As more than 450 new faces entered the campus community amid a presidential change, a protest to save the liberal arts took center stage. In the end, the Class of COVID walked across the stage after listening to a commencement speaker — who brought a golf club to graduation. 

Yes. The 2022-2023 school year at Utica University was not just unpredictable and unprecedented — but packed many punches. 

However, as the new school year gets underway — time calls for a deep reflection on the events of last year because someone needs to talk about it — so let’s give it a try. 

After almost two decades at Utica University, President Laura Casameto’s retirement announcement came as a surprise to the campus. The confidential presidential search stained the belief students and faculty had in their administration to not only nurture the idea of shared governance but also administer comfort and reassurance to a community grappling with the sudden change in leadership at the highest level. 

Still, the Board of Trustees kept students and faculty in the shadows despite concerns surrounding the search, missing the opportunity to create any excitement or positive reaction to whoever would be selected.

With President Todd Pfannenstiel a new administration begins, and though wanting everyone to have fun again is a proactive approach, the administration’s decisions during the past school year lacked comradery and collaboration.

Now the new president finds himself in a tough position because how much further he can take this institution currently under scrutiny will depend on his willingness to include the campus community in the decision-making process to earn back the trust and confidence its leadership lost last year.  

Remember the Academic Program Review? 

That caused more uncertainty, anxiety, and instability within the campus community especially for the students. Now, not knowing that the sport they loved would be discontinued two months before the semester started, the incoming athletes of those programs were left uncertain about what the future has in store for them — Would you call that a lack of transparency? 

As a university, decisions can’t be made based on competitiveness and marketing. There needs to be structure and logical answers given to the students and the campus body when questions are asked; before not after. 

And to top it all off, we can’t lose to the University of New England at home again. Twice in a row is bad enough.

Long story short Utica needs, and should, become more empathetic when it comes to campus-changing decisions and actively listen to the campus body and their concerns. However, despite all of last year’s turmoil, it’s still a school that has made decisions that changed the direction of the university— both historically and structurally. 

Disagreements will happen and just like a marriage faculty and administration made a vow — for better or for worse. At the moment things aren’t perfect, it’s a work in progress. Finding common ground will be the key as the academic year moves forward.