Friday’s announcement about President Beth Paul’s plans to step down from her position at the end of the academic year was met with mixed student reactions; some saw the announcement coming and others were shocked by the news.
Paul’s announcement to step down came after main campus faculty voted “no confidence” in her leadership in March. In May, faculty from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, the law school, and the main campus voted, and the resolution passed again with 78 in favor and 27 against.
In June, The Columbus Dispatch received an anonymous letter addressed to the university’s board of trustees, outlining faculty concerns.
Some students weren’t aware of the events of the summer, so Paul’s decision to step down came as a shock.
Logan Van Bibber, first-year vocal music education major, said he was surprised at the announcement, because Paul had just spoken at Welcome Weekend.
“From the speeches she gave us, it didn’t seem like parting words to the class; she was welcoming the class as a whole,” Van Bibber said.
Although this will present some changes for the next school year, Van Bibber said he’s still excited to see what’s in store for his academic career at Capital.
Jenay Kocsis, sophomore psychology major, said the events of the summer made the announcement seem inevitable.
“I knew there was some turmoil going on among the administration,” Kocsis said. “… but just from the surface level, when I see [Paul] around campus she always seems really nice, very friendly, and it seems like she really cares about us.”
Sam Waldvogel, senior interdisciplinary studies major, said he was surprised by the announcement at first because he was under the impression that she was planning to stay despite the faculty’s no confidence vote.
“I think she’s done a lot for the school,” Waldvogel said. “… There’s a lot more school spirit and more positivity, and I think she’s helped morale, so she’ll definitely be missed.”
Josh Miller, a junior public relations major, said he was expecting the announcement and wanted to thank Paul for her dedication to the university.
“At this time, I think that Capital should remember all that she’s done [for the university,] but look forward to a bright future just as she’s lead us into,” he said.
Paul will continue as university president until June 2020 according to the email an public statement sent to the community Friday.
“While this is a difficult decision, the timing for this change is right for the university and me,” Paul said in the email.
Board of Trustees Chair Bernie Ostrowski announced in a later email that the board will be conducting the search for new leadership and hope to have someone in place by July.
His email didn’t say when the search would begin, and Ostrowski did not respond by press time with more information about how or when the search will take place.
Read our earlier story on the announcement.
