Thursday, August 25, 2016 | Volume 159, Issue Nebraska’s Oldest College Newspaper Want more Doane news? Follow us the doane @doaneline SPORTS page 8 LIFE & CULTURE page 5 ‘Like’ Doane Two new coaches join Doane’s To learn about student reviews of Student Media Athletic Department, read more on Starbucks, OBC Grill and the new owl page 8. meal plan, lip to page 4. Carter eliminates chaplain position BAYLEY BISCHOF student population, Editor-in-Chief globally, nationally regionally and local- COLE BAUER ly, there is a great- Multimedia Coordinator er need to expand opportunity for all On Aug. 4, Reverend Karla Cooper was left jobless. students to more di- President Carter eliminated the chaplain position, and rectly connect to spir- therefore Cooper, because her role no longer fit into his idea itual leaders. It will of an interfaith program. be a good thing for Yet, just three months earlier, Carter said Cooper was the current student the right person to lead the university spiritually as it moves clubs and groups on toward an interfaith center. campus to have this In response, Doane’s faculty is shocked – and taking ac- full-time dedicated tion. support out of Stu- dent Affairs.” Thursday, a faculty forum will vote on a resolution that Karla Cooper’s staff photo. requests that the president of the university and the Board Carter said he of Trustees reconsider Cooper’s dismissal. wanted the coordina- They want their chaplain back, and they want Cooper tor to have strong organizational skills and knowledge back. about many different religions, he also said that Carrie Cooper was stunned too. Petr, Dean of Student Affairs, was responsible for the de- “It took me a minute to really grasp everything that was velopment of the interfaith center and the new position, shared,” she said about the meeting with Carter that result- and would be able to give a more in-depth description. ed in her firing. When asked to describe the replacement for the chap- Now, Cooper is still grappling with the reality, and won- laincy, Petr said: dering about her role on campus moving forward, as she’s “We will begin a spiritual outreach program, the title no longer chaplain, but is still an adjunct professor, and for which is yet undetermined - obviously, and in doing leading a trip to India in January. so, will hire a full-time coordinator person.” “Well, am I fired or not?” she said. When asked to describe the position, she said: Cooper isn’t the only one confused. “There will be a full-time professional staff person Junior Jordan Zonner’s first reaction was “Why?” who is responsible for the spiritual outreach program.” Why was her adviser, her mentor -- her friend, fired? Af- She went on to describe the role: ter reading the emails from President Carter, Zonner said “To coordinate the spiritual outreach program,” Petr she still doesn’t know. said. “The program itself has not yet been fully devel- Instead of a chaplain, Carter wants to hire a spiritual de- oped. There is a task force that has yet to be appointed velopment coordinator. This person would focus on spiritu- that will look at all aspects of what the program should al programming and connecting students to religious lead- entail and will determine all of the pieces of the job de- ers in Crete and surrounding communities. scription. “ This coordinator cannot be ordained, said Carter. He be- This apparent lack of planning is one reason why lieves it would hinder the coordinator’s ability to connect faculty members are upset, said math professor Barbara with students of all faiths. Herzog. But Carter has said many times that one of Cooper’s “I have not heard any clear plan of what is happening strongest attributes was her ability to provide services for now that Karla (Cooper) is gone,” Herzog said. “I feel PHOTO BY ASPEN GREEN | The Doane Owl students of all religions. like why would you make such a change if you don’t In fact, in a 2013 performance evaluation, made available have a plan in place?” Karla Cooper’s empty ofice is still covered in artwork Several faculty members interviewed said they had oth- that focuses on acceptance and diversity, even though to The Owl, Carter said he was pleased that she included Cooper is gone. principles from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, er concerns, too: Hinduism and Native American Spiritual practices. -- They believe the removal of the chaplaincy will leave In a 2015 performance evaluation, Carter said that her a void in religious resources for students, faculty and the But despite being fired and despite the conflict, Cooper services and programs were “consistent with the kind of re- entire Doane community. will be in class Thursday morning. And