Over a month after the departure of International Relations Program (IR) Assistant Director John Jenke, current and former IR students are still looking for answers as to why the popular administrator left the school.
IR major Cathy Caicedo, who is currently studying in London, began a letter writing campaign two weeks ago. Caicedo did not return repeated e-mails requesting comment.
The campaign, announced in a mass e-mail May 13, calls for IR majors to send letters and e-mails to President Larry Bacow and Provost Jamshed Barucha concerning the "seeming ease with which [Jenke] was fired."
Jenke "went above and beyond his written job description to truly become a mentor for all students," Caicedo's letter states. "I implore the University to conduct an open investigation of the events leading up to his dismissal. In my opinion, Tufts should not be the type of place that simply slams the door on anyone who has devoted so much to our community."
Jenke was still unable to comment on his reasons for abruptly leaving his post at the University, but stated that he was "desperately searching for work."
IR Program Director Christiane Zehl Romero said that the IR Program will have a "student-oriented, highly qualified" assistant director by the fall.
Former Tufts political science professor Donald Klein said last month that Jenke had been fired, and blamed the decision on a personal conflict between Jenke and Zehl Romero.
The Tufts Daily has received over 20 requests for more information about the reasons for Jenke's departure.
Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst said that she could not comment on a human resources issue. Tufts Human Resources said last month that it could not comment on an individual employee's status.
Zehl Romero said she could not provide any information on the number of advisees Jenke had.
Jenke was commonly noted by seniors on the Senior Survey as having "a significant impact on their undergraduate experience," according to Dawn Terkla, Executive Director of Institutional Research.
Terkla said Zehl Romero would have to provide the exact results. Zehl Romero said she "cannot" give an exact breakdown of Jenke's results.
Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser said that "several students have come to me to express their unhappiness," about Jenke's departure.
Questions about how the IR Program will function without Jenke next semester were rebutted by Zehl Romero in an e-mail response. "I appreciate the loyalty students have for John Jenke and the loss they feel, but he was not THE International Relations Program," Zehl Romero said.
She said that there are many sections of the IR Program and that its office has other qualified staff members who will continue to support students. "Loss and change are never easy, but the Tufts IR Program must and will go forward in positive ways," Zehl Romero said.
