Information deprivation: PFW wrongly keeps motivations in the dark

This was never intended to be a story.

Five years after I turned over the mantle of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at Purdue Fort Wayne to a long-time colleague whom I respect and adore, I ventured back to the Walb Student Union recently on the strength of a tip from another former colleague.

Five months ago, the PFW administration abruptly and without notice fired 45 professional staff members, including MarTeze Hammonds, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, wiping out the entire division.

The PFW Student Government Association organized a “town hall” meeting a few weeks ago to give students and faculty a chance to ask questions about the administration’s firing decision. The SGA invited Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer and Vice Chancellor Krissy Surface, w