Hocking College Trustee Destroys Records

Malcolm Morgan
mm141606@ohio.edu

President of the Hocking College Faculty Union and math professor Cheryl Mansky filed a public records request for evaluations of the candidates for president of the college. Mansky was shocked when she was told that some of the documents were destroyed.


Hocking College's search for a new president is falling under scrutiny after public records concerning the search were destroyed.

College spokeswomen Judy Sinnot confirms that the documents were destroyed by College Trustee and leader of the presidential Search, Alan Geiger. Sinnot also confirms that it is protocol to summarize the candidates evaluations.

The evaluations were not only from faculty members but from students as well. Students play an important role in the College's presidential search.


Cheryl Mansky talks about the role of the students

Mansky says getting feedback from a cross section of the campus has been important in this presidential search. The search is down to three candidates, Ron Erickson, a vice president at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., David Devier a vice president at Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio, and Dennis Harkins, a provost and regional campus president at Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta. With this many candidates having the opinion of as many people as possible is very important.

The original records for two of the candidates were still intact. But the records for Erickson were not. Geiger maintains that he summarized the evaluations. Sinnot also supports Gieger, saying that it was never expected for the board members to see every evaluation. However, Mansky is concerned that every opinion may not be heard.


Cheryl Mansky talks about the effect of lost records

The Faculty Union made a presentation at last nights trustee meeting and Mansky is hopeful that the board will listen and make an informed decision.

This is not Hocking College's first brush with controversy. Current Hocking College President John Light is retiring June 30th during a state investigation into fraud and theft at the tax-subsidized school.