U of Illinois Faculty Critical of Hogan, Leaders

Faculty leaders at the University of Illinois have passed a resolution claiming anonymous emails that led to the resignation of President Michael Hogan's chief of staff were part of a pattern of campus leadership trying to influence and pressure faculty.

The Faculty Senate unanimously passed the statement Monday. The statement claims the emails were part of "a broad pattern of surveillance and intrusion.''

Urbana Professor Joyce Tolliver, who's vice chair of the Senate Executive Committee, says the statement didn't seek any specific actions.

"The SEC thought it was important, and the Senate agreed with us today (Monday) that we make a statement saying that the actions that are documented in the investigative report do not represent us," Tolliver said. "Those include the actions of former chief of staff Lisa Troyer, Tih-Fen Ting, (a professor on the U of I Springfield campus who shared e-mails from faculty leaders, and resigned her post on the Senate), and Dr. Michael Hogan."

Troyer resigned earlier this month after emails were sent to some faculty. The emails tried to sway faculty who have been critical of an enrollment management plan favored by Hogan. Troyer has denied writing the emails but an independent investigation found her to be the likely author. The investigation did not implicate Hogan.

A report in the News-Gazette Friday indicated Troyer had been offered a full-time faculty position last week in the Department of Psychology.

Tolliver says she's surprised Troyer was offered the position so quickly after resigning as Hogan's aide.

"It appears that he made that statement without having first consulted with our provost and our chancellor," Tolliver said. "This is an appointment that, of course, needs to be discussed at the level of the campus. No matter what the result is of those discussions, those are discussions that are the perview of the faculty.