Drama director's staffing decisions draw criticism

This article is the second in a two-part series about the Duke Drama program.

After his first year as the director of the drama program, Richard Riddell has made a number of employment decisions that have many people concerned. While students and faculty do not challenge his authority to make these decisions, many of them have questioned his fairness.

At least three members of the faculty will not be returning for next year and the number could rise to as many as four or five by the end of this semester.

Although several of these positions are held by instructors with one-year contracts that have been at the University for only two years, one faculty member has been fired after seven years with the program. Diane Simons, assistant professor of the practice, along with her husband and lecturing fellow Johnny Simons, has been teaching in the drama program since 1987, beginning on a full-time basis in 1989.

Both students and faculty within the program have claimed Simons is indispensable. For this past year, she has served as both a staff member--production manager for the program--and as a professor, teaching classes in theater administration and costuming.

"The woman is the heart and soul of the theater program," said Trinity junior Heidi Blickenstaff, a drama major.

Trinity sophomore Enoch Scott, a drama major, agrees with Blickenstaff's assessment.

"She was important to all of the students. I think we all wish there was some way Diane could stay on."

"I'm upset because here in the case of my wife is a loyal Duke employee that has gone far beyond what is expected to work with the program," Johnny Simons said.

Johnny Simons is unsure whether he will return next year if his wife does not have a job.

Riddell has not only decided not to rehire Simons, but to phase out her position in the office, justifying it in two ways:

• He claims that the staff -- people who handle administrative responsibilities in the office -- and the professors -- those who teach -- should be completely separate entities.

• He also said he thinks that the program could make better use of the University's resources. Simons' responsibilities will be split between the rest of the staff and a University service called Technical Services, located in the Bryan Center. Technical Services handles almost all of the production aspects of the other campus performance groups, including Hoof-N-Horn.

Riddell said he is confident that Technical Services will be able to handle the drama productions. But others have questioned whether Technical Services can handle the additional burden.

"To me it makes sense to use the already existing unit of people who work on production," Simons said. "I have a great respect for Tech Services, but my concern is why we should do this when we already have someone here. It's taking away from the academic unit and disintegrating the program."

Administrators tend to support Riddell. Richard White, dean of Trinity College, explained that as director of the program Riddell must be able to make tough decisions and changes.

"Is this person necessary from his point of view?," White said in reference to Riddell's decision not to rehire Simons. "If indeed, next year, we'll know we made the wrong decision. Until we see that, we'll test whether or not our goals are reached. We can't prejudge it."

Riddell has also decided not to offer jobs to second-year instructors Randy Reinholz or Kristin Kundert Gibbs, whose one-year contracts expire at the end of this semester. Both are well-liked by the students and have served as acting teachers and directors since they have been at the University.

Faculty and students recognize that Riddell has the authority to make changes; some just think he is making those decisions unfairly.

They have complained that Riddell did not formally review their performances before firing them. They claim he did not attend their classes, did not seek student evaluations and did not consult with the faculty for evaluations. Riddell declined to talk about individual situations, claiming that his "review process conforms to University guidelines."

"Essentially I've felt I'm getting no respect as a teacher here," said Stephen Schilling, another instructor on a one-year contract who also may not be returning next year because he has yet to be rehired. "And to this day, Richard has never been to my class."

Riddell also asked some of his instructors to teach an overload for the spring semester. Both Schilling and Reinholz agreed to teach an extra class in the spring with no additional compensation.

"I tried to be a team player and then I got fired," said Reinholz with a sentiment echoed by Schilling.

Both Reinholz and Kundert Gibbs have taken jobs elsewhere at top programs for next year. If Schilling is not rehired, he is considering going to Japan.

Aside from the handling of the firings, at issue is also one-year contracts in the program. At least half of the faculty have only one-year contracts and many of them have said that this inhibits the degree to which they can speak their mind freely, because they fear they might lose their jobs. Riddell said his plan is to move away from short-term contracts, whittling the number down to two or three instead of five or six.

Other faculty members hold three or five-year contracts. Because drama is a program rather than a department, none of the faculty are tenured except for director of undergraduate studies John Clum and Dale Randall, who are professors in the tenure-tracked English department. Randall and assistant drama professor Jody McAuliffe declined to comment for this article.

To replace the departing faculty, Riddell has begun two national searches. By bringing in Manfred Kuhnert this year, a former student of Riddell's at Harvard's Institute for Advanced Training, Riddell has already proven he is committed to bringing in quality instructors. Many students have said that Kuhnert has been an invaluable addition to this year's faculty.

"The main reason I have faith in Richard is Kuhnert," said Trinity junior Barnaby Carpenter, a drama major. "He's so amazing because of his drastic difference in thought. I think that's why I agree with him bringing in new people. In the long run, it should work."

Both Scott and Blickenstaff used the analogy that "to make an omelet you have to break some eggs," saying that they expected certain personnel changes once Riddell took over as director.

"Bringing Manfred here is the one brilliant thing Richard has done to the program," Blickenstaff said. "If Richard brought in every year some guy that was like Manfred, that would be wonderful. He'd be making an omelet."

But right now there are lots of broken eggs and Riddell and the deans have been made aware of them. Several faculty members have filed grievances with the deans about the way their cases have been handled, and others have either talked to them or written letters.

"I'm concerned it's affecting as many people," White said. "I was hoping in this transition year to work the rough spots over. There've been a number of concerns raised and I have attempted to deal with people. I think Richard understands the problems."

To try and iron out some of the differences and concerns among faculty in the program, William Slebos, senior management consultant of the University for the past 10 years, has been called in as a facilitator. His job is to make departments in the University more functional and help people interact more effectively.

The consensus among faculty and students in the program is that Riddell, through his strong connections, may bring in qualified people like Kuhnert in either short-term or long-term situations that will be beneficial to the students. But while Riddell may in fact deliver for next year or several years down the road, many people question the direction that the program is headed right now.

"He doesn't seem to be going much of anywhere," Schilling said. "What seems to be happening is that he's cleaning house, throwing out the old furniture, bringing in new, and not fixing what's here."