Fall semester began last week. Students went to class, student groups began meeting and everything was running as expected- except for one glaring omission: the Northeastern community is now missing an invaluable asset, former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Jim Stellar.
Stellar’s Sept. 5 resignation left members of the Northeastern community feeling puzzled. There were many questions surrounding the circumstances under which Stellar resigned.
The timing is unjustifiably inconvenient. At a time when hundreds of new students storm the campus, there needs to be someone who knows the ins and outs of each college. Having held deanship for 10 years, no one knows the College of Arts and Science the way Stellar does. And no one can deny his successes: He increased applications 171 percent and significantly increased co-op participation, retention and undergraduate research.
George Gottschalk IV, a former Student Government Association (SGA) executive vice president for student affairs and current chairsperson of the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Council, said in an e-mail to The News that he had recently spoken to Stellar about the dean’s “huge plans” for this semester.
So why does someone who has “huge plans” in the works just pack his bags and leave? A number of students who voiced their opinions said Stellar was known for following through with his plans and never leaving a job unfinished. While Bruce Ronkin is serving as the interim replacement, this sudden shift in leadership does not give Stellar’s projects much hope.
“Not for a second could I have imagined that he wouldn’t be around to complete them,” Gottschalk said in the e-mail.
The straw that broke Stellar’s back seems to be Provost Stephen Director, who took office in July. Some Northeastern community members suggest that Stellar’s resignation wasn’t entirely his decision since just two weeks ago Emily Staupe, a research assistant for the psychology department and Stellar’s lab, said Stellar talked to her about his plans for the fall semester.
“It simply does not make sense that the provost sent out a letter stating this was Stellar’s decision. I can’t buy that,” Staupe said in the last issue of The News. “If Jim himself told me, I wouldn’t buy that. I would be like, ‘What in the world are you talking about?'”
Director needs to be open about his role in Stellar’s departure. Hiding behind his letter announcing Stellar’s resignation is irresponsible and poorly handled. For a position like dean of a college, transparent communication with the students is vital, and in Stellar’s case, it was notably missing.
“Every student I have talked to says they’re shocked, they’re outraged,” Staupe said.
Stellar’s act is a hard one to follow and whoever will take over the permanent position of dean will have big shoes to fill.
“To replace a man like Dean Stellar is going to be virtually impossible, so good luck to whoever’s job it is to do that,” said Joey Fiore, former SGA president in the last issue of The News. “It is almost certainly going to be a downgrade from Jim Stellar.”
Stellar will go on sabbatical for 12 months and return to Northeastern full-time to teach psychology. The entire Northeastern community will be awaiting his return, where he will be inspiring us, the way only he can.
