Peyton Spencer, Guest Contributor EMORY, Va. -- On Feb. 12, students of Emory & Henry College protested the original decision to terminate the Assistant Professor of Acting position by standing outside of the Wiley Hall academic building on campus to express their opinions. The administration came to the conclusion to end the position of Rachel Schwartz, ultimately losing the Theta Chi Upsilon Fraternity Advisor and Alpha Psi Omega advisor. Trent Allen, a Theta Chi Upsilon member and Theatre Major, said, “Schwartz is a greatly appreciated Professor on campus and has built many relationships among faculty, staff, and students. Students that were not Theatre Majors have even expressed their grievances regarding their soon loss of not only a professor, but a friend.”At the meeting, many had voiced their opinions and are now wanting to know what steps the school has taken to counteract their first decision. Micheala Nelon, a third-year student at E&H, said, “After the meeting, I feel as though the administrative team that was at the meeting wanted us to feel as though our voices were heard because they kept [expressing], ‘We hear you; we want you to know that we are listening’ type statements,” she said. “However, with the other situations in the recent past that [were] similar, I simply do not believe those statements anymore. It is difficult to trust in an administration who has made the same effort-promises before and then nothing has been done.” Many students have asked if there were any immediate changes since the students met with E&H President John Wells, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion John Holloway, Provost Michael Puglisi, Vice President of External Affairs Jennifer Pearce, Director of Academic Support and Disability Services Emily Lockhart, Associate Provost and Dean of Student Success Jolie Lewis, and the Division Chair of Visual and Performing Arts Charles Goolsby. “I have not seen any changes since the meeting,” said Nelon. “I would have thought that at least the administration would have made a small statement after the amount of protest on campus. President Wells spoke on being proud of the amount of student attention.” Allen has mentioned, “It is possible that they might get rid of the acting line altogether. As a upperclassmen, I will be able to finish; however, I am not sure if the freshmen will be able to. Incoming students will not be able to if they end it.”
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March 2020
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