Less than a year into Amy Gutmann's tenure as Penn president, faculty members have decided they no longer support the University's top administrator.
Faculty from each of Penn's 12 schools voted last night that they "no longer have confidence in the Presidency of Amy Gutmann."
More than 250 faculty members convened in a confidential meeting in College Hall at approximately 8 p.m. Monday evening. Psychology lecturer Andrew Shatte -- who submitted the "no-confidence" motion -- delivered the results of the vote at 10:30 p.m. from the steps of College Hall. The measure is a formal expression of dissatisfaction and cannot force Gutmann to step down. It passed 157 to 95, with 16 abstentions.
"Gutmann's inability to follow through with her inauguration promises show that she was a poor choice to replace [former President Judith] Rodin," Shatte told a small crowd of protesters, reporters and onlookers last night. "If she has integrity, she will resign."
Gutmann has been plagued by controversy since unveiling the Penn Compact -- a three-pronged plan for Penn's future -- at her inauguration last fall. Faculty members have publicly criticized Gutmann's vision for the University.
The vote comes only weeks after Harvard faculty members passed a similar "lack of confidence" motion regarding Harvard President Lawrence Summers on March 15. The measure was unprecedented in the Ivy League until Harvard's recent vote.
Gutmann declined to comment on her immediate plans but released a statement last night.
"I stand by the Penn Compact and look forward to a productive dialogue about the University's future," Gutmann said in a statement. "But I can't believe they're doing this to me just after it happened to Larry [Summers]. I'm so much cuter ... and skinnier."
Faculty members interviewed after the vote called the Penn Compact "silly" and "something only a blonde could come up with."
"To be honest, none of us know what the hell it means," University Secretary Leslie Kruhly said.
John DiIulio -- a Political Science professor who voted for the measure -- added that he thinks Gutmann's leadership style is mean-spirited and condescending compared to Rodin's.
"After the last Budget Committee meeting I just cracked," DiIulio said, adding that he spent a half hour huddled in a corner of the Inn at Penn ballroom as Gutmann yelled obscenities at him.
Gutmann then heaved her 5 foot, 85 pound frame on DiIulio as an attack mechanism.
"I may be a good 200 pounds heavier than her, but I was powerless against her wrath," DiIulio said.
Despite the vote's sweeping majority, Gutmann still has several faculty members loyal to her. The Board of Trustees -- the only body that can formally ask Gutmann to step down --still officially supports her presidency.
"Amy is the hottest president we've had in a while," Chairman of the Board of Trustees James Riepe said. "When Amy starts looking like Larry, then maybe we'll consider it, but as long as she sticks with those tight pantsuits, she's fine by us."
Psychology professor Francisco Gil-White -- who voted against Shatte's motion -- said Gutmann was being persecuted for her non-traditional political views and deserved more academic freedom.
"I think this entire thing is a result of Andrew Shatte's ulterior political motives," Gil-White said. "I've investigated his ties to the underground Australian communist movement. Ousting Gutmann is just the first step to him taking over the world."
Summers cited innate biological differences between Gutmann and Rodin as the reason for the controversy.
"Some people are just genetically predisposed to being good presidents," he said.
Embattled president
Jan. 22, 2004: Princeton Provost Amy Gutmann named 10th president of the University of Pennsylvania Oct. 15, 2004: Gutmann outlines the three-pronged "Penn Compact" -- her plan for Penn's future -- in her inaugural address Nov. 19, 2004: Psychology professor Andrew Shatte calls the Penn Compact "shameful" and "poorly articulated" at a School of Arts and Sciences faculty meeting Jan. 22, 2005: Gutmann officially defends the Penn Compact from mounting criticism at a Board of Trustees meeting April 11, 2005: Following Harvard's lead, Penn faculty vote that they have no confidence in Gutmann's presidency
