Dr. Ben Tyner, professor of history and director of the Politics, History, and International Relations Program, was arrested on Wednesday evening on narcotics charges. He has been placed on administrative leave as we work to understand the situation. The university will fully cooperate with authorities as they investigate.
Please be patient as Union charts a course forward. In the short term, Tyner’s classes will be covered by substitutes.
“Dr. Tyner has been a valued member of our community for many years, and we ask our campus family to proceed with grace,” said Dr. Yami Bazan, university president. “Please do not speculate. I invite you to join as a campus family in prayer for Dr. Tyner, his family and close friends whose lives have been thrown into turmoil while also respecting appropriate boundaries.”
Update (Nov. 12, 2024)
Dear Campus Family,
I must begin by letting you know that I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the university from alumni, trustees, and our church community all letting us know they are covering us with their prayers. My deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out. The feeling on campus has been very similar to grieving any other loss, but we know that together our Union is strong enough to withstand these difficult times.
As of today, Dr. Tyner tendered, and I have accepted, his letter of resignation. Union Adventist University holds our faculty and staff to a very high standard of behavior, and he deeply regrets falling short of those expectations. I ask you to keep Dr. Tyner, his family and close friends in your prayers as the legal and healing process moves forward.
I am particularly grateful to the talented teachers who are taking on Dr. Tyner’s former classes. Dr. Willy Logan is teaching HIST 157 – The Modern World, Dr. Leslie Working will complete HMNT 305 – Art and Ideas, and Dr. Brenden Bliss is leading HIST 497 – History: Theory and Arguments. Stepping into a class mid-semester is no small feat; they are all heroes in my book.
Sincerely,
Dr. Yami Bazan
President, Union Adventist University