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Gottfredson bans Frohnmayer and Rudnick from campus

9/27/2013 update: Looks like the law school is paying Frohnmayer $50K to co-teach a 19 person class in the Honor’s college with his long-time assistant Barbara West:

The course focuses on a small number of topics central to theories of leadership including totalitarianism, charisma, ethics, and the heroic leader. (sic)

That can’t be all – anyone know what else he’s doing on campus?

9/26/2013: Sorry guys, but UO is now tobacco-free. You should have thought about it before you took that tobacco company money.

“The University of Oregon is now a healthier campus,” said UO President Michael Gottfredson. “I appreciate the leadership of the governor, and the hard work of our students and other campus and community members in getting us to this day.” 

68 Comments

  1. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    Yes this would make campus far healthier and happier.

  2. Awesome0 09/26/2013

    Or the unintended consequence is that Rudnick and Frohnmeyer would always being hanging out in front of PLC and we’d have to walk be them on the way to lunch.

  3. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    Our American system of justice requires that ALL, murderers, rapists, corporations, big tobacco, child molesters, pornographers, drug dealers and all citizens have legal representation in court. It is what makes our system of justice great.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      UOM is their court, no?

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      Our system of justice does NOT require that people make millions of dollars defending private corporate profits.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      So it would be OK if they made minimum wage?

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Frohnmayer is a public defender making a pittance? Oh, no. He’s an amoral bastard. Exactly the opposite.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      You judge attorneys by who their clients are? You call them names? Do you honestly, really believe that the guy who ran the University for 15 years, who has raised millions of dollars and who has been one fine public servant is an amoral bastard? You must be one helluva guy!

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      The “amoral bastard” Anon commenter above is a complete idiot. Frohnmayer wasn’t representing Philip Morris. He was an expert witness giving his neutral opinion about the state’s powers from the perspective of a former Attorney General. His testimony was not against the public interest; it was used by one group of tobacco companies (those who were part of the Master Settlement Agreement) against another group of tobacco companies (those who were not). Learn the facts before you insult people who have worked (and continue to work) tirelessly to benefit UO.

  4. Awesome0 09/26/2013

    Then let the tobacco companies use a public defender.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      Well, would you then demonize the public defender?

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      No, public defenders serve a constitutionally defined good. The difference is subtle, but one is providing a public service. The other is doing a self-service.

  5. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    Well, would you then demonize the public defender?

  6. Awesome0 09/26/2013

    Nope.

    The point I think is do we want a public university whose mission includes the public good of Oregon to be using the same firm which has chosen to represent a company trying to take back millions from what they already agreed to pay our state. A payment which was agreed on in order to compensate for those companies attempts to misrepresent the dangers of their product and attempts to market their products towards those who couldn’t legally purchase it.

    No law forced HGLR to take up the case, or forced Fronhmeyer to be an expert witness. They chose to do so because the price was right. The question I would ask is what is the integrity of our university and commitment to our public mission worth? We should at least get a discount due to the negative press associated with HGLR and their decision to represent the interests of tobacco companies.

    The question I would ask is do you see a conflict between the public mission of the UO, and the corporate mission of the tobacco companies?

    • UO Matters 10/08/2013

      Dear Ms Sindi: Please don’t repetitively post the same message in the comments. Thanks.

  7. The Truth 09/26/2013

    Does UO put contracts for outside legal assistance/work out for bid looking for the best deal/most effective counsel, or is HGLR the house law firm that gets sweetheart no-bid contracts via Frohnmayer’s influence?

  8. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    First, HLGR has many, many clients, including OHSU, U of O, etc. Secondly, they did give the UO a discount. Big tobacco can hire the absolute best attorneys. Would you like to have UO hire the best attorneys?
    Of course the public mission of a university is different from a corporation’s mission, what does that have to do with legal representation? If a law firm defends polluters or some other nefarious group does that mean they should not represent any other entities?

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      Sure, if they hired the best attorneys maybe then they wouldn’t need to contract out so much.

  9. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    Larivierre also hired HLGR, as has Gottfredson. Why would you think they have a “sweetheart deal’? Might it be that they are among the best attorneys to be had? Would you wish that they hired less competent folks?

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      UO already hires plenty of attorneys, and makes new ones, too. They rented HLGR.

  10. UO Matters 09/26/2013

    Berdahl hired HLGR to fight faculty unionization. A few month later we voted to unionize. Gottfredson kept HLGR on to negotiate the contract. Union support grew steadily throughout the whole process. HLGR got Blandy, Gleason, and Altmann to be their stooges at the bargaining table. The reputations of all three may never recover.

