Conn College tries to talk it out
Trustees meet with students, faculty to air grievances
New London — About 200 students at Connecticut College continued to call for President Katherine Bergeron’s resignation Friday at a town hallstyle meeting with members of the school’s Board of Trustees.
The college said it has brought in a consulting firm to conduct a review of recent developments in the wake of former Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Rodmon King’s resignation.
On Friday, three members of the 35-person Board of Trustees, Karen Quint, Jonathan McBride and Sydney Lamb, met with students to listen to their concerns. Three other board members, Peter Skaperdas, Dwayne Stallings and Betty Bibbins, met with members of the faculty at the same time.
Students packed into the balcony and first floor of the school’s Palmer Auditorium. Large letters spelling out “R-E-S-I-G-N” were written in chalk on the exterior of the building. The sidewalk leading to the auditorium’s entrance was filled with slogans also written in chalk.
“For some reason, we still have faith in Conn,” first-year student Libby Kotei-Fearon told the trustees. “As you’re taking your notes, don’t make us lose the faith we have. Because to be honest with you, it’s not a lot.”
The students told trustees about housing conditions — particularly, the mold in dormitories — the treatment of staff and faculty in the Institutional Equity and Inclusion Department, and their frustration with the college’s communication of recent events.
“We can learn a lot from conversations among ourselves as a community,” said Quint, vice chair of the board. “We are going to commit the additional resources. We want to make sure we use them in the most effective way. As a board, our responsibility is to support the mission and vision
of the college.”
Students have demanded Bergeron’s resignation since earlier this month when King resigned because of a planned college fundraiser at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Fla., which he said had a reputation as anti-Black and antisemitic. King later wrote of Bergeron’s “bullying behaviors” in a letter to the trustees.
The fundraiser was canceled, but students continued to protest and at least 120 of 168 faculty members signed a letter to the trustees urging them to begin searching for a replacement for Bergeron.
Since King’s resignation, letters from current and former faculty have insisted that Bergeron has created an environment that has prevented faculty from effectively doing their jobs.
“We initiated an outside review of the president that is ongoing and underway. It should be wrapping up shortly,” Quint said. “It’s a delicate process and we need to handle that with care.”
John Kramer, vice president of marketing and communications for the college, said in a statement Friday afternoon that the college would not be releasing the name of the consulting firm.
After King’s resignation, Bergeron issued a letter to the school community with an apology and promise to do better in the future to “make sure all decisions are consistent with our goals and ideals.”
She has declined multiple interview requests.
Throughout Friday’s meeting, the board members listened as students told stories of how they believed the college failed them.
“There’s mold in dorms,” one student said.
“I woke up in the middle of the night, and the ceiling was leaking on me,” another added.
Other students voiced frustration with the high turnover rate of employees in the Diversity, Institutional Equity and Inclusion Department at the college.
“I only just got here but two people I clicked with have left,” first-year student Westley Cardani said, referring to King and Rachel Stewart, former sexual violence and prevention coordinator, who left the college late last year.
Students said the turnover rates have resulted in students having to lead and coordinate programs within that department.
“I wasn’t aware of how much students were having to step into these roles,” Quint said.
Students seemed to grow agitated seeing that the board members were unaware of the concerns students were sharing with them.
“Thank you for coming, and I’m disappointed in all of you,” junior Xenia Bernal said to the trustees, as the audience applauded in the auditorium.
Three faculty members who spoke with The Day, but asked that their names be withheld to protect their jobs, said their colleagues stated their similar frustrations to the board. They said the board members became more receptive as the meeting progressed.
“It’s a 50/50,” if the board will remove Bergeron, one faculty member said.
Students have been discussing further action, including protests and locking themselves inside administrative buildings.
“If you guys don’t make the change, we will for you,” said first-year Jacob Marrero. “If change isn’t done, student leaders will take the reins from them,” he added.
Bergeron was named president in 2013, and in 2021, announced the largest gift in the college’s history of $30 million.