| Tonia Moxley

tonia.moxley@roanoke.com, 381-1675

The Radford University Student Government Association has joined the chorus of faculty and alumni asking President Penelope Kyle to remedy ongoing problems with "mismanagement" and "miscommunication" on sensitive issues.

The SGA approved a letter of concern addressed to Kyle on Monday and posted it to the organization's Web site Tuesday. It was delivered to the administration Wednesday, according to SGA Senator Jordan Draper.

A string of controversies has tarnished the university's reputation, the letter asserts.

"This unfavorable view is decreasing the value of student diplomas from Radford University. ... If mismanagement and miscommunication continue, then this institution will suffer immensely," the letter stated.

The letter lists as problems the recent termination and reinstatement of new student programs Director Michael Dunn and Associate Director Marc Jacobsen and last spring's expedited program review that led to unpopular changes in some academic programs.

The letter also criticizes the administration for increasing the price of printing for students in on-campus computer labs from 1 cent per page to 5 cents without any advance notice.

"In the future we would appreciate the administration reconsidering the way it handles sensitive situations like these," the letter stated.

The SGA released its letter on the heels of a faculty senate vote on Oct. 22 expressing no confidence in the leadership of Provost Wil Stanton.

That vote stemmed from the release of a special investigative report that found no official wrongdoing by administrators but chastised them for creating a culture of fear that stifled dissent, for a lack of communication and transparency in decision-making, and for failing to include faculty input in major academic changes.

There has, so far, been no official response to the no-confidence vote, faculty senate President Steve Owen said.

Kyle is in the process of meeting with various faculty leaders to discuss issues, university spokesman Jeff Douglas said.

Read the SGA letter at sga.asp.radford.edu. Read the faculty senate's no-confidence motion at tinyurl.com/yk9swwa.