Rowan graphic. - Graphics Editor / Brendan Cohen
The University Senate held its second meeting of the semester over Zoom. Faculty continued to express concerns over President Trump’s targeting of higher education, the university passed a new department, and in an open forum. Vice President for Facilities and Operations Joe Campbell discussed the upcoming and current renovations at Rowan University.
The meeting opened with Campbell, where he gave a presentation on the renovations that are happening on and off campus.
Campbell mentioned the Chamberlain Student Center’s expansion, which will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 12, and gave an update on the renovations at Campbell Library, which will include a new Interactive Response Technology (IRT) bar, classrooms, and collaborative spaces.
Campbell then followed up with the announcement that the Esbjornson (Esby) Gymnasium would be getting an overhaul, removing the old and abandoned pool, and putting in a new weight room. He explained that the project, which is still in the design phase, will begin this fall.
“We’re taking out that old pool and we’re creating this weight room and training room and that’ll be open to everybody,” said Campbell.
Other renovations include Edgewood Park apartments, Bole Hall, and Glassboro Intermediate School which are all in the design process currently.
In response to President Trump’s changes to higher education funding, which recently threatened Columbia University’s federal funding over protests on campus, University Senate President Bill Freind maintained the same sentiment that he shared last meeting.
“It’s an authoritarian move,” said Freind.
Freind also said that he doesn’t see Rowan as a target on President Trump’s radar, but will still be affected due to these moves affecting all of higher education.
“We are a small regional university in South Jersey. We are largely off the radar. At this point, I’m not particularly concerned about a direct attack on Rowan,” said Freind. “Of course, I’m concerned about a broad-based attack on higher education because we’re already seeing it.”
Freind also brought up the Department of Education’s (DOE) Office For Civil Rights “Dear Colleague” letter.
The letter itself warns educational institutions receiving federal funding against race-based decision-making in admissions, hiring, financial aid, and other areas, emphasizing strict enforcement measures and potential loss of funding for noncompliance.
Freind reassured any professor who was wondering if they should change anything they were teaching in their classrooms.
“What should you change if you are teaching in your classes? Not one damn thing. Nothing, zero,” said Freind.
Freind then told professors with tenure to push the boundaries and teach the things the Trump administration is telling them to avoid.
“As a matter of fact, if you have the protections of tenure, I’d say ratchet it up. So, I teach U.S. literature. If you teach U.S. literature, you are teaching about race,” said Freind.
On the ongoing topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in mission statements, Freind emphasized the importance of keeping certain terms in place, criticizing certain Rowan departments, including the College of Education, for changing theirs without faculty input.
“I’ve been told that other departments in the College of Ed[ucation] have had theirs changed for them. Mission statements don’t get changed from my position,” said Freind.
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