Following the resignation of the department chairman, the faculty and staff of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication met Friday afternoon to discuss methods of working together through the turbulence.

“Issues about everything from how the work of the faculty is valued to how we treat each other were discussed, as well as what decisions will be made in the future and how the atmosphere can be improved,” said Barbara Mack, associate professor of journalism and mass communication.

In May, John Eighmey, the department chairman, and Joel Geske, the associate chairman, were stripped of their leadership duties within the Greenlee School amid allegations of racism within the school. The decision to remove the professors was made by Rollin Richmond, who was Iowa State’s provost at the time.

Two weeks later, ISU President Gregory Geoffroy reinstated both to their administrative positions.

Eighmey and Geske were initially removed as a reaction to discontentment in the Greenlee School, said Steve Coon, associate professor of journalism and mass communication.

“The provost, in essence, was looking at some complaints that had been brought to his attention about the working environment [in the Greenlee School],” Coon said. “He subsequently talked with several faculty members and following those conversations the provost took action to suspend the government within the Greenlee School.”

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Peter Rabideau, as well as a five-person committee, was then asked to look into the situation.

Following his annual review, Eighmey decided to step down from his position. He will remain in the position until a replacement is found.

“We are focusing more on working toward better ways to communicate and move forward in our ways of teaching than anything else,” Mack said.

Cindy Christen, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication, also attended the meeting and agreed with Mack.

Christen said the problems within the department were rooted in a failure of communication.

In addition to the faculty and staff meeting, a diversity committee has been formed consisting of four professors within the Greenlee School. Among other things, the committee will focus on diversity issues within the school and will organize a diversity workshop for all the Greenlee faculty and staff, Christen said.

“Journalism education at large is currently struggling with issues – between the balance of practical education and scholarly research – and this will just help us do that more effectively,” Mack said.

Those at the meeting also discussed the process of replacing Eighmey. Christen said a replacement could be found as soon as the end of fall semester, but more realistically the end of spring.

Besides forming the new committees, staff and faculty at the meeting discussed getting back to the business of school, following up on items from the faculty retreat and moving ahead with searches for new faculty.

Both Mack and Christen said the most important thing was that all these issues will not affect the situation for the students as the fall semester begins.

“We understand that we have a duty to report to students and alumni on how we are working together, and although that has not yet been done it is very much still in progress – there will be only improvement from here on,” Mack said.