Eliza’s SOU experience – Fall 2010
Early August - Eliza enrolled as a non-admitted student
August 16th - She registered for "Introduction to Ceramics"
September 19th - 25th
1. Deb sent email to Assistant Professor - Robin Strangfeld - to introduce Eliza and let her know of our interest in assisting Eliza in the class.
2. Out of curiosity went to the SOU Disability Resources Office and made appointment to learn what accommodations are available to student with disabilities. None seemed relevant or needed. Did discuss the personal assistant option.
3. Participated in various orientation activities - talks; welcome to SOU for new students at Raider Stadium; women's volleyball game; the Art Major Orientation where we met Robin and the other art professors and toured the different art facilities.
September 27th & 29th - Signed personal assistant form and went to first class. Classes are from 1:00-3:50 on Monday and Wednesday. Met fellow students and participated right off the bat in partner activities with Deb facilitating as needed.
September 30th - Received a phone call from Dean of Students, Laura O'Bryon, asking Deb to get Eliza settled and not speak to Eliza or other students during class.
October 4th & 6th - Deb pulled back and worked in adjourning room letting Eliza do own work. Class went up to gallery, Eliza went with Robin and class, Deb stayed put. The 4th point of letter describes this trip to the gallery...I wasn't aware they ever went across a street and I wasn't there to witness what they describe. The "interfering with curriculum" statement seems to be coming from this week, when I was asked not to intercede with Eliza or students. I would maintain that no curriculum was altered or professor having to take time away from the other students when I was allowed to act as facilitator for Eliza.
October 6th - Eliza received a phone call from Dean of Students asking her and I to come in and meet. Eliza was immediately worried that she had done something wrong and announced to Deb that "it is very humiliating." Set meeting for 11:00 on Monday, Oct 11th.
October 11th & 13th - Deb, Ron and Eliza thought they were going to meet with Dean of Students. Got there and found Sue Walsh, Associate Provost, and Vicki Purslow, Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences came to meet as well. Discussed Eliza's desires, learning style, and assistant needs. Were surprised to hear claims that the curriculum was being altered due to Eliza. Assured all that Eliza was successfully included at AHS with an educational assistant without interfering with curriculum or disrupting the class and that Deb was there to serve in that capacity. Meeting ended with our being asked to switch Eliza to audit and Dean of Student's suggestion that they find an art major student to be Eliza's assistant. In class, Deb asked Robin if she could assist Eliza as needed and Robin indicated that would be fine. Eliza was switched from credit to audit status this week.
October 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 25th, 27th, Nov. 1st, 3rd, 8th - Eliza attended class with Deb assisting. Worked on all her projects both in and out of class - coil, slab and portrait - she was fully engaged in and committed to all 3. We were not aware of Eliza's presence being harmful in anyway to teacher or students. Eliza received a phone call from Alissa Arp on our way to post office and class on Nov. 8th. She asked if we had received the letter. We had the slip in hand and were on our way to the post office to pick it up.
November 8th - Picked up Certified letter from Post Office
November 9th - Opened the certified letter - learned Eliza was being withdrawn. All of us were shocked and upset - no prior communication for 4 weeks, thought everything was going great and then boom. Ron called for clarification on if she was still to attend class during the grievance process. Alissa Arp returned call and talked to Deb. She was not to go to class - effective immediately. Deb asked if they would reconsider - allowing Eliza to finish her last 7 classes and once quarter was complete, Eliza would go elsewhere for her education. Dean Arp said she would check and let us know.
November 10th - Got a call from Dean Arp and decision stands. Said decision was going over their heads and up to State. Told Dean Arp that the letter was dated October 19th and yet we hadn't received it until Nov. 8th - how were we supposed to respond in 10 days of the date with our grievance? She replied it would be 10 days from the time we picked up the letter at the post office. We were both disappointed and amazed by their decision to terminate Eliza with only 7 more classes left. Eliza was very unhappy and could not understand why they no longer wanted her to be a student. She very much wanted to go to class on Wednesday - as she had projects needing attention. Eliza and Deb decided to write letters to students and Robin to explain why Eliza isn't in class. Delivered the letters 20 minutes before the end of class and picked up her punch bowl project. We were bummed and students who opened their letters were incredulous.
November 11th - Ron called President Mary Cullinan's office and spoke with her explaining what had transpired from our perspective. She was unaware of the decision. Wanted Ron to go to staff below her. He urged her to go ask the students and teacher to see how they felt about having Eliza in the class. She agreed to check into the situation.
November 12th - No word. Deb sends out email to friends and family
November 13th - Peter Buckley speaks with Mary Cullinan - She stated this was an academic decision and she doesn't typically interfere with any academic decisions. She was unaware of who made decision. Promises to find out who and why. Letters are coming, Students plan to take issue, with Eliza, to Student Senate on Tuesday.
