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Students and alumni are protesting the sudden resignation of the admissions dean of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Stephen Nicholas, the dean who resigned, said he was being forced out for objecting to “unwarranted and unjust” interventions by senior medical school officials in the work and makeup of the admissions committee.
Nicholas, beyond leading the admissions division, was known for promoting diversity in admissions, outreach to the diverse range of students whose admission he championed and efforts to promote global health. He was also seen by many students as a key ally in dealing with the challenge of paying for medical school.
Columbia medical officials sent a letter to students and others saying that they would continue the initiatives Nicholas pushed. As to his departure, the letter said that medical accrediting officials had objected to the way the medical school was constituting its admissions committee, and that Nicholas proposed new membership for the committee was not sufficiently diverse to meet the medical accreditor's standards.
But this does not ring true to the students and alumni circulating a petition protesting his departure. The petition says that the values Nicholas promoted should be consistent with what Columbia's medical school is about.
Nicholas could not be reached for comment.
Members of the group organizing the petition said via email that they were upset because of the role Nicholas played in admissions and beyond.
"In admissions, Dr. Nicholas emphasized selection of a student body with a diversity of life experiences and perspectives, well-rounded and compassionate humans, and responsibility to citizenship and service," the group said. "He made it a point to know the names of every applicant and student (on interview day and as a student), and he personally called students off the waitlist … He is known for his integrity and moral leadership, as well as his personal influence on the lives of students: he yearly invites students who do not have holiday plans to his house for Thanksgiving, is a passionate supporter of student extracurriculars (e.g., orchestra concerts, theater productions, and students knew to save a seat for him at every monthly 'Musical Monday' concert), and serves as a personal mentor and role model to many students."
