Editorial: Reason for Evans' dismissal leaves more questions than answers

While Provost Larry Lemanski's firing of former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Christine Evans was done by the book, the manner in which it was done conveys a lack of respect to Dr. Evans, students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the A&M-Commerce student body in general.

Lemanski is not legally required to provide a reason for Evans' dismissal, and the fact that he provided one is reassuring. The reason he gave, however, is completely unsatisfactory.

Of course the college wants to move in a new direction but that doesn't mean anything. Any personnel change by necessity involves a new direction. Evans deserves to know why she was fired and the students of A&M-Commerce need to know that the administration in place has legitimate reasons for removing an individual in an important place of authority.

We are not interested in offhand political statements that don't provide relevant information. Without an explanation for Evans' dismissal, we're left with only unanswered questions and speculation, which is precisely what such vague explanations are designed to do.

Clearly the A&M-Commerce administration considers Evans worthy of being an A&M-Commerce faculty member since they extended a job to her as a professor in the agriculture department. Perhaps in the future they will consider A&M-Commerce students worthy of the entire truth.