SUNY Fredonia University Senate members attend Monday’s meeting. P-J photo by M.J. Stafford

A no-confidence resolution in SUNY Fredonia President Stephen Kolison didn’t make it to a University Senate vote Monday.

Senate members, including some who are not exactly supportive of Kolison, had numerous problems with the resolution. For example, there was discomfort that the resolution included Interim Provost Judith Horowitz, who took the post only four weeks ago.

Health professor Ted Lee, resolution sponsor, commented that the inclusion of Horowitz was meant to be a general indictment of the provost’s office. Lee said the resolution would have named David Starrett, the previous provost, had he not left.

One Senate member commented, “It’s a non-starter for me to include her on it.”

Student Senate representative Dakota Richter asked what a no-confidence vote would actually accomplish. “One possible outcome could be a change in leadership at the university,” Lee said, acknowledging that that was the goal of many who signed onto the resolution.

That led to some comments and concerns about what a vote of no-confidence in Kolison might lead the SUNY system to do. For example, Wayne Lynch – the new university finance vice president, who was at the meeting as a spectator – warned SUNY Fredonia could lose some of its autonomy. He speculated that Albany might send a replacement for Kolison who would accelerate changes, and looked at the campus as “more of a math problem” than an entity that deserves to be successful long-term.

Lee acknowledged that was a concern, but said the primary concern is the current leadership of the campus.

Helen Ihasz, whose letter to the OBSERVER pleading for changes appeared in Monday’s edition, made similar comments to the University Senate. She declared that people have been targeted and bullied on campus and “this is the kind of thing that can’t happen.” Ihasz said the University Senate should not be afraid to move forward with the resolution.

However, Jeanette McVicker stated that while the majority of faculty on campus generally supported the resolution, she felt the Senate “was not ready to vote on this today.”

The meeting broke up with agreement not to vote on the resolution. In any event, as Senate Chairman Rob Deemer put it, “Everything the Senate does is advisory. It’s good to remember that.”

Kolison commented on Wednesday morning: “While we have always known that our roadmap to financial sustainability would not be easy to implement, I am incredibly proud of the progress we are making to ensure Fredonia is best positioned to meet student needs for years to come.

“We cannot — and will not — lose sight of the need to continue our important work with urgency and care as we lead SUNY Fredonia forward and strengthen its standing as a destination university where students, faculty, and staff can thrive.

“Over the past four years, we have been transparent and consistent in discussing our university’s serious fiscal challenges, and we will continue to work with campus to ensure they have a clear understanding of our challenges and the steps necessary to strengthen our institution.”

Kolison and Horowitz attended the first half of the University Senate meeting, offering reports. They were gone by the time the Senate debated the no-confidence resolution in them.