August 11th 2024.
The recent news of Dawn McLin, the faculty Senate president and tenured psychology professor at Jackson State University, being placed on administrative leave pending termination has caused a sense of unease among her colleagues. According to reports from the Mississippi Free Press, McLin has been caught in the middle of a tense situation between the faculty and the university administration. This tension has led to several votes of no confidence from the faculty Senate towards both the current and former administrations of the historically Black university.
During an October 8th meeting held to show support for McLin, faculty members expressed uncertainty about the reasons for her suspension. However, they strongly believe that the treatment she has received from the university is highly unusual, especially considering her status as a tenured professor. As members of the faculty Senate executive committee shared, McLin was not given a written warning before her suspension and has been accused of various offenses, including harassment and insubordination. Such actions, according to the American Association of University Professors, are extremely rare and only occur once every few years.
In a statement to the Mississippi Free Press, Anita Levy, a program officer for the AAUP, suggested that the university's actions may be retaliatory in nature. She stated, "Such actions are generally taken in retaliation for criticisms of the administration the faculty members may have offered in the performance of their faculty leadership duties." Despite being entitled to a hearing in front of a faculty panel, members of the faculty Senate fear that JSU President Marcus Thompson has the authority to terminate McLin regardless of the panel's recommendation. This has caused further concern among the faculty, as they believe that if McLin, a respected and tenured professor, can be suspended with no prior warning, then any one of them could face a similar fate.
Neither McLin nor university officials were available for comment before the Mississippi Free Press published their story. According to a member of the Senate executive committee, McLin was not even able to participate in the Zoom meeting held to support her because she had already been "removed from the university altogether." Initially, the meeting was supposed to be a general assembly to help the faculty prepare for the upcoming fall semester. However, the presence of Onetta Whitley, Thompson's general counsel, and Van Gillespie, Thompson's chief of staff, raised suspicion among some attendees. It is not common for members of the president's office to attend a full Senate meeting unless specifically invited.
During the meeting, Whitley addressed the faculty and explained why the president's office had not received an invitation. She stated, "We know the faculty senate has recently undergone some changes, and that may explain why we did not receive such an invitation." Whitley went on to express her desire for a more collaborative and collegial relationship with the faculty Senate, acknowledging that there may have been a lack of communication and understanding in the past.
However, Whitley's remarks about fostering a better relationship between the president and the Senate confused some attendees who believed that their relationship was already collegial. A member of the Senate executive committee pointed out that any lack of communication is due to President Thompson not directly engaging with the Senate. They told the Mississippi Free Press, "He doesn't have any communication with us." During the meeting, one faculty member questioned the administration's approach to the situation, expressing concern about potential consequences for standing up for McLin. They emphasized that they all share a deep love for JSU and asked if this was the best way to handle the issue and address the needs of students and the community.
In conclusion, the faculty member reminded everyone that Jackson State University does not belong to one person or a select few but is a community effort. They stated, "It belongs to all of us." This sentiment was echoed by many, emphasizing the importance of unity and communication in resolving this issue and moving forward as a university.
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