s piece of paper in itself, similar to those held by countless others who didn’t do anything above and beyond independently to stand out from the onslaught of liberal arts grads.
For that matter, an employer might actually be more impressed you managed to be successful and productive in an environment with such administrative turnover, if they even were aware of it.
The UCLA student newspaper has an EXTREMELY larger staff than the Mustang Daily. So what can each and every person at such a larger staff do? One person does cutlines? Another does info graphs, and that’s it? A smaller program like Cal Poly’s will demand students to learn to take on multiple tasks and dimensions of routine performance (reporting, editing, designing, cultivating an online presence, etc.) — which is increasingly what journalism employers are looking for today.
I agree! I just graduated from the program as well, and though having a good GPA helps, it’s the work experience you have that really counts. Work for the Mustang Daily, intern off campus and write, write, write. Some of the classes were worthwhile (352, law, photoj and visual communication were at the top of my list); others need to be updated so they’re challenging. I can’t advise PR or broadcast students though, and I’d want to know what’s going on with the PR concentration and professor situation before I came to Cal Poly. If they’re switched to the Communications department, will their degree say that or journalism? How much does that matter for PR grads? Just some questions to think about.
“The UCLA student newspaper has an EXTREMELY larger staff than the Mustang Daily. So what can each and every person at such a larger staff do?”
Well, I’d imagine they actually have their staff read — or proofread — their articles before they publish them, a feat that eludes the Mustang Daily’s staff.
Oh, and they probably have fewer syndicated columns.
Oh, oh — they might actually catch plagiarism, too!
I guess what I would really like to know is if this conflict will hinder the learning experience in the journalism department. This article makes the department seem almost like a joke, and that is a far cry from the impression I had when I visited it. I chose journalism as my major because I felt I could really learn a profession in a very hand on way. However, if there are serious problem with the staff that prevent them from working as a cohesive unit, then the learning experience may be affected negatively. What I am trying to say ask is if this problem will just go away once it is resolved, or will it be a long drawn out battle that ultimately destroys the department?
I don’t know what your concentration is but like Giana says in the comment below and like a few other people have posted on here, a lot of what you will learn comes from getting involved with the different medias in the department. Yes, you will get a good education from the majority of the professors here but the majority of what you will take from the journalism department at Cal Poly comes from joining the Mustang Daily, KCPR, CPTV or the pr company. I don’t think any problem will “just go away” but I also don’t think it will destroy the department. At least probably not while you’re here.
Goo, as a freshman at poly, I am glad to hear this
The department has had administrative issues for a decade, but Halisky has never seemed to mind until now. Other posters are right, there are some great classes in the curriculum, but journalism students need to take the initiative to get involved in student media — or any media you can — outside of classes if they want experience to get them a job. Most of the employed grads I know were editors of the MD or presidents of the pr company. A B.S. in journalism sure as heck won’t guarantee you a job these days, it’s good clips and the willingness to work your ass off that seals the deal.
It seems clear that Dean Linda Halisky is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. I am also gravely concerned with the accusations of censorship and the sledge hammer approach to management.
“Freedom of Speech” and the protection of the first ammendment is the cornerstone that protects all of our other rights. Hopefully a new president can move Cal Poly to the ‘green light’ ranking that the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) grants true defenders of the first ammendment.
“Firing’ syndicated and successful columnist Brendan Pringle was one of the first dominoes to fall in this very unfortunate series of events.
The lack of leadership is distressing.
Roger Freberg
It seems clear that Dean Linda Halisky is part of the problem rather than part of the solution. I am also gravely concerned with the accusations of censorship and the sledge hammer approach to management.
"Freedom of Speech" and the protection of the first ammendment is the cornerstone that protects all of our other rights. Hopefully a new president can move Cal Poly to the ‘green light’ ranking that the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) grants true defenders of the first ammendment.
"Firing’ syndicated and successful columnist Brendan Pringle was one of the first dominoes to fall in this very unfortunate series of events.
The lack of leadership is distressing.
Roger Freberg
Like Giana said, the employed graduates from Poly’s journalism department did more than attend school. My GPA wasn’t particulary great but thanks to my involvement in the Mustang Daily along with multiple internships at a wide variety of organizations, I’ve found full-time work relating to my major since graduating a little over a year ago. No one cares about accreditation, and most places don’t care about GPA either (unless you want to work for Google.)
Get involved, learn as much new media as you can and don’t get involved in department issues, and you’ll get what you need out of Poly’s journalism program.
On another note, it’s sad to watch the department fall apart. I hope they get it together for the sake of all the students caught in the middle.
“Get involved, learn as much new media as you can and don’t get involved in department issues, and you’ll get what you need out of Poly’s journalism program.”
This is good advice — the opportunities for students to practice journalism in its various forms at Cal Poly is unique. I worked as a staff member in that department for 12 years, I taught part time in the English Department as a grad student, and prior to that, I worked as an undergraduate student at the Mustang Daily. I’ve learned that showing up and participating in the world you are in (with all its flaws and challenges) is what prepares you for the future.
After leaving Cal Poly to pursue professional growth, promotion, and other opportunities unavailable to me at that time, I worked as a professional actor for a while and then came back into higher education, as if it were an unavoidable fate for me. I became a math teacher (of all things) at a small, private college in Ventura; then, I became the Dean of that campus; then, I was promoted to be the Campus Director for a larger campus in Santa Maria, where I currently work.