    Rudnick’s representation of Gottfredson at the table has completely trashed his relationship with the faculty, especially in business and law. The free speech thing made his name a joke with faculty all over the country.

    Pretty damn far from competent, if by that you mean looking out for your client’s best interests.

    HLGR did rake in the billable hours though, if that’s your measure.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      well said

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      HLRG “got” those three to be their “stooges”? How insulting to all four of them. Did you expect there to be no one on the other side? I think you helped “trash” his relationship with the faculty, Bill.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      Well, yea. Gleason was clearly a net loss for the administration, with almost every utterance. I just hope that MG doesn’t feel that he owes him now. That wouldn’t end well.

  11. Anonymous 09/26/2013

    Anyone selected by the admins would get trashed in this blog. They deserve combat pay. Go ahead Bill, trash me now.
    -Not Jim, Scott, etc.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      Dog says

      this is not necessarily true – an admin voice that spoke in an honest, fair and balanced tone would be
      praised in this blog. An while we may be conditioned to not even recognize that tone if it were to occur,
      its been my experience that the tone is not there. Period.

    • Anonymous 09/26/2013

      This is not true at all.
      Blandy: Hasn’t been subjected to as much critique as he is less offensive.
      Moffitt: Cried and ran out of the room. What do you expect to happen?
      Gleason: Nobody wants him and the admins don’t know what to do with him. Everyone knows he was put in this position to earn his stripes.
      Geller: His influence is no different than his contributions elsewhere on campus. He just has to go.
      Altmann: Face of a fake fact check page. Yea, that’s going to go over well.
      Gottfredson: Who is Gottfredson?

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Dog says

      you can be honest, fair and balanced and still be offensive.
      I don’t think that is the criteria – the simple fact is that most of us don’t trust anything
      that the admin says anymore, and that’s not going to improve because of the union.
      Transparency might improve, but transparency is not trust.

    • Awesome0 09/27/2013

      A truly engaged admin would have recognize the harm Rudnick was doing as she insulted the faculty, the university, and was dismissive about the UO future on numerous occasion. She looked down on everyone at the table, and in the room, not realizing the scope of talent she was insulting. This isn’t a typical labor negotiation with laborers who need the employers capital. We’re the labor and the capital.

      An adult in the room would have told Sharon to Shut Up and Leave, as she didn’t recognize the faculty and students are what make up the UO. Take us, away, and all you have is a bunch of buildings built in different decades.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      ” … didn’t recognize the faculty and students are what make up the UO. Take us, away, and all you have is a bunch of buildings built in different decades. “

      That needs to be trumpeted, repeatedly. The non-recognition of such will be an on-going problem.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Regarding the Union, Coltrane, etc:

      “Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Dogs (are fierce in Animal Farm)

      …and the sheep just continue to do what they are told …

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Insert Gleason goat reference here —>

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      I’m sorry, but as far as offensive, dishonest and insulting goes, I think UO Matters wins. Do any of UO Matters fans ever read the fact check?

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Do you think UO matters has been “honest, fair and balanced”?

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Dog Says

      No – UOM is not a fair and balanced discussion and neither are most of the comments. But
      there is a measure of honesty or candidness in this forum that is missing from other discussions and that is worth a lot.

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      Candidness yes, honesty, not so much.

    • Keith Appleby 09/28/2013

      “A truly engaged admin would have recognize the harm Rudnick was doing as she insulted the faculty, the university, and was dismissive about the UO future on numerous occasion. She looked down on everyone at the table, and in the room, not realizing the scope of talent she was insulting. This isn’t a typical labor negotiation with laborers who need the employers capital. We’re the labor and the capital.

      An adult in the room would have told Sharon to Shut Up and Leave, as she didn’t recognize the faculty and students are what make up the UO. Take us, away, and all you have is a bunch of buildings built in different decades. “

      Smartest and most cogent comment I have seen on this blog in a while. Someone else said this needed trumpeted and repeated: True.

  12. Awesome0 09/27/2013

    What is all of this talk about President’s picking HGLR. We all knew who picked them: Randy Geller. What’s his process for picking them? No one knows because he goes to as lengthy efforts to hired everything he can from public view.

    His favorite motto: when in doubt, redact.

  13. Anonymous 09/27/2013

    “paying Frohnmayer $50K to co-teach a 19 person class in the Honor’s college”
    Bamm… Just like that, considering Frohnmayer’s ethics becomes relevant again. (Like it never was.)

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Frohnmayer’s ethics are not in question; Harbaugh is a bizarre, deceitful person. Frohnmayer’s actual teaching credit load over the last calendar year, including undergraduate and graduate courses, was 14. He chose to forego the automatic 6% salary increase incentive for signing up for UO’s Tenure Reduction Program, and he donated his entire net income from his summer employment under TRP for UO student scholarships (which were doubly matched from private sources). Frohnmayer is also still highly involved in issues central to UO’s long-term success, including advising on legislative strategy and undertaking major donor stewardship.

