Three days after Janyne Hodder was crowned COB president, stakeholders at the government-run institution are lashing out at the College Council for awarding her the top position.
Council members have been accused of “unfairly” choosing the college’s fourth president as Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas claimed officials ignored college procedures by choosing Hodder to head the school without her going through the proper selection process. Union leader Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson said in a press release, “UTEB regrets that this appointment was made outside of the fair and equitable selection and appointments process experienced by the two applicants for this position.”
She added, “Our main concern has always been about the process and the fact that she [Ms Hodder] should have applied and been interviewed by all of the stakeholders. That’s basically what we’ve always agitated for. If they wanted to change the criteria for the presidency then they should have advertised that as well. Like we said, the other two candidates went through that process, so what makes it different for another candidate? The playing field should be level for everyone and everyone should go through the same process.”
Ms Isaacs-Dotson explained that in keeping with normal college procedures, COB stakeholders should have had the chance to meet with and interview Ms Hodder, and the criteria for the high-end job should have been published.
COB’s presidential race finally crossed the finish line on Sunday when Minister of Education, Science and Technology announced that the controversial candidate was made president. Acting President Rhonda Chipman-Johnson has been chosen to serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer beginning June 1.
The UTEB president added that COB faculty and staff now have to decide if they will support this long-awaited decision.
“I have not met with my people to make a decision on that,” she said. “That’s a decision the entire faculty needs to make, not Jenny Dotson. Whoever is appointed we have to work with, but I don’t know what the faculty thinks about this.”
Ms Isaacs-Dotson also dismissed claims of her having a personal vendetta against the new president.
“That’s nonsensical, I don’t know what vendetta it is,” Ms Isaacs-Dotson said. “I’ve met her once and that was it, I really don’t know her. If my sister is married to someone that’s who she’s married to, I don’t see what it has to do with this. This is purely union issues, you can’t take it personal.”
Ms Isaacs-Dotson is the sister-in-law of Pat Rahming, who is Ms Hodder’s ex-husband. The couple had three children before they were divorced after more than a decade of marriage. Mr Rahming has since remarried to Ms Isaacs-Dotson’s sister. Sources at the college allege that the Canadian candidate’s presidential position is being jeopardised by a personal feud.
By: IANTHIA SMITH, The Nassau Guardian
