On April 1, 2008, an e-mail announcing the end of Adjunct Instructor Warren Friesen’s time at Gustavus went out to his students in the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra (GSO). For a moment, some hoped it was simply another April fool’s jokes that the orchestra is known for, but they soon discovered that they were indeed losing their conductor.
Friesen, who is in his eighth year at Gustavus, told his students that the college had decided not to renew his annual contract beyond the 2008-2009 academic year. The decision was made by Provost Mary E. Morton on the recommendation of the Music Department’s personnel committee.
This decision has generated a fierce response both from former and current students. Numerous letters have been sent to Morton and Chair of the Music Department David Fienen. Students also led a protest last Tuesday. Senior Psychology and Music major and GSO president Christa Saeger has helped lead the efforts for Friesen to be retained. “I honestly think the orchestra will take a hit for the worse without Warren,” said Seagar.
First-year Emma Squire started a Facebook group to keep people up to date on the situation. “My first reaction was that, if Warren was terminated, there would be no real orchestra to speak of. I know Warren, and GSO under Warren is one of the main reasons I came to Gustavus. But if Gustavus wasn’t going to have that anymore, I may actually think of transferring. Plenty of seniors have told me that their thoughts of transferring were stopped by Warren and the orchestra,” said Squire. “There aren’t that many Warrens in the world.”
The controversy has also drawn the interest of alumni who studied under Friesen. Jason Haaheim, ’01, wrote a letter to Morton calling on the college to continue Friesen’s tenure at Gustavus. “I am really, really disappointed in this decision. I am questioning the judgement of not just those in the Music Department who made this evaluation of his performance, but people in the greater Gustavus administration, the Provost and the Academic Deans, who are sanctioning this decision,” said Haaheim.
“If the administration lets this decision stand, I strongly question their ability to act as responsible stewards of Gustavus music education, alumni investment, and attracting and retaining quality music faculty,” said Haaheim.
Morton and Fienen responded to the messages they received with a letter of their own, which was sent out to several students. Though refusing to comment on the particular reasons for issuing the terminal contract, they seem to remain firm in their decision. According to the letter, “Gustavus’s processes regarding faculty appointments are consistent with the standard practices of American high education. These give a predominate role to faculty colleagues, who provide evaluations and make recommendations.”
Although the college cannot comment on the reasons for Friesen’s release, many have speculated that it has to do with his current lack of a Ph. D. Typically, professors who have the highest degree in their field begin what is called the ‘tenure track.’ However, because Friesen did not have a Ph. D., he was not on that track and his contract had to be renewed annually by the department. This year, the department reviewed Friesen, recommended that his contract not be renewed for next year, and that the college should begin the search for a new GSO conductor.
“There are four criteria [that a profosser is evaluated on to continue at Gustavus:] excellence as a teacher, an emerging pattern of scholarly work, an emerging pattern of service to the institution and sympathy with the mission of the college,” said Fienen.
Friesen, however, hopes to obtain his degree by the end of the year. “Gustavus has been more than patient with me in this, and I really appreciate it,” said Friesen. “It’s an unusual position, but not without precedent.”
Though the student response has generally been in support of Friesen, it remains to be seen if the administration will change course. For now, all the students can do is wait and watch.
Photo by: Alex Stassen