      Harbaugh knows–or should have known–everything I just wrote. He is not interested in the truth and never has been.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      THANK YOU! I am hoping that there are more of us who are willing to point out UO matters as an angry, deceitful rabble rouser who causes great harm to the UO.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Hi Bill.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      I love knowing that admins and their backers read plenty of this blog. I hope staying off of these pages themselves is enough to scare them straight (hello old guard) or keep them straight (Hi Scott).

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      I was yawning and now I’m just amused. And I’m not Bill.

      I’ve never quite understood the rationale behind going to a blog or website that one finds offensive and then joining in. Boredom? Troublemaking? An attempt to audition for Big Brother? If you are so offended, why are you here? Moreover, WHY are you blogging anonymously if you anticipate doing some legitimate “good”?? Great bravery, that.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      I think some people believe everything he says and they deserve to know when he is outright lying about important matters and about people. Have you seen what he writes about people who criticize him or who don’t live up to his expectations or who he just hates on principle? Most people write anonymously because they are afraid of him. It isn’t just offensive, it is harmful and verges on criminal at times. Or maybe it is just like rubbernecking, watching a “holier-than-thou” trash folks.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      I know, remember that nonsense about getting a goat? He lied to me! He lied to US!

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      You mean … there are no goats? Oh. I’m so disappointed.
      What about the mug offers? I’ve “won” 3 now and was waiting until I hit 6 to get a matched set. I suppose I should give up on that too?

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      Oh, I see now. It is all in jest, just fun and games. Silly moi!

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      To the “Yawner” above: I’m one of the people defending Dave. When somebody attacks someone whom you believe in or care about in a false and cruel way, of course you respond. How is that even a question? You think we’re doing this for fun or to “audition for Big Brother?” You seem naive; I’d guess that you’ve never been attacked or falsely accused. I hope it stays that way, but I also hope you can cultivate empathy for people who have been.

      I actually hate commenting on this site. I think it’s almost always futile to respond to Harbaugh’s smears because people have a very strong negativity bias; i.e., we’re much more likely to believe negative things than positive things (read Daniel Kahneman). That bias gives anyone in our society with some web savvy the power to denigrate other people, and Harbaugh chooses to abuse that power. I do recognize that there are legitimate grounds for strong disagreement between the UO faculty and admin, and I welcome a forum to work through those disagreements constructively. But I think it’s never OK to lie about people, so I am compelled, reluctantly, to respond.

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      “Compelled”, anonymously? You can defame and offer no proof in your defense of Dave but that’s okay because you’re, uh, more believable?

      No, I’m not naive. And yes, I’ve been attacked and defamed many times which has absolutely nothing to do with anything written here. “Cultivate empathy”? Wow. Aren’t you being a little judgmental? Defaming and judgmental …. maybe you need to get a pet goat?

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      ^ I was the anon who wrote the comment beginning with “Frohnmayer’s ethics are not in question; Harbaugh is a bizarre, deceitful person.” Everything that followed was a verifiable fact that contradicted Harbaugh’s insinuation about Dave’s service. I’ve also stated other verifiable facts on this site in defense of other accusations.

      If you’re the same Anon I was responding to, you suggested that I was responding out of “Boredom” or “Troublemaking” or to “audition for Big Brother.” Your suggestion evinced both naivete and lack of empathy; your admission that you’ve been attacked and defamed many times yourself doesn’t help your case.

      I do agree with you that goats are amazing; I’ve taken care of several at farm sanctuaries.

    • Keith Appleby 09/28/2013

      “You seem naive; I’d guess that you’ve never been attacked or falsely accused. I hope it stays that way, but I also hope you can cultivate empathy for people who have been. “

      I have personally experienced a decided lack of empathy of from HLGR and the administration when it comes to false accusations.

      If you truly believe what you say, maybe you could put in a good word for me with Geller and HLGR and we could finally get some things settled?

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      ^Are you the same anon I was responding to?

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      Yes, I suggest you are an anonymous troublemaker, too bored to repeat “verifiable facts” that you’ve supposedly reported here previously. What my suggestion actually “evinced” was a very well-used tool wielded by someone who wants to diverge from the point: attack the person but don’t get into facts. Kind of a lawyer thing, no? Me? I don’t have a case to make, just one person’s opinion. I’m amused that you think you can discern me with a couple posts. Let me also add that my opinion of DF has very little to do with anything I’ve ever read here.

