Hildebrand’s teaching contract not renewed

Josiah Garber

Paul Hildebrand, associate professor of Theater, applauds in chapel on Wednesday at the naming of honorary theater students selected to compete. Hildebrand has been the center of attention in the theater department due to his teaching contract not being renewed for another semester.

Theater professor Paul Hildebrand's contract has not been renewed for the next year, causing some to believe that he is being let go because of homosexuality, a speculation administration personnel have denied.

Hildebrand is said to be openly gay. The refusal to renew the contract has been appealed, and the Faculty Status Committee is the hearing group for the appeal. The appeal is still in process as of April 14.

The issue of homosexuality has gained momentum in part due to the leaving of Dr. Tom Arbaugh, an open homosexual, from the seminary last semester, as well as recent pushes on campus to raise awareness of the homosexuality issue such as the April 2 and 7 demonstrations where a large rainbow flag, a representation of homosexuality, was presented.

Theater majors were first notified of the contract not being renewed in a memo dated March 4 from Undergraduate Academic Dean Marie Morris. In the letter, she said, "Through the regular contract review process and with additional discernment involving members of Cabinet and facilitation by University Accord, we have decided that the university is unable to fully embrace Paul's particular vision for the theater program."

Morris said that the conflict of 'vision' mentioned in her statement has been an ongoing concern for the length of Hildebrand's tenure. She said that theater professor Barbra Graber's vision is in keeping with EMU's while Hildebrand's is not.

President Loren Swartzendruber spoke on his understanding of the conflicting visions. "(Our vision is) university quality theater within context of a Christian Anabaptist school versus community theatre; very different approaches."

Swartzendruber also said, "(The contract not being renewed) was not an action taken because of sexual orientation or behavior. While the university expectation remains that faculty and staff are not to be in same-sex relationships, that is not an issue in Paul's case. Any speculation to the contrary is inaccurate and inappropriate."

At this past Tuesday's forum, called by Swartzendruber to address issues related to homosexuality, questions were brought up concerning the focus of the hiring/renewal process.

Swartzendruber said in response, "There have been people who have been asked to leave this institution based on their sexual behavior, both homosexuals and heterosexuals." However, he emphasized that homosexuality had nothing to do with Hildebrand's case.

As to the specifics of the incident, Swartzendruber and Morris have said that they cannot talk about particulars of the case because of privacy and personnel reasons. Swartzendruber said that Hildebrand is free to speak.

Academic Provost Beryl Brubaker responded to comments on the Third Way Café website, saying, "Because contract reviews are a private matter, I am unable to lay out all the facts."

Hildebrand has declined to speak about details, saying, "Because my appeal is still in process, it is not appropriate for me to comment for the press at this time."

Brubaker also said on the website, "Mr. Hildebrand is not being granted a contract for next year. This decision was not based on his sexual orientation. Nor does the decision to not renew a contract constitute a firing, and Mr. Hildebrand will complete his current contract that continues through May."

Swartzendruber said, "EMU is governed by a board of trustees appointed by the Mennonite Education Agency on behalf of the Mennonite Church USA. It is the role of the trustees to establish policies which the president is expected to implement."

In the contract process, new professors are evaluated at the end of each school year for three years before being offered a three-year contract. Hildebrand is currently finishing his third consecutive year here.