Keon replaced all four department chairs soon after taking on his new position but has said his goal was not a major college shake-up.

Gordon C. Bruner, II, former acting chairman of the department of marketing, said the changes in the department need to be taken in perspective.

I’m not aware of any radical changes. Yes, there has been a radical change in people, Bruner said. I think that it’s more a time for new folks to take a new focus.

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However, former department of management chair, Arlyn J. Melcher, said he does not share Bruner’s feelings.

Dean Keon is making a judgment that his leadership and new people, even though they are inexperienced, can move effectively through the problems the college faces, Melcher said. I believe he is under an illusion there.

This could be an effective administration if you have a strong leader, Melcher said. But so far the indications of leadership have not emerged.

Melcher said some of Keon’s early decisions are not promising, such as the centralization of decision-making concerning the budget, and the shift of departmental control to the dean’s office.

The executive committee stopped meeting under his initiative. There was no discussion of centralization, Melcher said. Dean Keon felt he could not work effectively with the existing chairs and asked them to step down.

Bruner was replaced by Professor Zarrel V. Lambert.

I’m very happy with Lambert and look forward to good things from him, Bruner said. The same with the dean. There are problems to be solved, everything is not rosy. The most important thing is that he is willing to work with the other people in the department.

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Iqbal Mathur, former chairman of the finance department refused to comment at this time. He was replaced by professor Hussein H. Elsaid.

Richard A. Rivers, former acting director of the School of Accountancy, is in Singapore as a part of his job as director of international MBA programs. Rivers was replaced by associate professor Allan L. Karnes.

Melcher said that although things could turn out all right, he does not see a bright future for COBA.

It is still early in the game. Everything could come out all right, Melcher said. At this time, the prognosis is that it is not likely to come out well.

Dean Keon was not available for comment.