Interim dean says she represents students

Student senator said dean refused to discuss with her last year's budget crisis but now says she is satisfied with dean's response to her concerns

By MAURICE O. NDOLE

Luz Gonzalez, interim dean of the College of Social Sciences, defended her decisions during last-year’s budget crisis in front of supporters and opponents Monday.

Gonzalez was speaking at a public forum organized by the dean search committee, designated for the dean candidates to present their vision for the college.

She faced questions from the student senator of the College of Social Sciences, Vianey Nunez, about her commitment to working with students.

In fliers distributed around campus, Nunez claimed Gonzalez had refused to meet with her to discuss last year’s budget crisis.

“I was a senator, and I think if my voice is not heard, it means the students’ voice is not heard,” Nunez said.

Nunez said that during the budget crisis, students were not given enough time to participate in the process.

“Students were informed at the last minute,” Nunez said. “My main thing is improved communication so that students voices can be heard at all levels.”

But during her presentation, Gonzalez said she was faced with difficult decisions to make during the budget crisis. She defended her decision to consolidate departments, saying it gave the departments protection against elimination. She also said she put students’ opinions into consideration.

“We listened to the students,” Gonzalez said. “We did not suspend any (student) programs, and all departments maintained their autonomy.”

Gonzalez said her decisions were based on protecting the college from the budget cuts, making sure staff didn’t lose their jobs and making sure students didn’t lose any programs.

College of Social Sciences administrative assistant Mary Nieto said she has seen Gonzalez assisting students on numerous occasions.

“I have worked with Dr. Gonzalez for a long time and she cares for students,” Nieto said.

Nieto said it was in Gonzalez’s character to find assistance for students who needed help when she couldn’t provide the assistance herself.

“She would pick up the phone to find somebody to help him,” Nieto said.

Student assistant Natty Mora said she has had a good experience with Gonzalez. Mora gave an example of a moment when she witnessed Gonzalez assisting a student who was trying to drop a class on the deadline date and the professor was not available to sign his drop card.

“The teacher was a part-time professor and the student could not reach the professor over the phone,” Mora said. “When Gonzalez heard about it, she went and signed the card on behalf of the teacher and herself.”

Nunez said she was satisfied by Gonzalez’s answers.

“She responded pretty fairly to my questions,” she said. “I hope she will keep her word.”

Nunez also said she was satisfied by the commitments Gonzalez made to the students at the college.

She said after listening to Gonzalez, she felt better about her vision for the college.

“I do think she came in at a very hard time,” Nunez said. “She has done a good job so far.”

Three candidates have applied to be considered for the position of dean of the College of Social Sciences: Mary Jane Chase, dean of arts and sciences at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Michael J. O’Brien, associate dean and professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri, Columbia and Gonzalez.

Information about the candidates and their evaluations can be found on the Social Sciences Web site.
http://academicaffairs.csufresno.edu/provost/collegeofsocialsciencedeancandidates.htm