President Sakaki's baggage too heavy for SSU

Things never seem to be as they should here at Sonoma State University, but lately the unrest on campus has not been due to power outages, pandemics, flooding, or fires for once. Last week, news broke in publications as large as the Los Angeles Times about President Judy Sakaki’s husband, Patrick McCallum, being involved in a $600,000 settlement in a retaliation case filed by the university’s former Provost and Executive Vice President, Lisa Vollendorf. Sakaki has handled this news becoming public knowledge in a manner that can only be described as embarrassing, not only for her, but for the entire campus community.

With the attention on her, Sakaki has been trying her best to make sure she is seen in a good light, especially since this news conveniently broke just weeks before Seawolf Decision Day, an event SSU hosts for potential incoming freshmen each year. With over 14,000 first-time freshman applicants, a huge improvement from the past two years, it is clear that SSU needs to uphold their image in order to keep application rates rising. 

To prepare for Decision Day, Sakaki has been out and about on campus following the breaking news. She went out into the Seawolf Plaza during rush hour last Monday to show her school spirit and, more importantly, take lots of good publicity pictures. Despite her efforts, many organizations requested the photos not be posted. Some flat out refused to be in a photo with Sakaki. It's interesting that she made a campus appearance on a tabling day with a camera crew, just days after she was all over the news.

In an email to the campus community just days after the STAR published the breaking news, Sakaki attempted some major damage control. “As your President, I have the ultimate responsibility for doing everything possible to maintain a community that is free of sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation,” Sakaki said. 

This seems like a bit of a contradiction, seeing how she has known about this case for years. In 2018, the CSU conducted their own investigation into the issue, which included speaking to Sakaki in 2019, thus informing her.

The email went on to describe, in great detail, everything Sakaki has accomplished in her time as president. Beneath the surface, this seems like nothing more than a rush to patch things up before the Academic Senate’s vote of no confidence meeting comes to fruition. Students expected issues to be addressed in this email, yet they were merely glossed over and dismissed.

When talking with students about what is going on and how they feel, the majority consensus is that they are done with her. As Matthew Lizarrage put it, “Fire her and her scum husband.” 

An anonymous SSU faculty member said, “Trust has been shattered on this campus.” While there hasn't always been the most support for Judy Sakaki, she seemed to be okay for the most part. However, after the recent accusations against her for retaliation and the news about the leaked budget document, who knows what else she's not sharing. 

An anonymous accounting student said, “If Judy Sakaki is going to be at graduation, and I'm supposed to shake her hand, I will not be walking at the ceremony.” This student shared their personal opinions on Judy Sakaki being at graduation, but they are not alone. While talking with several seniors about what is going on, most of them agreed they wouldn't want to be a part of the ceremony if she was involved. 

While talking with different students about what has been going on, most of them are over her and her baggage. The stand against her at graduation most likely will not be the only one that's going to happen if she retains her position. To prove she hears us and cares, she should take the necessary steps to prove that and resign.