‘No Confidence’ Vote Hits Fullerton College President

Expressing overwhelming discontent and mistrust in their leader, members of Fullerton College’s Faculty Senate on Thursday cast a vote of “no confidence” in President Vera M. Martinez.

Senators called Martinez’s responses to their complaints about her leadership “whitewash” and said their problems with her are far more serious than simple miscommunication.

“This isn’t a matter of perception,” Senate President Mike Moore said. “This is a matter of conduct.”

The senate alleges that Martinez violated state law by not having faculty share in making decisions. It also charges that she has failed to work with faculty on planning and budgeting issues, repeatedly violated district policy on hiring and refused to adhere to long-standing curriculum processes.

Martinez attempted to dissuade the senate right before it cast its 26-3 vote against her, saying she hoped they would join her in seeking a mediator to open lines of communication and help resolve their differences, which she believes are about management style.

“My sense is that right now, at this moment, there are some concerns and differences in terms of perceptions and understandings,” she said. “Maybe, what we first need is mediation so that we can get clarifications.”

One senate member said that decision-making on campus has traditionally been “very, very process-oriented,” and that Martinez has been seen as a leader who does not follow process and promotes those whom she favors and punishes those who defy her.

Martinez, 58, said favoritism was never a factor in her decisions and that she invites and considers any ideas from colleagues before taking action.

“I walk around and speak to any and all people who wish to speak to me,” she said. “I am committed to that style. It’s not top-down. There’s no guru up there at all.”

The senate remained unconvinced. Members accused her of reassigning two deans without consulting staff before making her decisions. Martinez said that in both instances she did speak to at least one person, who she said gave her the impression that staff had been consulted.

After Martinez concluded her statements and left the senate meeting, members voted down a motion to hire a mediator.

“We are not just whiny children unhappy with her style,” said sociology professor Kerin McRoberts, who accused Martinez of telling lies.

But foreign language professor Mireille Taar said she was disappointed with the senate’s action. “We have closed off any chance of resolving our frustrations with this vote of no confidence,” she said. “I’m very sad about that.”

The vote carries no power of enforcement, but district Chancellor Tom K. Harris Jr. said he would evaluate the senate’s decision and would try to mediate between the faculty and Martinez “to try to work things out” before the board considers whether to fire her.