In recent weeks, a series of emails between Student Government Association (SGA) President Frank Scales and SGA Faculty Advisor Jeffrey Markovitz reveal a rift in communication and cooperation. As Faculty Advisor, Markovitz is contractually tasked with duties such as attending meetings, guiding SGA officers, and reviewing drafted documents. Scales claims Markovitz’s absence from meetings and lack of feedback on SGA documents have hindered the organization’s progress this semester. Markovitz, however, has pointed to issues of professionalism and mutual respect in his correspondence with Scales.
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In the first email, sent on October 22, Scales cites contractual obligations, such as attending SGA meetings, reviewing a proposed constitution, and responding to requests to meet, alleging breaches on Markovitz’s part.
Markovitz responds with a plea for boundaries, stating he will not tolerate any communication he perceives as hostile or accusatory. He reaffirms his dedication to advising respectful SGA members and maintaining a professional atmosphere.
From: Francis Scales
Sent: 10:18AM Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Subject: Contractual breach(es)
Hello Dr. Markovitz, I hope you are well.
I am reaching out for the second time regarding a few points of concern with your conduct as the SGA faculty advisor;
- Failure to attend the SGA executive meeting and the SGA General Assembly Meeting. Additionally, you have failed to provide any reason for your absences.
- Failure to respond to the student government president’s request to meet.
- Refusal to review the constitutional draft that student government officials have proposed.
- Refusal to speak to student journalists.
I have attached an SGA Advisor contract which you are in direct violation of. (Please note that the student government’s request for access to the contract that you signed was denied by our administrative advisor, Mrs. Jenavia.)
Dr. Markovitz, specifically you are in breach of the following stipulations;
- “Attend all Student Government Association meetings;”
- “Meet on regular scheduled basis with the Student Government Association president to provide guidance and counsel;”
- “Provide workshops and individual meetings for the new executive officers to promote continuity and leadership development;”
- “Review all important Student Government Association draft documents to assist in meeting professional standards;”
- “Other duties as required to support the student leaders and members of Student Government Association and Community College of Philadelphia student body.”
I hope we can remedy these issues without formal processes for the good of the student body.
Sincerely,
Frank Scales
From: Jeffrey Markovitz
Sent: 10:24AM Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Subject: Re: Contractual breach(es)
102422Oct2024
Frank,
I’d like to clearly articulate a boundary for you. I will not respond to any messages that are hostile, accusatory, disrespectful, or otherwise toxic. I believe I deserve better than this.
I agreed to advise the SGA because I truly care for students and this college. I will continue to support all officers and initiatives, as I have all semester, who engage in a respectful and professional manner.
Jeffrey S. Markovitz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Community College of Philadelphia
BR47-K
Two days later, the two exchanged further messages. Scales responds by asking Markovitz to specify any past instances of unprofessional conduct in their exchanges and requesting clarification on Markovitz’s stance regarding the SGA’s constitution draft.
Markovitz responded, offering to meet if Scales adopted a more respectful tone, maintained his stance against reviewing the constitution.
From: Francis Scales
Sent: 10:57AM Thursday, October 24, 2024
Subject: SGA President Meeting
Hello Dr. Markovitz, I hope you are well.
Just to follow up on previous emails, please share any particular incidences where my communication patterns were inappropriate or unprofessional so that we can strive to correct them. Additionally, please provide any documents that govern how we must interact, and also your preferences so that we can continue the school year sharing a productive professional relationship.
It is appropriate to have a meeting by the end of next week to discuss the SGA calendar and our constitutional draft. Before this meeting takes place, please read our constitutional draft to provide advice on its contents and aid in ensuring it meets professional standards.
Additionally, please provide a reason as to why you were absent from the SGAs executive meeting and general assembly.
Sincerely,
Frank Scales
From: Jeffrey Markovitz
Sent: 14:12AM Thursday, October 24, 2024
Subject: Re: SGA President Meeting
Frank,
I am willing to meet with you next week. All I ask is basic courtesy. It is clear to me that you do not wish to receive my advice and that you view myself and others as adversaries. I cannot help that. As I said before, I will not tolerate disrespect or any hostility toward myself or others. If you would like to advance your ideas with my help, we can remain strictly professional.
