DSU's troubled library building only a small part of the problem

By J. THOMAS BUTLER AND PHILIP SADLER

When we read James Merriweather's recent account of Delaware State University President Allen Sessoms' and board of trustees Chairman Claibourne Smith's reaction to the sorry state of the Delaware State University library, we were outraged and embarrassed.

Most universities consider the library the center of academic life and use it as a marketing tool.

Our leaders did not seem concerned about the exposure of students, staff, and visiting citizens to soggy, moldy carpets, furniture, and walls in the library.

We are, however, happy that since the article ran, the president told the faculty that windows in the library would be replaced, although it is too little, too late.

Sessoms' statement that few students use the library is both wrong and an open invitation for them to stay away, hardly what one would expect from an academic. The library and our leaders' comments form only a symptom of a much larger problem at DSU.

Smith's quote that spiffy new athletic facilities attract students while libraries don't is a pitiful statement from an educator. News flash -- students come to college for an education.

This attitude is entirely consistent with the actions of the president and the board of trustees.

A News Journal editorial aptly noted that DSU officials have their priorities for capital improvements in a peculiar order given the expenditures on nonacademic facilities. These priorities go further than just facilities.

Since Sessoms' arrival, the fascination with athletics has been obvious and expensive. Four new associate athletics director positions were quickly created, followed by a business manager for athletics, a director of football operations, and others. Numerous new coaching positions have been created in both old sports and new. Coaches have received very large salary increases.

We agree that athletics is an important part of college life, but watching and listening to our two leaders would lead to the conclusion that they think sports is the most important thing at DSU. We are embarrassed that compared to athletics, academics has faired poorly.

Despite Sessoms' continuing to say that we need more full-time faculty members, few are added.

He boasts about the graduate programs begun under his tenure. However, when permanent full-time faculty positions are not added, those programs seem more about raising revenue and padding the president's resume than about academic integrity.

Even when a few faculty positions are advertised, they sometimes do not attract many qualified applicants, possibly because word is out about the conditions at DSU.

We are embarrassed about classroom crowding and the overuse of adjuncts.

Adjuncts (part-time instructors) can be beneficial when used properly and in limited numbers. We believe that DSU's use of adjuncts is excessive.

We know of adjuncts who teach full loads, including one who is teaching five classes this semester, more than a full-time teaching load.

This is unfair to students who see their tuition raised every year and have a right to expect ready availability of teachers, quality instruction from faculty members who have a long-term stake in their education, and attentive advisement.

We are embarrassed that our board of trustees does not check the facts as presented by the president.

The board too often simply accepts what they are told and does the president's bidding.

If they were more curious, they might be shocked.

We are embarrassed that the learning environment is unlikely to improve with the attitude displayed by our president and board chairman.

J. Thomas Butler is a professor at Delaware State University and Philip Sadler is past president of the DSU Alumni Association.