Dear Campus Community,
It was a tremendous disappointment to have to take this step. We take great pride in the professionalism of our staff; in my long tenure with this university I’ve never before had to dismiss someone for so carelessly undermining the work and mission of this fine institution.
At MTSU, we take great pride in a campus that is truly a marketplace of ideas. We respect and value differences of opinion and freedom of expression. In fact this week MTSU was named one of the top 15 universities in the nation for its commitment to free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
But even as we enjoy the ability to share our opinions, it’s critical to remember as public employees that we have a special bond with the communities we serve. Trust is essential in everything we do.
We knew going in that the day following Mr. Kirk’s murder would be a difficult one on campus. A man was assassinated for his beliefs on a campus not unlike our own. Some of our students would be outraged, others saddened. And many would wonder just how safe they are at school.
This is the time when we count on our staff to be thoughtful, supportive and even-keeled. The best antidote for stress is caring.
Imagine our shock, then, when we learned that an employee had posted callous and insensitive comments on Facebook to an audience that certainly knows of her role at MTSU.
It was the exact opposite of what we would expect from anyone who represents our university to students and the public.
The fired employee had a leadership role in the Office of Student Care and Conduct. In that role, she oversaw the adjudication of student behavioral matters, a position that requires students to see her as fair and even-handed, a professional without agendas.
Simply put, this employee’s actions make her ineligible to work with students on their conduct. Speech can have consequences and her thoughtlessness and lack of empathy mean that no one walking into her office can see her as an objective arbiter of facts.
This action has badly disrupted and undermined the university, so we have taken the appropriate steps.
Sincerely,
Sidney A. McPhee
President