I mentioned earlier this semester that I will not review your constitution. I believe that your interests are singular and personal, and that they do not reflect the wishes of the rest of the SGA nor benefit students at this college. You have a right to continue with your revisions, but I will not assist with them.
Please also understand that I do not report to you, so I do not feel the need to explain or excuse myself to you.
This is my final olive branch; if I see any further hostility in writing or in person, in any medium, I will not be able to work with you.
Please let me know of your schedule next week.
Jeff
On October 29, Markovitz sent a memo to all SGA members noting that he is separating from Scales.
In response to the memo, Scales questions Markovitz’s obligations under the advisor contract and reiterates his willingness to collaborate if the contract’s responsibilities are honored.
From: Jeffrey Markovitz <jmarkovitz@ccp.edu>
Sent: 4:00PM Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Subject: Memo to the SGA
Good Afternoon All,
This message serves to note that, from this moment on, I will not associate in any way with Frank Scales. His ethics and behaviors are in direct conflict with mine, and I will no longer compromise my values.
I will continue to serve the rest of the SGA with pride.
Jeffrey S. Markovitz
From: Francis Scales
Sent: 11:32PM Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Subject: Contractual Obligation(s)
Hello Dr. Markovitz, I hope you are well.
I received your memo which you sent yesterday on October 29th. This memo was sent to all members of SGA. In this memo you stated “I will not associate in any way with Frank Scales. His ethics and behaviors are in direct conflict with mine, and I will no longer compromise my values.”
I ask that you provide answers to the following questions so that I can understand how your stance fits with your contractual obligations and role as SGA advisor
- What legally binding document supersedes your SGA contract that allows you to shun me, miss meetings, and intentionally fail to review SGA draft documents?
- How do my ethics and behaviors directly oppose yours? Please be specific.
- What was your intention when sending your memo to the entirety of SGA.
- Have you done this sort of thing to SGA officials in the past?
Considering that this may be unprecedented, I believe that if question one and two cannot be answered it is prudent of you to write your letter of resignation and deliver it to me as I am the administrative head of the student government. I ask this of you because this is the process outlined for SGA officials who would like to resign in our constitution.
I would like to add that your memo led me to feeling rejected and isolated and that it was not an appropriate or effective way to communicate your feelings. If you have any complaints about my behavior, the college provides procedures to ensure your voice is heard.
Please remember that if you are willing to fulfill your contractual obligations, I would be happy to work with you to ensure the welfare of the student body.
Sincerely,
Frank Scales
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For student government officials, the role of Faculty Advisor is a resource meant to foster leadership skills, continuity, and collaborative governance. A divide between president and faculty advisor, as these emails indicate, hinders all initiatives SGA would otherwise work on to benefit the broader student body.
Revising the SGA Contracts and Constitution have been interests for members of SGA in the past, including the faculty advisor.
In an interview on the SGA election earlier this year in April, Markovitz spoke of his own initiative to reassess the SGA contracts and constitution. “There are certain aspects about the SGA constitution and the contracts that… I thought was a problem,” he said in that interview. “And so, this winter, actually, I went and redid them all. I just, I rewrote all of the contracts and made the language clearer.” Dr. Markovitz revising language may entail different changes than the revisions Scales and his SGA peers have proposed for the contracts.
“I didn’t do the Constitution,” Markovitz continued, consistent with his current position. He has told Scales via email that he “will not review your constitution.”
Dr. Markovitz reasoned that he could not review the Constitution on his own in the past. “I started to, but it was like a 60-page document. I’m like, I don’t have time for this on my free time, you know.” The current SGA Constitution is 12 pages, including a title page. Now, Dr. Markovitz will not review Scales’ proposed Constitution because he believes Scales’ “interests are singular and personal, and that they do not reflect the wishes of the rest of the SGA nor benefit students at this college.”
In the past, Markovitz has criticized previous journalistic coverage of his involvement in SGA, responding he did “not believe previous reporting on the subject has been ethical and fair” when asked for comment earlier in the semester. Trusting this critique was given in good faith, we have attempted to approach these leaked emails and past quotes in an even more dispassionate, ethical, and fair manner.
The Independent will follow developments closely to see how SGA leadership and college administration respond to these issues, especially as the semester progresses and key projects await. This article is not just a report of conflicting communications; it’s a reminder of the importance of transparent, cooperative leadership in student government.
The Independent 
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