Students protesting the racial climate at Ithaca College are not the only ones finding a collective voice with which to address institutionalized racism. In a tumultuous fall semester, at least 75 other colleges and universities have begun bringing their demands for change to their administrations.
Among the respondents, 48 percent said they had no confidence, 33 percent said they had confidence and 19 percent chose to abstain.
Ithaca College President Tom Rochon has announced he will retire, effective July 1, 2017, following the 2016–17 academic year.
After the Staff Council meeting Dec. 17, Sean Reilley, the chair of Staff Council, said, the council will be moving forward with a vote of no confidence in Rochon.
Faculty Council is being criticized by faculty members for releasing the results of the faculty no confidence vote to Ithaca College President Tom Rochon and the Ithaca College Board of Trustees before the rest of the college community.
A majority of faculty members have voted no confidence in President Tom Rochon as the results of the Faculty Council no confidence vote were released the morning of Dec. 14.
The familiar “Tom Rochon; no confidence” chant took a new form at POC at IC’s “Demands Walk-out” Dec. 11. POC at IC summoned Ithaca College President Tom Rochon to the stage at Free Speech Rock outside of Campus Center during a walk-out to hear a formal list of demands, with the crowd chanting: “Tom Rochon, resign.”
Approximately 300 members of the campus community gathered at Free Speech Rock to hear the list of demands drafted by POC at IC, and to call for Rochon’s resignation.
With its position as a representative body, Staff Council should have the courage to go further.
We wish to express our confidence that serious, conscientious changes in campus governance will make the College stronger and safer for everyone.
On Nov. 30, the Student Government Association showed our campus community what we have the capacity to do.
Ithaca College students have voted “no confidence” in President Tom Rochon, with 71.75 percent of students who voted expressing no confidence.
