CRYSTAL LUONG
Editor in Chief
Following yet another administrative reversal after a yearlong disciplinary process, the university has officially dismissed Dr. Ronald Fagan, professor of sociology.
In accordance with tenure policy, University President Andrew K. Benton made the final decision to terminate Fagan’s employment with Pepperdine.
“I read the recommendations of the Hearing Panel, applied my own judgment concerning fairness and integrity and made a decision that I believe was appropriate,” Benton wrote to the Graphic via e-mail.
Concerns that Fagan had forged student evaluations arose May of 2004, as previously reported. Upon evaluation independent of Fagan’s identity, the Seaver Rank, Tenure and Promotion Committee determined that such a case was grounds for dismissal.
Fagan then exercised his right to grieve last fall. In an unprecedented move, Benton overturned the Seaver committee’s decision and upheld grievance committee recommendations: to strip Fagan of tenure status, reduce his rank from professor to associate professor of sociology and require a public apology instead.
Benton’s final decision, effective in early May, followed the last-minute cancellation of the required public apology in April, according to Seaver Dean David Baird, who could not comment further on details.
Due to the confidentiality of personnel matters, Benton also declined to comment on factors causing the cancellation and eventually his change in judgment.
The dismissal came unexpected and was slightly unsettling to Social Science Division faculty. Since the process began, course schedules have been shifted at least three times, said Dr. Robin Perrin, professor of sociology.
“I was surprised by how dramatic a turnaround it was, in a sense,” Perrin said. “If there was a frustration, it was that it was very difficult to plan (courses) thinking of our student needs.”
Fagan, hired by Pepperdine in 1978, was scheduled to teach three courses this fall: a first-year seminar on social problems, criminology and juvenile delinquency.
The latter two have been canceled, and the division has added a sociology of religion course as a replacement. Larry Keene, a former full-time Pepperdine professor who recently retired, will take over the classes this semester, while the division puts out an ad for a new faculty hire, according to Dr. Chris Soper, Social Science chair.
Fagan could not be reached for comment.
08-29-2005