By JOEL R. PARAMO
[email protected]
News editor
The temperature on Thursday Aug. 30, peaked at 108 degrees, but that didn’t stop Bakersfield College’s Dean of Students Don Turney from helping student Rhonda Pierce who had passed out in the student center. Turney was by her side the whole time even after paramedics and the school nurse Debra Strong arrived to help. She had apparently passed out after having to walk down the stairs in language arts instead of using the elevator.
Regardless, Turney the administrator, who lives for students and giving all he can back to BC, will be leaving his position as Dean of Students and will be retreating to a teaching position in the psychology department.
“Don will be greatly missed,” said SGA President John Lopez. “Don has done a wonderful job as our advisor, but in his words, ‘we’ll still be able to ‘move mountains.'”
As dean of students, Turney works 12 months a year on average 231 days as opposed to teachers who work 175 days out of the year. According to Turney, he’s getting sick from the stress.
“To do this job right, it demands a lot of time. I operate EOPS and DSPS as well as the student government, the student health center, financial aid office, and I am in charge of campus discipline,” said Turney. “I usually work 60 hour weeks minimum, I didn’t have time for a personal life. To get the job done right now, I usually work one if not two days of every weekend. I’ll be getting my life back by making this move.”
BC allows administrators with ten year contracts to retreat their positions if they deem fit.
“Everyone has the right to retreat,” said BC President William Andrews. “My goal is to support their choices. My expectation for all faculty and staff is that they do a good job while they’re in that position.”
Turney announced on Aug. 28 that he would be leaving after serving as dean of students for four years.
“I’m pleased that Don gave us this much notice, we received ample time to fill his position,” said Andrews. “We will be recruiting and looking for someone to fill the position nation wide faculty members come from all over the world, we will be going through the chronicle of higher education”
Turney decided to retreat at a time that will be in sync with student needs. It will give the SGA sufficient time to continue to progress and at a time when many of the temporary psychology teacher’s contracts will be ending. The psychology department will be ready for him to teach full time.
“I love teaching, I have two master degrees,” said Turney. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of teaching. Psychologists call it the Aha Factor, watching students finally understand things is very rewarding.”
Students from the SGA will be on a selection committee that will help select the new dean of students for next semester, Turney feels as though this SGA will find someone who believes above all else what’s best for the students.
“They know what’s really going on, I know they can look and talk to a person and know what’s in their heart,” he said. “I hope they don’t skip a beat, I hope they don’t even remember my name. They will move on and do incredible things, they are a gifted and talented group.”
Lopez stated he wouldn’t forget Don, but it would not be dehabilitating to the SGA and that they will be able to work with another advisor just as well.
“He’s one of the reasons we’re perceived to be one of the best SGAs in a long time,” said Lopez. “He inspires you to believe in yourself.”