The biology department’s attempt to fire Fred Montague proved as ill-fated as it was ill-thought out.
The decision hurt one man, his family and threatened hundreds of students. If other departments on campus can tighten their belts by 4.7 percent by cutting paper, paper clips and personnel not directly affecting instruction, why couldn’t the biology department?
How could the department view a man who advises about 700 undergraduates and generated more than $69,000 in enrollment funds last semester as dispensable?
And as an adviser, teacher and active member of the U community, Montague could hardly qualify as “non-essential” staff.
Perhaps some collaboration with the U’s accounting program is in order.
By cutting Montague, the department may as well have shot itself in the foot.
Students, faculty in the department and the university at large should be offended by a move to undermine the quality of our institution.
Judging by the actions of departments, alternatives do exist. Why show such disregard for its own integrity as a department?
However, biology department administration won’t explain their move, and we are left to speculate as to their motives.
Not surprisingly, the decision provoked quite a response from students. When the U administration stepped in and restored Montague’s position, it underlined the lack of logic used in the first place.
If U administration saw his importance from a distance, why didn’t the biology department recognize it from up close?
If the decision was intended to send a message, it failed miserably. The biology department has not gained the ear of those ultimately responsible for the massive cuts to higher education, the Utah State Legislature. Neither of the downtown newspapers have reported the story. It has not spread beyond the campus community.
As for the U administrators, their hands are tied. Unfortunately, they do not set the total budget amount for the university.
The reversal which returned Montague to the department was just, but damage has already been done.