Faculty and administrators have canceled an endowment-funded professorship at Central Michigan University because of conflicting viewpoints over replacement procedures.

The political science department announced in a Dec. 10 press release that the Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government will be temporarily vacant this spring.

About 20 CMU students may have to reschedule for an additional class because they were originally signed up to take the class PSC 301: Law and Policy in Michigan State Government, which is traditionally taught by the chair.

The press release indicated a search for current Griffin Endowed Chair Gary Peters' replacement was suspended after administrations allegedly took selection control away from political science faculty by imposing a new procedure for searches to fill the position.

Gary Shapiro, College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences dean, said he initially received an e-mail from Political Science Chair Rick Kurtz with a request to suspend attempts to fill the position immediately.

"I e-mailed him back and said, 'Rick, I agree with you. Please cancel the class and work with the Registrar's office to contact the students'," Shapiro said.

Shapiro said several attempts were made to settle differences between the parties in recent weeks, but none resulted in a consensus.

The limited timeframe for meetings compounded the problem, Shapiro said.

He emphasized the cancellation is strictly temporary.

"I take a great deal of pride in the Griffin Chair Program . I certainly want to continue to have that," Shapiro said.

Peters, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Joe Knollenberg on Nov. 4 to represent Oakland County's 9th Congressional District in Washington D.C.

He was scheduled to teach the 300-level political science class this spring, along with holding the annual spring Griffin forum. Peters was only halfway through his three-year contract with CMU.

Previously, department faculty members controlled the search for a new chair, but according to the release, that power will now rest with senior administrators, including a Board of Trustees member.

Kurtz denied several requests for comment throughout the week.

"Everything we have to say is on our Web site," he said.

The release states the new procedure took effect on Oct. 20, but was only shared with the department on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

At that point interviews for possible candidates were canceled, Shapiro said.

A final version of the new procedure was presented to the Board of Trustees at its Dec. 4 meeting and is awaiting final signature from University President Michael Rao.

"The Political Science Department believes this new procedure transforms the Griffin Chair into a position that will be filled on the basis of political patronage," the release reads.

Topinabee senior Dennis Lennox, who helped form the group "Students Against Gary Peters," for which he was the spokesman, said everybody knew the position could not be filled before the spring semester.

" There was no way that you could find a replacement, advertise for the position, interview people, get them accustomed, develop a syllabus, etc., etc., in a five-week period between the election and the end of the semester."

Shapiro said the search committee would need to have a candidate in place by Aug. 15.

As for the approximately 20 students registered for the spring semester Griffin class, Registrar Karen Hutslar said alternative options are up to the political science department.

"We really don't have anything we can offer them," she said.

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