UPDATED: Penn State’s faculty senate passes ‘vote of no confidence’ on university’s fall COVID-19 plan
Penn State’s faculty senate formally passed a vote of no confidence Friday on the university’s fall COVID-19 plan, slamming the administration for what it perceives as an inadequate response while again reiterating its desire for a vaccine mandate.
The resolution stopped short of directly expressing no confidence in the Penn State administration itself. But the largely symbolic move is the strongest stance yet the faculty senate has taken on the issue.
Two separate resolutions were passed at the special Zoom meeting. The second involved the vote of no confidence, which passed 109-57. The first was a resolution that called for additional COVID-19-related measures, a vaccine mandate, and more. That passed 128-32.
Both measures passed with a simple majority. Neither carries the power to directly cause any change, but the faculty senate’s hope is that the move might pressure the administration to finally act on their recommendations.
“They don’t necessarily have ‘teeth,’ ” said James Strauss, a biology professor, referring to both resolutions. “But we hope the administration is listening. And we are basically calling for the administration to reconsider their fall plan and — this is very important — work closely with staff, and make all plans and contingencies transparent to the university community at large.”
University President Eric Barron, who did not speak at the meeting, was among the nearly 500 in virtual attendance. He released an open letter Thursday night, not long after the faculty senate publicly posted text of the resolutions, and intimated he’s walked a delicate balance in satisfying a lot of groups.
In the letter, he alluded to a Quinnipiac poll that showed a nation split among university mandates, mandates that face legal challenges and a (Republican-controlled) state legislature that oversees part of the university’s funding. But the faculty senate essentially dismissed, or denied, every argument.
Follow the science, not the politicization, they said. Indiana University’s mandate has so far survived several court challenges (and a recent request involving the U.S. Supreme Court). And as for the state legislators, who control what amounts to less than 5% of the university’s annual budget?
“If we can’t stand up to that at the university, then that’s problematic,” said Timothy Robicheaux, an associate teaching professor of sociology and criminology. “... If we can’t stand up to those people, then we have a problem. We should be stronger than that.”
The CDT reached out to the office of state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, Friday morning to ask him if such fears were unfounded. If Penn State would decide to mandate the vaccine, would the legislature consider cutting the university’s annual appropriation?
“I personally, certainly, would not link any decision they would make to their appropriation,” Corman said, adding such a move would only hurt in-state students as the appropriation helps off-set tuition. “Having said that, it does take a two-thirds vote. And that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be some who would be upset with their decision.”
Gov. Tom Wolf has said he would not mandate the vaccine and would allow universities to make their own choices. To date, more than three dozen Pennsylvania colleges have mandated the vaccine — including Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon and Penn — while more than 700 nationally have followed suit. More than half of Big Ten schools also currently have a vaccine requirement.
“We’re not flying alone here,” said Julie Gallagher, associate professor in arts and humanities. “In fact, we’re in the back of the pack.”
A large contingent of the greater Penn State community appears to agree — and have agreed for some time.
In the spring, both the faculty senate and the University Park Undergraduate Association passed separate resolutions formally urging a mandate. Earlier this month, two respective student governments at University Park penned a joint open letter urging a mandate. A faculty-based group also started a petition that highlighted a mandate and has garnered more than 2,500 total signatures, culminating in a rally Friday in front of Old Main.
Municipalities around University Park are also starting to debate formally urging the university to reconsider its policy of “heavily incentivizing” the vaccine in place of requiring it. State College Borough Council unanimously voted to support its own open letter, and the Centre Region Council of Governments — comprised of the borough and five surrounding townships — discussed the prospect of a similar letter earlier this week. Nothing has yet been sent, however, as one municipality objected.
The CDT reached out to both the university and the board of trustees for comment, and was referred to written statements made online. Barron reiterated his desire to see high vaccination rates at Penn State and acknowledged he “will consider the matters raised in the resolutions (and discussion).”
Both trustee chair Matthew Schuyler and vice chair David Kleppinger also wrote in a joint statement the “board is unified in its unequivocal support for President Barron, his administration and their plans for the upcoming fall semester.”
But Nicholas Rowland, a faculty representative on the board of trustees, understood if his teaching colleagues didn’t feel the same way. He spoke publicly at Friday’s faculty senate meeting, saying the board was watching and — personally — he felt faculty were simply not convinced by the university’s COVID plan.
“And I think until we get that clarification and get that insight and get a deeper and more transparent understanding of why this plan is better than, or at least as good as, a vaccine mandate, I say fight — relentlessly, unapologetically, until we gain that clarity,” he said.
Penn State’s COVID-19 policy includes weekly testing for students without proof of vaccination, random and walk-up testing, an indoor mask mandate (outside of a union) and a focus on in-person classes with the ability to adjust as the coronavirus changes. The faculty senate wants to see twice-weekly testing for those without proof of vaccination, instructor choice for class delivery (i.e. option to go remote) and significant representation on university groups related to COVID-19 plans.
But, above all, they want a vaccine mandate.
“Right now, I think we have to stand together as a faculty senate,” said Julio Palma, an assistant professor of chemistry. “Because the process has not been transparent. Why do I decide this? Because I care. I didn’t want to have a vote of no confidence. Because I care. Because I love my institution. Because I love my students. I love my faculty. I love my senate. I care.
“But, today, we need to have a vote of no confidence.”
Penn State’s first day of classes is Aug. 23.
This story was originally published August 13, 2021 at 12:14 PM.