she will be focused ligious pluralism that our community seeks and needs.” -- They are concerned about the message Cooper’s dis- on giving her students her best, she said. When asked why he changed his mind about Cooper’s missal sends about Doane University’s willingness to em- “I have to see my LAR and trip to India through. Because ability to be inclusive of all religions, he didn’t answer. brace diversity. it’s not fair to the students,” Cooper said. “It’ll hurt to go He did say, “As we continue to grow and expand the -- They feel that Carter is not interested in their opinions, down there for class on Thursday, but I know God’s grace is and dismissive of their concerns. sufficient and this will be the best academic year.” Faculty ights for Karla In the wake of Rev. Karla Cooper’s firing, formally approve the resolution, she said. Doane’s faculty is angry and unwilling to stay They are so united because they feel this deci- silent. sion was so wrong -- for many reasons. They’re also united in their disapproval of One reason being the message this decision President Jacque Carter’s decision. sends about racial inclusivity on Doane’s cam- On Aug. 22, Doane faculty gathered at a fac- pus. ulty forum and raised the following resolution, Cooper was one of five black women em- as made available to The Doane Owl: ployed by Doane, and arguably, the most visible, “The faculty of Doane University is unified said education professor Marilyn Johnson-Farr. in its request for restoration of the Office of the Now, there is one less. Chaplain, the elimination of which resulted in “One less person that looks like us,” said ju- the dismissal of Reverend Karla Cooper. We re- nior Jordan Zonner. spectfully request a reconsideration of this de- Not only was 20 percent of Doane’s women cision and its implications by President Carter of color fired, but just hours after the email an- and the Board of Trustees.” nouncing the removal of Cooper, a strong black In the informal vote, the results were 69-1 in woman, a role model for diversity and inclu- favor of passing the resolution, said education sion, we received an email about Doane’s new PHOTO BY ASPEN GREEN| The Doane Owl professor Linda Kalbach. initiatives to increase diversity, said education Cooper speaks at a diversity event hosted by IDEA in the Perry Campus Center. An official vote will happen on Thursday to SEE FACULTY|PAGE 2 Student confusion surrounds removal of chaplain position COLE BAUER Though her position is we are left hanging with really toward a student’s per. a large hole in multiple ar- Multimedia being replaced, Cooper’s one (advisor) and we need understanding of why “Karla was the kind of in- eas.” Coordinator dismissal has left IDEA (In- two people. Now who are someone would be released dividual who could inspire Though Cooper may be clusion, Diversity, Equality we going to go to for that from their job.” anyone, whether it was in a gone, the lessons she im- To some students, the and Access) short of an ad- courage? That spirit?” Zon- Though Cooper will classroom, a chapel, or in a parted on those who worked Rev. Karla Cooper was Do- visor. ner asked. eventually be replaced by a quick five minute conversa- within IDEA remain. ane’s chaplain. Cooper was both a The elimination of Coo- spiritual outreach coordina- tion in the hallway,” Reiter “Karla (Cooper) said To IDEA members, Coo- founder and an advisor, per’s position has left many tor, senior Cheyanna Kem- said. “She always exuded many times in our meetings per was a mentor. along with Marilyn John- students like Zonner feeling pel questions whether it was kindness, thoughtfulness, that Doane belongs to the To junior Jordan Zonner, son-Farr, of IDEA, Zonner confused and wanting more wise to fire Cooper, who ac- and passion for what she students. We chose it and it she was a friend. said. Cooper was also the information. tively advocated for all stu- thought was right. Based on would not run without us,” This summer, Doane an- person who encouraged “I want to know reasons dents on campus, especially her contributions as a pro- Kempel said. “This is some- nounced Cooper had been the organization’s members and I feel like the email minorities, she said. fessor, a chaplain, an inter- thing I think we should all let go as chaplain, and the to “keep pushing” and to that was sent out was not Doane alumnus Eric term trip leader and one of be reminded of more of- position was to be replaced speak up about their beliefs. enough,” Zonner said. “It Reiter believes it will take the very few women of col- ten.” by a new spiritual outreach “I feel like it was just a was more focused toward much more than hiring a or in the staff and faculty, I program.