The committee assembled by Brandeis University to examine the school's decision to close the Rose Art Museum and sell off some of its artwork has issued a vote of confidence in the Brandeis administration, the Boston Globe reports.

According to an interim report released late last week, the Future of the Rose Committee backs the administration in its plans to turn the museum into an art study center and possibly sell some of the works in the museum's valuable collection. The report expressed hope that Brandeis has "stepped back from the precipice."

But Rose staffers, board members, and supporters have criticized the committee, saying that it does not include any of their people.

"It reminds me of something like a Stalinesque show committee," said the chairman of Rose's board of directors, Jonathan Lee. And speaking to ARTINFO, Meryl Rose, a member of both the museum board and the family that founded the institution, called it "just a sham."

Brandeis announced two weeks ago that the Rose would remain open for now, with two of five core staff members staying on. Director Michael Rush was not asked to stay, and his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of June.

"There isn't going to be a director or curator," said Lee. "Nobody is going to lend us a picture for a show, and we are not going to in any way be able to put a show together."

At least 30 Brandeis professors signed a letter of protest to the administration last week, saying that Rush should be retained.

The Future of the Rose Committee is expected to continue its evaluation of the situation over the next few months, with input from faculty, students, Brandeis trustees, and outside specialists, before issuing a final report in the fall.