November 15th - Set up BLOG
November 16 – Ron, Deb and Eliza met with Dean of Students and grievance officer Laura O’Bryon. Discussed the informal and formal grievance policies. Asked to meet in a face to face with Professor Strangfeld, Laura O’’Bryon and Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, Alissa Arp. At 6:30 pm, Eliza, Ron and Deb went to the ASSOU Student Senate Meeting. Paul Jenkins, Stevenson Union Senator introduced a Resolution in support of Eliza. Eliza was given the floor and presented her statement. Deb read a letter from Eliza’s friend Erika. Mollie Mustoe, ceramic classmate to Eliza spoke and let Senate know that all but 2 signatures from classmates had been obtained and the others would be forth coming. (ALL 19 are in hand now). Senate voted 17-0-0 to support Eliza’s returning to class with needed support.
November 17 – Unable to reach anyone at SOU. Extremely frustrating. Meeting we requested was never brought up again and certainly didn’t happen. We finally wrote a 4 page informal grievance and emailed it to all the players involved. We requested SOU: “Allow Eliza to come in this week, outside of class, to finish her portrait project and join her classmates for the final 2 classes, Nov 29th and Dec.1st. After that, we will sit down with whoever needed – legislators, administrators, faculty, students and citizens of our community to begin figuring out how we embrace the newest generation of students who are being included at the K-12 Level and, like Eliza, would like an opportunity to have a University experience and education.” Received word via phone from Dean O’Bryon that Eliza could come in 1 hour on Friday to glaze. Where told certified letter would be sent arriving Friday - would not comment verbally about decision.
November 18 - Ron received phone call from Dean O’Bryon. Eliza can take as much time as she needs glazing Friday. Letter will arrive on Monday.
November 19th – Phone call to Ron from Dean O’Bryon informed him that certified letter would be mailed today and received on Saturday. When asked about decision, Ron was told she thought we would like it.
November 20th – Certified letter arrived. Eliza read it out loud. No change, Eliza can not complete class with peers. She is devastated – again. Only concession was that Professor would meet with her to critique her work 1 week after final class and classmates could be present if they desire. For Eliza it is about being with and learning from the other students in the typical classroom norm. She wants to see the other students’ work and hear their critiques and give her own. This decision, after all the talking and requesting and reasoning and emotional upheaval we have experienced felt awful. Where is compassion and reason. – it is simple – see the person, not the disability.
November 21st – 23rd – Letters continue to come in. Now have 61 posted and others that where sent to SOU and not to us. Peter Buckley continues to ask SOU administrators to change position. Press is going in full gear on this story all weekend and this week so far. Story has hit National BLOGs and has gone over seas. Many in community are upset over this apparent stubbornness on the part of the SOU administration. News comes through various channels that large donors are upset, faculty are upset, fund raising efforts are getting compromised and parents have starting weighing in on it not being the University they thought they were sending their kids too. We remain mystified as to what it would actually take for the growing collective voice to be heard. Who is out there that can actually say - for the benefit of all - let’s stop this train. Articles, editorials, Mail Tribune Opinion and 500+ petition signatures - all agree enough is enough. SOU Administration is looking more and more out of touch, hurting first Eliza who has deserved none of this and now the University it serves. Perhaps Bob Given was right after all – it is Shame On U and the decision made by a few may be best overridden.
December 16th- Eliza filed a formal complaint with the University for discrimination.
Mid January - Joe Holliday, Oregon University Systems (OUS) VP of Student Success, at the request of President Cullinan, came to SOU and conducted interviews with Eliza, Deb, Ron, one ceramics classmate and Professor Strangfeld.
February 15th - Eliza received a written decision from SOU President Cullinan denying any discrimination. Report referenced Joe Holliday's findings and observations and comments from the ceramics Professor with no mention of art she produced or information provided from Eliza, her family or fellow students.
Mid February - SOU administration proposes new non-admit policy to faculty senate.
February 23rd - March 27th - Eliza made several attempts to meet with SOU or OUS administrators to resolve the issue without spending more tax payer dollars. Rep. Buckley met with Joe Holliday and informed family that OUS would be unable to engage in conversation until Eliza formally disagreed with the President's decision.
March & Early April - 4 students from Chapman University hear of Eliza's story and come up to film a documentary on Eliza.
March 28th - Eliza filed a formal appeal to the OUS Chancellor stating reasons that she disagreed with the President's decision and asked to meet to resolve and, if that didn't resolve or permission to meet wasn't granted, asked for a hearing to impartially present all sides of the issue.
Late March - Early April - SOU faculty senate passes new non-admit policy (See New SOU Faculty Senate Approved Non-admit Policy)
April 12th - Eliza received acknowledgement from OUS of her request. The request for a meeting was denied and the request for a hearing was still being considered.
May 6th - Having received no more communication from OUS as to whether the hearing would be granted, Eliza filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights asking that they investigate what transpired and determine if she was discriminated against based on her disability.
May 9th - 13th - Eliza goes to LA and attends the screening of her documentary at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts on May 12. The documentary, titled 'Hold My Hand,' was one of 6 produced by students in Chapman University's Community Visions class with generous funding provided by the Dhont Family Foundation and has been nominated for a Cecil Award.
