A report the Faculty Senate released Friday deemed the actions of a former ISU administrator too hasty when working on a case in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.

Rollin Richmond, former provost of Iowa State, made inappropriate decisions last spring when he dismissed two Greenlee administrators, according to the report.

Five faculty members outside the Greenlee School reviewed Richmond’s conduct and decisions.

Last May Richmond dismissed department chairman John Eighmey and associate chairman Joel Geske, after he received information claiming there was an atmosphere of incivility within the school, including racial complaints. Richmond also suspended the faculty-shared governance of the school, said Jack Girton, chairman of the Faculty Senate task force.

Two weeks later, President Gregory Geoffroy reinstated the two administrators. In July, Eighmey decided he would step down as chairman when a search committee finds a replacement.

In addition to the Faculty Senate task force, the university hired the Center for Creative Justice to assess the situation in the Greenlee School. The CCJ report was also released Friday.

According to the Faculty Senate report, Richmond’s actions were made in haste before the situation was investigated. ISU policy on racial or ethnic harassment states: “Even in the absence of a complaint, if university administrators, including the president, the provost, vice presidents, deans, department chairs, directors or managers, become aware of allegations of racial or ethnic harassment, it is their responsibility to inquire into, or seek assistance in inquiring into, the allegations to determine what action is warranted.”

Girton said Richmond simply made a mistake and would have come to a different decision if the matter had been further investigated. “He’s a very good man. He just made a mistake,” he said.

The report said the Faculty Senate’s investigation doesn’t support Richmond’s contention that racism was the reason for any hostility in the school.

According to the report, “All of the faculty, even those who most strongly opposed the chair, were adamant that there was never any indication that the chair or the associate chair supported, agreed with, or condoned racist attitudes or statements of any kind. The implications that they did so that appeared in the press were grossly unfair and unjust.”

A statement from the president’s office was made in support of the report.

“The faculty are strong in believing the leadership didn’t in any way condone or support anything that would be racist,” said Eric Abbott, professor in the Greenlee School and member of a five-member in-house committee investigating the school.

The report also states Richmond didn’t consult with the appropriate individuals before taking action.

Richmond didn’t discuss his actions with Geoffroy or the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Peter Rabideau.

“It’s quite unusual for a provost to bypass the dean and remove a chair,” Girton said. “It wasn’t a well thought-out decision.”

According to the report, Richmond’s lack of consultation with Rabideau and Geoffroy and the unusual procedure he followed raise concerns that his actions were arbitrary and capricious, and not the result of the careful deliberation that such a serious action should require.

The Faculty Senate task force considered recommending action be taken against Richmond, but concluded not to because Richmond is no longer employed by Iowa State.

According to the report, they felt it would be better to focus on improving the situation in the Greenlee School.

The task force recommended to the administration that an interim head be appointed in the school until the external search is concluded.

“Have they considered all the ramifications of [Eighmey’s] staying on for nine or 10 months, and how will it affect the healing process?” Girton asked.

Some faculty members in the Greenlee School, though in agreement with the findings of the report, said they see things differently.

“If we had this report in August [when the search for a new chairperson began], we might have done things differently,” Abbott said. “It might not make as much sense to have an interim chair appointed now.”

Abbott also said he didn’t know if it would be beneficial to appoint an interim chairperson.

“If you name an interim chair who has to take over for a short time before a new chair is named, do you help more or hurt more?” Abbott said.

Stephen Coon, associate professor of journalism and mass communication and member of Greenlee’s in-house committee, said it’s too late to appoint an interim chairperson.

“At this stage of the game, little would be served by doing that,” he said.

Girton said it’s time to learn from mistakes and move on.

According to Geoffroy’s statement, “The problems have been aired and thoroughly examined. Now it’s time to move forward.”