More than a decade after sexual harassment claims, JCCC could rename Carlsen Center
Since former Johnson County Community College president Charles Carlsen was accused of sexual harassment more than a decade ago, students have pleaded for the college to remove his name from its prominent performing arts center.
Now Board of Trustees Chairman Greg Musil said the college has begun the process of appointing a committee to review the Carlsen Center’s name.
Carlsen, who was considered popular and successful during his 25 years as president, quickly became embroiled in controversy when a female employee accused him of unwanted touching and sexual harassment.
After she filed the complaint, a few other women came forward with similar accounts, according to previous reporting by The Star. Carlsen denied any wrongdoing, then retired shortly after in 2006. The allegations were left unproven.
Since that time, student groups, as well as editorials in the student newspaper, have called on the college to remove his name from the building. For years, college leaders have discussed taking the step, including at a faculty senate meeting in 2017, but conversations never led anywhere.
This latest push came from Samantha Joslin, editor of the student-run newspaper, The Campus Ledger, in a January editorial.
“We can’t afford to let Carlsen’s history slip pleasantly from our minds, though, no matter how much easier that might be,” Joslin wrote. “Things were different in 2006. Going through the process of changing a building name over an unproven sexual harassment accusation might have seemed dramatic to many. Now, we have entered a time when allegations of this sort are given the weight they deserve, and thank God for that.”
After the editorial was published, more than a dozen students from multiple schools wrote letters encouraging the JCCC Board of Trustees to take action.
“We are only asking for the building name to be formally changed, in order to pay respects to victims and their families, as well as pave the way for higher expectations of men,” wrote Annalissa Houser, a Shawnee Mission Northwest High School student.
Mena Haas, a JCCC student, said not changing the name is “lazy, unsympathetic and naive.”
“To have a name printed on a building where everyone can see, even sexual assault/harassment victims is essentially a slap in the face,” Haas wrote. “I urge the college to take a look at the amount of sexual assault/harassment cases there have been on college campuses and think of the victims. Think of what JCCC stands for.”
The college board agreed to appoint a naming committee, which will have representatives from the board of trustees, administration, faculty, student senate and others. Musil said the committee will review the name on the building, but no decision has been determined as to whether Carlsen’s name will be removed.
At their Thursday meeting, the trustees reviewed renaming procedures. At least five of the seven trustees will have to vote in favor of the renaming for it to be approved, according to the college’s policy.
The Carlsen Center opened in 1991 as an arts complex on the Overland Park campus. Carlsen helped establish the center, which houses Yardley Hall, Polsky Theatre, a recital hall and black box theater.
JCCC President Joe Sopcich is readying to retire this summer. The college board selected Indiana community college administrator Andrew Bowne as its next president. He will take on the role in July.
This story has been updated to reflect that the process of appointing a naming committee was initiated by the board chair, based on a request by a trustee.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 3:58 PM.
