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Stay calm! All is well!

As we stand at the threshold of this exciting reform, I see a bold path forward. If you had told me a year ago, when I first arrived at the University of Oregon, that today we would be this far along this path, I’m not sure I would have believed you. But our state has taken remarkable steps this year, choosing this bold path, secure in the knowledge that it clearly benefits Oregon and Oregonians, it clearly advances the mission and quality of each of our universities.

Too little, too late. It’s been more than a year. Gottfredson is clearly in over his head. He should go back to teaching criminology at $360K.

Whoever is currently in charge of UO – is anyone in charge? – should just appoint Scott Coltrane as interim President. Hit restart.

The UO faculty now know way too much about Gottfredson’s refusal to spend money on merit raises or for start-ups for research labs. While he’s got no problem pissing away millions on police, Portland, football, deadwood administrators, pet administrative projects. $1M on Sharon Rudnick? The man has lost control of the university.

I don’t know about your department, but in mine plenty of people are now on the market.

Who would have guessed that George Pernsteiner’s pick for UO President would have turned out so badly?

9 Comments

  1. Anonymous 10/11/2013

    Of course it’s “Too little, too late.” Not to mention that it is just more of his fustian and meaningless words.

  2. Anonymous 10/11/2013

    Can someone ask MG where he draws the line for determining which institutions are among “the nation’s premiere public research universities?”

    • Anas clypeata 10/11/2013

      Did he really write “premiere”? [checking the original site…] Oh good gracious. Can someone PLEASE hire a copy editor for these people? Provost Bean needed someone to help him with percentages, and now our president needs someone to help him spell “premier” correctly?

      Sigh.

  3. Margie Paris 10/11/2013

    To correct the quote immediately under the UO Matters masthead, President Gottfredson has not indicated that he wants to remove any words from “our free speech policy.” The Senate made a policy proposal covering both academic freedom and freedom of speech. The President replied in a timely manner, requesting that the Senate proposal be split into separate policies, because he views them as springing from different sets of values. A Senate working group has been formed.

    • Anonymous 10/11/2013

      President Gottfredson should be clear that the only change he seeks to make is having two separate policies, but that otherwise the wording is acceptable. It would be disingenuous if he “replied in a timely manner”, but had other changes he was holding back until after the policy got split.

    • Anonymous 10/11/2013

      What positive “value” could gained in splitting these policies?

    • UO Matters 10/11/2013

      I disagree Margie. At the bargaining sessions President Gottfredson’s team made it very clear that he would not accept the

      “All University employees retain the right to address any matter of institutional policy or action without fear of institutional discipline or restraint.”

      language in the contract, despite its inclusion in the policy approved by the Senate, and despite the fact that the policy said it should be incorporated into any contracts.

    • Old Man 10/11/2013

      UOM reminds us of existing language in the proposal : “All University employees retain the right to address any matter of institutional policy or action without fear of institutional discipline or restraint.” This ambitious language would make it impossible for Mike to fire Dave (his Special Assistant) if Dave wrote to the RG that his boss is whacky and the UO is going down the drain. It is impossible for Mike to accept that restriction, so let’s stop squeaking and move things along. Sure, Mike’s asking for a split without indicating what other changes (if any) might be needed, may have slowed things down. But, speed never will be the hallmark of Shared Governance.

  4. Anonymous 10/13/2013

    shared governance? wake up and smell the droppings amigo. JH and athletics are running this place. they are shitting on your head. the Senate has no influence in the decision making process

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