Staff member resigns following arrest

UPDATED 5/13/09

On May 12, 2009 Roger Williams University released an official statement in regards to the resignation of regional major gifts officer Christopher Nirschel, 26, of Hoboken, New Jersey:

"Chris Nirschel took a leave of absence without pay last Tuesday, May 5th and resigned his position at Roger Williams University yesterday (Monday) May 11th."

The resignation comes after Nirschel was arrested around 2 am on May 9th, on charges of assaulting a police officer after a street fight outside a Hoboken bar, according to police officials. The police report cites that the assualted officer was sent to the hospital and treated for injuries to his head and leg. The university currently has no official policy dictating what action, if any, should be taken if a staff member is arrested.

The resignation comes not a week after Faculty Senate released a second resolution denouncing the hiring of President Roy Nirschel's son as a violation of the university's nepotism policy. Officials on Faculty Senate confirmed that an initial resolution frowning upon the hiring was released a few weeks earlier. A second resolution, with more "firm rhetoric" was released only after President Nirschel issued a private statement to Senate about the matter, a faculty senator said on condition of anonymity.

The resolution read:

"Faculty Senate objects to the hire of the President's son which did not conform to the university's hiring policies and detracts from the transparency so important to the functioning of the university and violates the principle of inclusive excellence."

The following is the school's nepotism policy:

The University is committed to equal employment opportunities and will not discriminate in favor of an individual, in the hiring process, for promotions, or for increases in wages on the basis of a family relationship. For the purpose of this policy, Relative means a connection between persons by blood, marriage, adoption, domestic partnership, or co-habitation. To avoid even the appearance of impropriety the following shall apply:

1. In the appointment of faculty and staff members, Roger Williams University seeks those persons best qualified. 2. Relatives may be appointed to faculty and staff positions when it has been clearly established that they are the best qualified candidate. 3. Vice Presidents, deans and directors may not have a relative hired to fill a regular full time position without the expressed written permission of the President. 4. No dean, faculty member, director or administrative officer shall vote, make recommendations, or in any way participate in the decision of or seek to influence any matter which may directly or indirectly affect the appointment, tenure, promotion, or other employment status of a relative. 5. One relative may not report directly to another relative. 6. Employees who marry while employed, or become part of the same household are treated in accordance with these guidelines. 7. If a situation occurs that is in direct conflict with this policy and is not otherwise resolved, the supervisor having control over both relatives shall take prompt measures to rectify the circumstances and alert the Office of Human Resources immediately.

The job description for Major Gifts Officer that was posted on the university website stated that a bachelor's degree as well as five years of fundraising experience was required for the position. According to the anonymous faculty senator, Chris Nirschel's qualifications for the job were in question.

Chris Nirschel's position is unique to the university. Although there are two other gifts officers, Chris is the first to do the work of both an admissions officer and a gifts officer. Lynn Fawthrop, Vice President for Enrollment and Advancement, explained that his job includes attracting students to RWU as well as soliciting donations and/or resources (internships) from them as alumni.

According to Fawthrop, major gifts officers are important because they "cultivate relationships and solicit donations" with incoming and outgoing students.

Chris was a good fit for the position because of "his connection to the university, having been a student here," Fawthrop said in a March interview with The Hawk's Herald.