All Posts Tagged With: "Richard Herman"
What if Herman and White were Both Fired Tomorrow?
As the U of I community debates whether or not Chancellor Herman and President White should be fired or forced to resign from their positions, some have argued that if would pose a huge continuity problem for the University of Illinois if the two top dogs had to be replaced at the same time.
At the core of the position of Chancellor and President are the following roles: the public face, the fundraiser, the community leader, the provider of values and vision, and the public servant. White and Herman can no longer effectively play these roles. Both have violated the public trust, forever tainted their own integrity, diminished their effectiveness as fundraisers, embarrassed themselves and the university, and enraged lawmakers in Springfield who are now less likely to fund us (with the added excuse of not wanting to pay inflated salaries of these jokers). There is no question that White and Herman cannot provide the people of Illinois with the best possible leadership of the University of Illinois. This is the most important criteria the BoT and Pat Quinn should use when determining whether White and Herman should be retained.
Although anytime any leader of a bureaucracy the size of the University of Illinois is replaced there will necessarily be a transition period, here the resulting administrative hiccup would be much less damaging than retaining Richard Herman and B. Joe White. White and Herman aren’t exactly steering the boat alone. The University has an ever-expanding army of senior administrative personnel who can keep the wheels going round even if we had to name an Interim-President and Interim-Chancellor tomorrow. Read more…
Response to “Clout goes to College”
Today the Trib printed a damaging expose titled “clout goes to college” on the practice of trading on clout to admit unqualified students to the University of Illinois. I encourage anyone who loves the University of Illinois to read the story and take a look at the exhibits.
A Tribune investigation which included FOIA requests uncovered hard, damning evidence that the U of I is admitting unqualified students, while turning away qualified students. The Trib cites a clout list of over 160 students, but even one student getting special treatment is too many.
Leading a state university is a position of public trust. Administrators have a duty to use basic fairness and equality when admitting students. Richard Herman and B. Joe White are accountable to all the people of Illinois–to all taxpayers–not just the ones with clout. Imagine if they were outright selling admission to our competitive law school or business school–trading a seat in the class for an envelope of cash. In truth, trading for political influence isn’t altogether different. Especially when those they are catering to are the same people who set their over-inflated salaries.
While it’s true this practice predates the current administration, it doesn’t excuse our leaders from compromising their principle and tarnishing the integrity of the institution. Whether or not we traded clout for admission in the past, the practice is wrong and must stop. Whether or not other schools do it to, the practice is wrong and must stop.
If Richard Herman and B. Joe White were men of character they would acknowledge that they owe an apology and an explanation to all of the rejected students with credentials superior to the “Category I” admittees.
UIUC Lunacy
So I was watching the evening news last night (the local news not the network cult of Obama-worship propaganda machine) and there were three stories associated with our university that I found so paradoxical that; well you guys be the judge. Does this make sense to anyone? Read more…
Obama Irish?
My buddy Ryan just sent me this link to an Obama St. Patrick’s Day shirt. This shirt is a fantastic celebration of St. Patty’s Day, and the Obama’ campaign’s sense of humor. And how much is it, you ask? $20.08.
Keep this in mind if you’re on campus at the University of Illinois for Unoffical St. Patrick’s Day, UIUC’s lovely liberal ladies will love this shirt.
I want to trademark calling Unofficial St. Patricks Day: “The University of Illinois’ Proudest Remaining Tradition.”
Warning for those visiting the University of Illinois for Unofficial: Stay out of the dorms, or Chancellor Richard Herman will drink your blood. Ok, maybe not, but he does look a lot like a vampire and none of us at the Agora have ever seen him outside.
Bolin Raises Questions About UIUC Administration
Make sure you didn’t miss today’s well-written editorial in the Daily Illini by perennial campus all-star Dan Bolin.
Dan says in part:
Late Monday, I learned that the University administration had been working with one or two members of our nine member SEC to add language to this referenda statement. While other referenda have supplemental language submitted by sponsors, never as an undergraduate or as a law student at this University have I seen the administration impose their own language on a referendum question. The administration’s language states: “The result of this referendum question is not binding on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, the body legislatively charged with oversight of the symbol.”
U of I Picks PR Over Safety
Check out today’s Daily Illini editorial. They make a great point. This is just the latest potentially disastrous bad call by Chancellor Richard Herman who values public relations over sound policy, and in this case, over student safety. Wouldn’t a better policy be making it clear to all students in the dorms that they will be held responsible for the actions of their guests, and telling them police will be called immediately if there is disruptive activity in the dorms? Perhaps Chancellor Herman is following the perennially short-sighted advice of Housing Director Jack Collins, but the buck stops with Chancellor Herman. His first charge is keeping the students at the university safe. I hope if there is a rise in injuries, sexual assaults, or fatalities, that Chancellor Herman is held responsible.