| Show T Points West Out Speaks By Trudi Smith During the past few weeks a letter supposedly written written written writ writ- ten by the faculty and of SL has been circulating on our campus On Feb 22 the contents of this letter were aired in part on a local television news media and two faculty members were interviewed interviewed interviewed inter inter- viewed along with President President President dent Dale S. S Cowgill As our campus news media Points West will now present present present pre pre- sent from the letter letter letter let let- ter along with an interpretation interpretation interpretation in in- of the facts and reasons behind this Slam Cowgill campaign This reporter has attempted attempted attempted at at- tempted interviews with parties either involved with this situation or who might have information or facts on the allegations contained within the letter letter letter let let- ter and has unfortunately received ved only bi bits ts and pieces on which to base this article However any facts given are correct unless unless unless un un- less specified as opinion or quote The Points West staff will remain neutral in this area and urge our readers to make their own assumptions The letter states referring referring referring refer refer- ring to President Cowgill It HIt is his recommendation that instead of the present offering of 78 percent technical classes and 22 percent academic classes it be changed into a 40 percent percent percent per per- cent academic with only 60 percent emphasis into the technical classes According to Judd Morgan Morgan Morgan Mor Mor- gan Student Services Director Director Director Di Di- rector this statement is totally false The percentages percentages percentages percent percent- ages will remain the same as in the past in fact Dr Cowgill is attempting to reevaluate many programs programs programs pro pro- grams in an effort to nate unneeded subject requirements requirements requirements re re- within technical technical technical cal programs We feel it is important however that there be alternate areas of instruction such as English English English En En- glish Math and Communications Com Coin classes to break up the rigid routine of technical curriculum The letter also states Instructors have been constantly demeaned by bythe bythe bythe the current president In Inthe Inthe Inthe the presence of their peers he has been cruelly sarcas sarcas- tic He has disbanded almost almost almost al al- most all departments placed people of the same teaching programs and skills under as many as three different deans The results are disrupted programs programs programs pro pro- grams destruction of pride of departmental accomplishments accomplishments ac ac- and loyalty loyalty loyalty loy loy- alty and a great deal of confusion When attempting attempting attempting at at- tempting to change the procedures of a college from the traditional to the individual methods perhaps many instructors from the old Hold schools so soto soto soto to speak may find it difficult difficult difficult dif dif- to adapt and therefore therefore therefore there there- fore interpret actions and verbal cues as derogatory and insulting We have been unable to find any faculty faculty faculty fac fac- member who is willing willing willing will will- ing to verify this statement statement statement state state- ment in print The letter also states Many fine instructors have quit and will be quitting quitting quitting quit quit- ting because of the presidents president's presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's ongoing destructive procedures Although it itis itis itis is true that many instructors instructors instructors tors have left it cannot cannot cannot can can- not be totally proven that they have left because of Dr Cowgills Cowgill's methods In Ina a few instances it can be clearly shown that they left to accept employment elsewhere to further their careers The letter continues He has hired his wife to torun torun torun run the day care center at ata a starting salary of a year while the average starting salary of other qualified personnel has been the low end of the pay scale at As wi with th all job openings in a college the applicant must go through certain procedures In this case Mrs Cowgill along with other applicants was screened and interviewed Mrs Cowgill was chosen because of her experience in this field according to Morgan She has a Masters Masters Masters Mas Mas- degree in child development development development de de- and is currently currently currently cur cur- working on a doc doc- It is also important to state that Morgan hired Mrs Cowgill and said She uShe is worth every bit of 1 it t Of the recent cut budget-cut evaluations the letter states The president arbi arbitrarily arbitrarily ar ar- bi wrote in the results results results re re- he wanted The evaluations were handled by many persons including including including ing instructors as well as administration Because Dr Cowgill was never alone during these procedures procedures procedures dures it would have been impossible to alter the results results results re re- to suit his own needs It is our opinion that this subject was handled in a avery avery avery very democratic and fair way The letter says The UThe president continues to live in Ogden and commutes at state and school expense in an expensive new school purchased Chrysler While it is true that Dr Cowgill drives a new car carand carand carand and does indeed commute from Ogden it also is necessary to point out that the presidents of all colleges colleges colleges col col- leges are given a home to live in while serving as president and because Dr Cowgill has no need for fora a new home he therefore chose a car It is our opinion opinion opinion ion that this saves our college college college col col- lege money A HA fine woman mathematician mathematician mathematician math math- was installed as dean of the electronics department Ann Ericksen Erick- Erick sen indeed a fine mathematician mathematician mathematician math math- was appointed Assistant Dean of Technical Technical Technical Tech Tech- Occupations However However However How How- ever according to Morgan Morgan Morgan Mor Mor- gan her other qualifications qualifications q such as managerial manager manager- ial skills vision and insight insight insight in in- sight made her a good Rood choice Occasionally it is important to have knowledge knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge in these areas and this knowledge can far exceed exceed exceed ex ex- the need for capability ity in the field For example example example exam exam- many hospital administrators administrators administrators ad ad- have little knowledge of medicine It is unfortunate that unhappiness and unrest among a few people can cause such pain and agony to the family and friends of persons in the public eye The fact that the letter is anonymous leads us to wonder as to the motives of the writer or writers The fact that few faculty members members members mem mem- bers and even fewer students students students stu stu- dents even heard of the letter before it was thrust into their faces on campus leads us to wonder about the substantiality of the statements contained within the letter It is Points West's opinion that this matter was handled very badly and therefore should be forgotten The allegations against Dr Cowgill are biased and vague and therefore should be dismissed |
