Ocean County Observer: OCC under fire for firings

Today's Ocean County Observer includes a story about a special meeting of OCC's trustees and administration held Tuesday. Here is an excerpt:

OCC under fire for firings
Posted by the Ocean County Observer on 01/11/06

BY DON BENNETT
STAFF WRITER

TOMS RIVER — "We're not going to go away," Ocean County College Professor Elizabeth Mitchell told the board of trustees yesterday as the faculty closed ranks behind four colleagues either fired or trimmed of duties last month.

In a rare special meeting to discuss personnel, contracts and litigation, the trustees huddled behind closed doors for two and a half hours while faculty and union representatives waited outside, ready to press their demands for the reinstatement of the four staff members.

Neither trustee Chairman Carl Van Thulin nor OCC President Jon Larson would say what was discussed or what was decided in the closed-door session...