Without a doubt, I brought my game with me every time I went into a new situation, and that game was well-developed while working within the unique world known as the Cal Poly Journalism Department. The time I spent managing a daily college paper, counseling hundreds of students, navigating through department politics, and working for the benefit of the students, produced a cumulative set of work and life experiences that I have taken with me and current use. I say thank you to Cal Poly for that.
Don’t fret or be distracted by anything that takes away from your plans to succeed in your careers. Forces are everywhere out there ready to take you down, don’t contribute to the negative energy. Learn what you can wherever you are, take those experiences with you into the future, and make them useful.
Good Luck.
Nearing the end of a campus tour last week, with our daughter feeling increasingly interested in applying to Cal Poly as a journalism major for next fall, we picked up a Mustang Daily with the lead story stating that the Journalism chair has been asked to step down. In reading the article and following some of the comments made here, it is increasingly confusing. What a disappointment! As many of you may remember, identifying that ideal school is a challenge a best. To read all of the commentary on the department’s reputed longstanding disfunction one certainly questions the quality of “communications” among those to whom these students should be able to look to with respect.
We will have to continue the college search. For the wellbeing of all current students of journalism there, I hope these professionls are able to resolve the difficulties in this department.
Best Wishes!
Lord what a mess. But to be both candid and cynical it’s probably no more of a mess than what you’ll find pretty much anywhere out here in "the real world" where a large organization is steeped in politics, posturing and egos, and some of the players are focused on maintaining power. Heads up everyone: pettiness and the urge to control flourish out here among grownups.
To those of you who worry about whether graduating from an accredited J-school matters out here, well don’t. Worry about your folks and your friends instead. The point of college is that you went, you struggled, you persevered, and you succeeded. It’s boot camp for earning a ticket into the game of working for a living. Where you go depends upon your talent, luck and work ethic, and no one looks at transcripts.
My reporter’s gut strongly suspects that these basic elements are involved here:
— Only parts of the truth are being told.
— There are different agendas at work.
— No one involved is 100% right… or 100% wrong.
— We’re never going to find out the truth.
As for predicting how this will play out, remember that those who are on higher rungs of the power ladder tend to stay there longer than those who are below them, because their survival skills are better.
My suggestions to students who are at Poly are, revel in the short time you have there; take more psychology and sociology classes (I wish I had, because they’ve helped in my magazine editor job more than I can believe); and pull up a chair and watch the soap opera unfolding in front of you. Besides being entertaining, it will most likely teach you valuable lessons that will come in handy later on in life.
— 30 —
When will these professors, who are acting like toddlers, remember that their committment is to the students? Let’s get our priorities straight here.
I graduated from the Journalism school in 1982. Unfortunately I was not prepared for the job market when I graduated. I studied Public Relations, but didn’t have a clue as to what it was going into my senior year and had to stay another year to learn some kind of trade. It was very disheartening to go to the job fairs my senior year and not one employer was looking for journalism students.
The job market is also changing for the worse for journalism majors. More and more employers are pooling their writers and they give content to many publications. I wonder how many of the students that invest the time and money actually find gainful employment in the profession and stay in it for 5 years.
I just read the University of Colorado was considering closing their school of journalism. To me it is a smart move. I would encourage the students to study business or science. My first job out of Cal Poly earned $700 a month when all my peers were earning $2000. And my rent was $350. Do the math, life was not easy. Doing something you love oftentimes will not give you a standard of living that is acceptable. And with a radio concentration starting out in SLO and then moving to Santa Maria then Bakersfield and up and up every year or two, I found, was not a good way to live.
If they decide to close the school, let the upper classman finish up and the lower classman transfer to better majors.
It is very unsettling to see the turmoil now in the Journalism school. Back in ’82 under Randall Murray the school was good and had good direction. However, the teaching staff under him was not up to par with Dr Murray. I knew then I would have a tough life and it "sentenced" me to Graduate Business School to learn some kind of trade to earn a living. That worked out, but the years when I was 22 through 28 were very painful.
Compared to the School of Agriculture, Architecture or Business the Journalism School doesn’t come close. Cal Poly should concentrate on their core competance and close the weaker schools. It is a diservice to the students.
The students should not blame their skill set on department politics. If you are at Cal Poly study engineering or agriculture. Not doing so it like studying english at Cal or speech at California Maritime academy. Just a bad move. And while Cal Poly is great, when you graduate you have to leave the city. And if you go to LA you go up against people from USC or UCLA, and the J school at Cal Poly doesn’t match up.
If they close the school, it will be painful. But its like getting fired from a job, its painful, but it will be the best thing for them down the road.
I’m sorry to hear that the journalism department is not doing well, however, to complain that you could not find a job and that the market is shrinking is something you should have researched before you went into the major.
Knowing that the prospect for a job was slim and that the field was shrinking should have alerted you to thinking about doing something else, or face the consequence that you will not make the same amount as a major in high demand, that is a fact of life.
It frustrates me when people get degrees where the average salary is very low or the market is over saturated and then complain that they don’t make enough money, I’m sorry, but you knew that going into it, deal with it. When you are in a major that millions of people want to do, you have to do something above and beyond what others are doing its called, competition, another fact of life.
Again, I’m sorry to hear that people were making more than you, I’m sorry that you picked a major that millions of other people want to do. College is a time to find the path that interests you, regardless of how much you will make, but if money is your goal, go for the science/engineering majors, not the dollar a dozen liberal arts students where, I’m sorry, YOU WILL NOT MAKE THAT MUCH MONEY.
Have you ever considered the fact that maybe you just weren’t good at your major? Maybe that’s why leading into your senior year you still had yet to retain any knowledge. Sometimes it’s not the major, it’s you.