Ewu Leaders Let School Slip Letter Of The Week: From Jan. 7

Frank Bartel’s column, “Social conscience essential in making business decisions,” touched on an underlying problem in society: the absence of executive responsibility. The problem is not limited to corporate halls. Eastern Washington University exhibits the symptoms discussed by Bartel.

Under President Mark Drummond’s reign, the university has abandoned any sense of loyalty to employees. In 1993, the university laid off staff, claiming lack of funds, at the same time Dr. Drummond passed out raises to administrators and selected faculty.

In 1995, the university proposed more layoffs. Two weeks later, the university distributed $316,000 in raises to selected faculty. The university gave raises to several administrators under the guise of reorganization. The university reorganized again, reducing administrative responsibilities, and gave affected managers another raise.

The university is falling apart from lack of maintenance. Managerial and financial incompetence is rewarded, while hard work and loyalty to the institution are ignored.

Eastern has 52 buildings. Seventeen have leaking roofs. Eastern’s grounds are deteriorating from lack of sufficient staff. Eastern’s dorm population is at its lowest level since the five dorms opened.

This fall, every state-funded four-year university reported record or near-record enrollment with one exception: Eastern Washington University. Eastern’s enrollment declined.

Eastern’s board of trustees and senior management are ignoring their responsibility to Washington taxpayers and to employees. Employee loyalty is disappearing. There is no trust between management and staff. There is no effort by management to develop teamwork, loyalty or trust.

The result is an institution in decline. Tom McArthur Spokane

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