The students of the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University were informed through an email from Dean Anselm Min on March 26, 2010 that Jackie Huntzinger had been suddenly terminated from her position as secretary of the school the day before. Jackie, who has worked for the school for the past eighteen years, and was one year away from entering retirement, was terminated without any notice. Recruiter Brent Smith was also terminated, and Assistant Professor and Associate Dean Patrick Horn's position was significantly reduced. Students at the School of Religion who had learned this sad news the previous day through email and word of mouth responded with a call-to-action email sent out at 2:00 in the morning that resulted in a meeting on March 26 at 11:00 am with approximately 20 outraged students. A town hall meeting that included administration, faculty, and 47 students was held on March 29. We, the undersigned, strongly protest Huntzinger’s termination, and the cuts to Patrick Horn and Brent Smith. These positions provide crucial needs for the School of Religion, particularly at the end of a school year. Other reasonable alternatives were available to the university in handling this situation, and we have received no satisfactory response to our concerns. We are outraged by the unethical way in which this happened, and regard it unworthy of Claremont Graduate University. We see this as unacceptable and unconscionable. Other actions will follow.

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