Reverend Jeff McArn, seen with his dog Lily, was dismissed from his role as Head of the Chaplaincy over the summer of 2023. He first arrived at Hamilton College in 1996. Photo courtesy of Sam Cho for Hamilton College.
Jeff McArn, the former Head of the Chaplaincy who was terminated in June of 2023, could have a place in the Hamilton community in the future, according to President Wippman’s remarks at the faculty meeting on Sept. 5.
At Wippman’s request, Dean of Faculty Ngoni Munemo has spoken with McArn about a “possible continuing role,” though it would not be the same position he held before. The discussions involved “some combination of teaching and perhaps an association with the Levitt Center,” Wippman said.
The original decision to fire the former chaplain was not based on any “malfeasance” or anything “immoral” by McArn, Wippman stated in response to a question from Marianne Janack, Professor of Philosophy. However, he did not reveal the reason McArn was fired, citing that refusal to comment on individual personnel decisions is standard practice in higher education and other sectors.
President Wippman stated that he “continue[s] to support the decision that was made” to dismiss McArn.
Wippman’s remarks came immediately after a “motion from the faculty recognizing Rev. Jeff McArn’s 27 years of service to the Hamilton College community” passed with 110 votes in favor, two in opposition and eight abstaining during the faculty meeting on Tuesday. The motion also asserts that “the Faculty seeks opportunities to re-engage McArn in Hamilton College’s educational mission.”
Members of the faculty spent nearly 45 minutes discussing McArn’s influence at Hamilton and the circumstances of his removal. Professors told stories of their own experiences with McArn and shared statements written by students.
One statement in support of the motion was signed by the student leaders of 37 campus organizations, including the Center for Intersectional Feminism, the Black and Latinx Student Union, Hillel, the Hamilton Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Spiritual Life Council, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Hamilton Gender and Sexuality Union among others.
Professors raised concerns about the physical manner of McArn’s removal. Professor Shoshana Keller said, “when employees are asked to leave a college, they have been, by default, treated like criminals and escorted immediately [out of] campus.”
Some professors, like Stephen Orvis of the Government department, expressed interest in a “much more strongly worded” motion that perhaps goes beyond just recognizing McArn’s contributions.
“The only way I personally can see us moving forward without further diminished religious and spiritual living on campus, which is really important to me, is to bring him back,” said Jaime Kucinskas, Associate Professor of Sociology.
The Dean of Students office, which was involved in the decision to remove McArn, is implementing new changes in the Chaplaincy. The so-called ‘new direction’ for the Chaplaincy includes a reorganization as “the Spiritual and Religious Life department,” said Christopher Card, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Life, in email sent on Aug. 28.
President Wippman, in response to concerns regarding the “new direction” of the chaplaincy commented that disclosing more information at this time would require him to reveal details of the nature of McArn’s dismissal.
“There is apparently a new direction in the chaplaincy, but we don’t know what it is. And we don’t know why Jeff can’t lead it,” Professor Orvis said.
“Maybe we need a ‘new direction’ in the Dean of Students Office,” Professor of Art Katherine Kuharic shouted from the audience.
The College is “looking for an interim chaplain” as McArn’s role remains unfilled, Wippman said. Jenn Ferman, one of Hamilton’s Jewish Chaplains, “will assume a full-time role at the College for the year and oversee the interfaith community and programs,” Card wrote in his email.