      Anywho, have a nice weekend! Is that a good start for being empathetic?

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      No, Keith isn’t the anon.
      And you might ask why I’m answering anonymously? Well … because of people like you who assume and accuse, passing judgment as though you actually know something to do so.

      Wait … isn’t this what you’re saying UOM does??

    • Anonymous 09/28/2013

      Yes, I appreciate that. I hope you have a nice weekend, too.

  14. Hedgehog/Fox 09/27/2013

    Not a productive discussion. On the one hand, it is proper to have a blog that provides an outlet for all of this data, all of these stories. Overall–not in every detail–we get a good look into the corporatization of the University and the practices of the upper corporate class and those connected with it. On the other hand, the blog owner’s animus toward Frohnmayer and some others is long standing and well-know, and very often personalizes the issues in an unhelpful though sometimes attention-getting and even entertaining manner. The way someone functions as an insider in the upper corporate class, the way he or she participates in the exclusive ethics of that club, is not the complete picture. People are more complex than that. Frohnmayer is an especially good example here. The great good he has done for the UO is incontrovertible. It is no secret that those who pursue wealth and power work with ethically corrosive powers and suffer the consequences. It is no secret that they have complex rationalizations and justifications for their actions. It has to be remembered, however, that individuals can be pursuing and navigating wealth and power at the same time that they are doing great good and making many positive contributions. The personal demonizing–however humorous and attention-getting–is also deeply misleading. As long as we have corporate-style incentives and expectations and processes and hierarchies, we are going to produce corporate-style leadership.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      Gone are the days of granting unchecked powers to the UO administrators and athletic department.

    • Anonymous 09/27/2013

      So refreshing to hear a voice of reason on this blog. Thank you Hedgehog.

    • Helpful Harry 09/27/2013

      “As long as we have corporate-style incentives and expectations and processes and hierarchies, we are going to produce corporate-style leadership.” Yes, but I remember well that it was DF himself who INTRODUCED corporate-style incentives and expectations and processes and hierarchies at UO.

    • Keith Appleby 09/28/2013

      “Not a productive discussion. On the one hand, it is proper to have a blog that provides an outlet for all of this data, all of these stories. Overall–not in every detail–we get a good look into the corporatization of the University and the practices of the upper corporate class and those connected with it. On the other hand, the blog owner’s animus toward Frohnmayer and some others is long standing and well-know, and very often personalizes the issues in an unhelpful though sometimes attention-getting and even entertaining manner. The way someone functions as an insider in the upper corporate class, the way he or she participates in the exclusive ethics of that club, is not the complete picture. People are more complex than that. Frohnmayer is an especially good example here. The great good he has done for the UO is incontrovertible. It is no secret that those who pursue wealth and power work with ethically corrosive powers and suffer the consequences. It is no secret that they have complex rationalizations and justifications for their actions. It has to be remembered, however, that individuals can be pursuing and navigating wealth and power at the same time that they are doing great good and making many positive contributions. The personal demonizing–however humorous and attention-getting–is also deeply misleading. As long as we have corporate-style incentives and expectations and processes and hierarchies, we are going to produce corporate-style leadership.”

      Wow. We are on a roll. Two smart comments from people today.

      Hedgehog: That’s a fair and evenhanded analysis.

  15. Anonymous 09/27/2013

    Dog

    Anon above says “Gone are the days of granting unchecked powers to the UO administrators and athletic department. “

    a) I seriously doubt this

    b) how will this “goneness” manifest itself?

  16. M, E and A 09/29/2013

    ” … goats are amazing; I’ve taken care of several at farm sanctuaries.”

    Farm sanctuaries? What are those?? Are they like people sanctuaries, aka refugee camps?

    • Anonymous 09/29/2013

      ^ Yes, they are. They’re organizations that take care of animals that were rescued from factory farms and other forms of human cruelty against animals.

  17. Nadia Sindi 10/07/2013

    Please sign my three petition agains the above the law,most dangerrous criminal, TYRANT, anarchist, THIEF Dave Frohnmayer. I think they blocked any one to sign this one! and I don’t know about the other two..

    http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/160/338/895/#sign

    Please sign my BOTH Petitions and share it with as many people as possible. Don’t worry, if you are NOT an American citizen; it’s OK for any one to sign it. Thanks!

    1: with Change.org

    https://www.change.org/petitions/a-g-eric-holder-sent-jeff-merkley-gov-john-kitzhaber-investigate-abuse-of-power-and-criminal-forgery-by-former-oregon-a-g-david-frohnmayer-and-lane-county-government#share

    2: with Moveon.org

    http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/justice-for-nadia-sindi?source=c.url&r_by

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