 "Photo: Jacob Hight")
In spring 2010, the leave of former Meramec Vice President of Student Affairs Stephen Petersen, Ed.D, not only came abruptly but without answer. On March 1, Petersen received notice from former President Paul Pai, Ed.D, indicating that Petersen’s contract would not be renewed and furthermore that it would be his last day at Meramec.
“Needless to say, I was in shock since my reviews had been positive,” said Petersen. Petersen also said that Pai had hand-written a very complimentary letter in support of Petersen’s participation in the December 2009 Executive Leadership Institute. There was no indication that Pai was unhappy with Petersen’s work or that his job was even in jeopardy, according to Petersen.
“When I asked for clarification, Pai repeated the same two statements. One, I was not a good fit for Meramec, and two, this just isn’t working out,” said Petersen.
These ambiguous statements have been the source of many rumors that have circulated throughout the campus, when in fact the real dismissal lies in the untold stories of administration and students.
Myers: The Proposition
Prior to the official announcement of the daycare closings, student Gyla Myers had an in-depth meeting with Pai. Myers said that at the beginning of the meeting, Pai asked if she was aware of the presidential scholarships that he offers. “He spoke further about the tuition cost at UMSL and the Presidential Scholarship and said, quote, ‘I just wanted to make this information available to you. I wanted you to be aware of opportunities available and speak to you about child care,’” said Myers.
Myers explained that she was not interested in the presidential scholarship or attending UMSL. In fact, her plans were to attend Washington University and apply for the Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholarship. “He further explained that this scholarship is very hard to come by and Wash U was very expensive,” said Myers.
Myers said Pai then proceeded to tell her that continuing to go to the board of trustees meetings and pressing the issues of child care would only make her appear weak. The conversation continued for another 15 minutes before she finally stated that it was her fundamental legal right to attend and speak at these meetings. “I told Pai I’m not going to stop,” said Myers.
At this point, Myers said Pai became upset and asked if Earline Powell was behind Myers’ persistence, and if Petersen put Myers up to pressing the board and was feeding her information. “Again I said no. I then told him all the info I have obtained has been through public records,” said Myers.
According to Myers, Pai then told her that if she were to stop “torpedoing” the board of trustees meetings, she would have the option of meeting Chancellor Zelema Harris, Ed.D, to talk about Myers’ future. She stood up. “This is my fundamental right and to attempt to suppress one’s speech is only going to cause further protest,” Myers insisted.
Petersen: The Meetings
After Pai’s failed attempt at silencing Myers, he then asked Petersen to resolve the situation.
Petersen said Pai called him to his office in early fall ‘09 and indicated that the continued appearances by students at board of trustee meetings was an embarrassment to him as our campus president and to our campus. Pai continued to vocalize his frustrations by stating that Meramec students, along with the Forest Park students, seemed to be the primary speakers at the board meetings, and that one student in particular seemed to be the orchestrator of all of these appearances, Petersen said.
There was another meeting a few weeks later where Petersen said Pai directed him to not only stop the students from coming to the meetings but from speaking at them as well. “What he was asking me to do was to deny a citizen their right to free speech,” said Petersen. “Dr. Pai’s request put me in an incredibly awkward position because he was asking me to violate the laws of the state of Missouri and he was asking me to violate board practice.”
Petersen said that he has never been asked to do something so blatantly unethical and that he has never been faced with this situation before. “I responded the only way I knew how because I believe in being honest and straightforward myself and being ethical, and there was just no way that I could fulfill his request,” said Petersen.
On March 1, 2010, Petersen was called into Pai’s office one last time. There he received notice that that day would be his last. Petersen said he was asked by Pai to provide an explanation that Petersen could use to explain his decision to leave. “I told him it was not my decision to leave. I love the college and my work and that he should be very clear in indicating that it was his decision to let me go,” said Petersen.
According to Petersen, he was asked to return to his office to collect his personal belongings and leave as quickly as possible. “I got the clear impression that Pai did not want me speaking with anyone before I left.”
Even though Pai requested to Harris on Feb. 26 that Petersen’s contract should not be continued past June 30, he was let go just days later, three months earlier than expected.
“What happened to me is the byproduct of one or perhaps two individuals...” said Petersen.
If this is in fact the reason Petersen’s contract was not renewed, then according to Petersen, there are other issues that have to be addressed. “...I’m hopeful that conversations that may play out in the future can determine that.”
Petersen said he has tried very hard not to fight this situation in public. “I’ve tried to be very professional and very ethical in how I have been trying to get some attention to this issue...” said Petersen. “I think it’s an incredibly dangerous practice for the college to be able to simply dismiss an employee without any explanation or without providing any cause.”
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