By AMEARA DITSCHE
Executive Editor
The college was in court on Wednesday, Sept. 7 appealing an earlier state Supreme Court ruling that decided three Saint Rose music professors should keep their jobs. A decision has not yet been made.
Music professors Yvonne Hansbrough, Robert Hansbrough, and Bruce Roter were all in attendance as their attorney, Meredith Moriarty, reiterated their case in front of the appellate division of the state supreme court.
The basis of the professor’s argument is that the faculty handbook was not properly followed when making the cuts. The three suing are the only ones left of 16 full-time faculty who were affected by the cuts, says Robert Hansbrough. He says that the faculty handbook has a pecking order for layoffs in the event of cutbacks. On paper he drew a series of small lines and with a pencil looped around them in no particular order.
“This is basically what they did,” he said.
Each small line was to depict a faculty member, and with his pencil, Hansbrough demonstrated the out of order method in which people were let go or retained. Hansbrough also claimed that the music education major was profitable, saying he doesn’t see why the college cut it. Music education was also the first degree the college offered, he added.
“Saint Rose is an education-forward school, so how come they cut music education, math education?” said Hansbrough.
Yvonne Hansbrough, is the last person of color teaching in the music department, said Robert. He also mentioned that the math professors who were let go were also the people of color in their department.
John Hoke, from the law firm representing the educators, also mentioned the handbook. “The faculty handbook has procedures for that,” said Hoke.
Moriarty defended their case by saying that the order in which professors should be kept is tenure, rank, seniority. “If the college had properly followed order, the more senior members would be retained,” said Moriarty.
The college has put out an official statement on the matter. “Higher education has experienced a prolonged period of disruption made more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the College rose to meet those changing and challenging times.
Among numerous other responsive measures, the College made a difficult economic decision that impacted some of our valued employees. The College’s attorneys have presented our appeal to the court, and we will await and respect the decision of the court.” the college said in the statement.
According to Hansbrough and Roter, less experienced part-time professors are teaching classes they once taught. The change in education is felt among the students, according to the professors.
“Imagine how angry alumni are, and they’re the ones that send people to this college,” Hansborough said.
Lydia Flint graduated from Saint Rose in December 2021 with a B.A. in music. She says she was forced to graduate a semester early due to program cuts.
“I was promised a full four years. Although I got my degree as promised, I was looking forward to the full experience,” said Flint.
What really troubles the professors is the way in which they were terminated.
“If we were terminated correctly, we wouldn’t be here talking to you,” said Roter. “It wasn’t handled ethically,” he added.
The professors attributed the off-kilter faculty cuts to cronyism at the college. They mentioned that the group that submitted a counter proposal that “eviscerated” their departments did so late.
Currently, on the college website under information about the music department is a subheader that reads “Choose Saint Rose for Your Bachelor’s Degree in Music Industry.” However, the professors pointed out that degree is not technically available at the college. The degree is a B.S. in Music. Music Industry is just a concentration.
Roter, who is the founder of The Museum of Political Corruption is channeling his feelings by continuing to support his community. “One way I channel my anger is dealing with the issue of morality and ethics,” he said.
“This can not be the home of inaction,” he said.
