Petition asks for Diné College prez's resignation

A group of Diné College employees is circulating a petition asking for the removal of college president Ferlin Clark, the reinstatement of three regents ousted by the Navajo Nation Council's Government Services Committee in May, and the release of an investigative report on alleged favoritism at the college.

One of the petition's circulators, who did not identify himself, said the petition had 20 signatures on it as of Wednesday morning. However, the copy shared with the Navajo Times did not include signatures.

"People are scared," said another employee who also asked not to be identified. "If you're not a friend of Ferlin's, you're out. If you are, you're lavished."

Several other individuals contacted the Navajo Times Tuesday and Wednesday and also did not want to be identified.

Clark was out of the office Wednesday and not available for comment.

The petition accuses Clark of "unrelenting, heartless, abusive actions" toward faculty members and staff who don't support his policies.

It further states that Clark and his supporters - characterized by the petition's writer as "a small, vocal student body ... all ... related to his staff" - lobbied various committees of the Navajo Nation Council on Clark's behalf while "no one from the Legislative Branch ever contacted us."

"Is this Iraq?" the petition asks.

According to the petition, at least 15 staff members have resigned since Clark returned from administrative leave in May.

The latest victim of the turmoil may be Human Resources Director Evelyn Meadows. A faculty member said Meadows was fired Wednesday afternoon. Meadows' phone went directly to voice mail Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. She did not return a phone call.

The petitioners say Clark's supporters used "confidential, internal documents" to convince the GSC to remove regents Clinton Jim, Fannie Atcitty and Loretta Draper from the board, while the ousted regents were never shown the documents nor informed why they were being removed.

The GSC recommended new regents be elected rather than appointed by the Navajo Nation president, as was the old policy. However, elections have not been held.

Two other regent positions are vacant, leaving the board with only its ex-officio members: Education Committee Chair Andy Ayze, Superintendent of Education Andrew Tah and student body president Georgeett Cook. Without a quorum, the board has been unable to meet since May.

"The lack of a board has caused confusion, stalled projects and legal liabilities continue to mount," the petition reads. "Some projects are on hold because the President is limited to signing off on purchases up to $65,000."

The writer also speculates the college's recently won 10-year accreditation may be in danger. However, while an Aug. 11 analysis by the Higher Learning Commission mentions the "disruption and dysfunction" on the board, it says nothing about revoking the college's accreditation and states "the next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2018-2019." Status reports are due annually.

The petitioners also accuse Clark of having no valid employment contract, and demand that the investigative report on Clark commissioned by the former board be released to the public.

Tah said that's not possible until the board is reconstituted and meets.

"We can't release it to the public before the board has even seen it," he said.

Atcitty said she had not seen the petition, but after it was read to her over the phone, she stated, "It's all true."

"It bothers me as an educator what has taken place," she said. "I'm glad someone is doing this."

The petitioners state they have been silent until now because they were hoping to address their grievances through the proper channels, but since the investigation appears to be stalemated, they will take their complaints directly to the Council and Navajo Nation president.

While the petition was reportedly gathering steam Wednesday, an employee who asked to remain anonymous said many more people would probably sign it if they didn't fear for their jobs.

She noted that after he returned from leave, Clark somehow obtained the names of faculty members who had complied with the investigation and questioned them.

"He asked people, 'What did you do while I was on leave?'" she reported. "'If you weren't actively campaigning on my behalf, you were against me.'
"What do you do when things are in such a state of oppression?" she asked. "You still need your job. There aren't a lot of jobs you can get in Tsaile, Arizona."

One person willing to go on record is Patricia Nezzie, a resident of Holbrook, Ariz., who was hoping to send her daughters to Diné College but is having definite second thoughts after hearing about all the turmoil there.

"Ferlin Clark has put so much time and energy into this vendetta you wonder how much time he has left for his job," she said. "Mister, are you a politician or an educator? Aren't you concerned about Diné College losing its accreditation?

"I'll sign the petition. I demand his resignation. Right now."

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