In February, Calvin University president Wiebe Boer resigned. Get up to speed here.
Bob Smietana of Religion News Service has more details. Here is a taste of his piece:
The trustees of Calvin University released a statement Thursday (March 28), defending their decision to part ways with the school’s former president, who they said admitted sending “flirtatious” and “inappropriate” messages to a woman who was not his wife and therefore he was no longer fit to lead the Christian school based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“Based on these admitted communications, the Board determined that Dr. Boer’s conduct was concerning and inappropriate and that he could not continue to serve as President of the University,” the board of trustees told The Calvin Chimes, the school’s student newspaper.Â
Former Calvin President Wiebe Boer resigned in February after the messages — sent to a member of the Calvin community who was not faculty or a student — were reported to the school’s Title IX office. The board told Chimes that no formal Title IX investigation was conducted into the matter but instead, the trustees spoke to Boer, who admitted sending some of the communications, which they say he admitted were wrong.Â
The resignation of Boer, a popular leader who had been on the job less than a year and a half, came as a shock. Boer had just announced an ambitious plan to grow the school’s enrollment and had been seen as someone who supported LGBTQ students on campus as well as faculty who dissented from denominational teaching about sexuality. Calvin is part of the Christian Reformed Church, which made its beliefs on sexuality part of the denomination’s confession of faith last year…
Boer’s departure has led to questions from Calvin faculty, students and supporters. A group of Calvin alumni have reportedly asked the board of trustees for a third-party investigation into the board’s handling of the allegations against Boer, according to the Chimes.Â
The student paper reported that Boer was willing to have his allegedly inappropriate messages made public — but also that Boer claims to have deleted those messages.
Boer reportedly hired an attorney after resigning. He told the Chimes that the board of trustees has shared few details of the allegations against him but told him a complaint had been filed.
“In fact, Calvin has provided almost nothing else about these allegations and the sum total of my conversations was a single 15-minute video meeting with the board where I acknowledged exchanging messages, which the University itself confirmed were not sexual nor involved any physical contact, with a non-student, non-faculty individual,” he told the Chimes. “I continue to call for a transparent investigation for the benefit of the entire Calvin community.”
In their statement, the trustees said Boer denied some of the allegations against him and that they did not find Boer had committed sexual harassment “as defined by Title IX.” Instead, they relied on an employment agreement between the board and Boer in his role as president.Â
That agreement allowed them to decided whether Boer’s alleged actions made him unfit as president.Â
“Of specific concern were the volume, frequency and tone of Dr. Boer’s communication with a woman who was not his wife,” the trustees said in their statement. “These concerns were amplified by the power dynamic, considering Dr. Boer’s position as President of the University and the woman’s role in the community.”
A spokesman for the University provided a copy of the board’s statement to RNS but did not respond to a request for details about the content of the employment agreement or for comment about Boer’s departure.Â
Chimes editor-in-chief Savannah Shustack said students at Calvin were disappointed at Boer’s resignation, feeling that he had let them down. Over the past month, with little information available about the allegations, most students have moved on, she said.Â
Shustack said professors were split after the news broke, with some backing Boer and others wanting more information. The school was on break for Easter when the board issued its most recent statement, so it’s unclear how the faculty will respond.Â
Unlike other schools where a president has resigned after controversy, things appeared to be going well with Boer before his sudden departure, which is a loss for the school.Â
Read the entire piece here.
Here is the Board of Trustees’ statement:
The Board of Trustees of Calvin University is aware that Dr. Wiebe Boer’s recent departure from the University has caused some members of the Calvin community concern and questions. In an effort to correct misinformation and address concerns from community members, the Board offers this additional information:
The University received a report alleging Dr. Boer engaged in unwelcome and inappropriate communication and attention toward a non-student member of the campus community. While the report came through the University’s Title IX office, no formal complaint was made to trigger a formal Title IX process, nor did the Board make a finding that he engaged in sexual harassment as defined by Title IX. As part of the Board’s response to the information in the report, Dr. Boer was notified of all of the allegations in the report and was provided an opportunity to provide a response to the full Board of Trustees. While he denied some of the allegations, Dr. Boer admitted to sending the communications at issue. Based on these admitted communications, the Board determined that Dr. Boer’s conduct was concerning and inappropriate and that he could not continue to serve as President of the University.
Of specific concern were the volume, frequency and tone of Dr. Boer’s communication with a woman who was not his wife. These concerns were amplified by the power dynamic, considering Dr. Boer’s position as President of the University and the woman’s role in the community. In his response to the entire Board of Trustees, Dr. Boer characterized those communications as “flirtatious” and “inappropriate.” He also reported to Board leadership that he had deleted the messages from his phone knowing they were wrong.
Ultimately, Dr. Boer’s employment at Calvin was governed by an employment agreement that gives the Board the authority to determine his fitness to remain in the role. In response to concerns we have heard from various members of the community, the Board recently conducted a careful and thorough review that resulted in a unanimous Board affirmation of the process of information-gathering and deliberation that led to Dr. Boer’s resignation.
From the moment the Board received the report, our intent has been to act justly and—to the degree possible given the circumstances—confidentially in the best interests of the Calvin community. The Board has made significant efforts to resolve this matter amicably with Dr. Boer, including offering financial support to both Dr. and Mrs. Boer which exceeds the University’s contractual obligation, as well as an offer to assist in relocation from the Manor. Unfortunately, those offers have been refused, though the Board remains open to assisting with the Boers’ relocation.
We remain confident that Dr. Boer’s decision to resign, and the Board’s decision to accept his resignation, are in the best interests of all involved. We continue to lament the concern, confusion, and frustration this abrupt transition has caused for some in our community, and we understand that it will take time for all those affected by these events to find healing and restoration. Our thoughts are particularly with the reporting party. We ask that all community members speak and act in a way that is respectful and sensitive to the fact that this individual is a part of our community.
The Board is grateful to the dedicated faculty, staff, and students of Calvin University, and to Interim President Elzinga and the Cabinet, all of whom have navigated this unexpected transition with grace and perseverance.