11/29/2011: Steve Duin writes on OUS fail. Bill Graves of the Oregonian captures the craziness. People don’t often talk back to pandering buzzword spewing politicians, or laugh in their faces. We’d be a better country if we did:
Board member James Francesconi … “We cannot be a great state without a great UO,” he said. “But we can’t be a great state only with the UO. We need leaders who challenge us to be great, but not at the expense of others.”
Audience members laughed.
Board member David Yaden said the board still supported bold and creative leadership for UO. “Do not let mediocrity become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he warned.
More laughter.
Board member Jill Eiland said the board needed the Lariviere supporters as “strategic partners.”
Audience members shot back. “It is an insult for you to challenge us,” said one. “It is a railroad job,” said another. “It is a sham,” shouted a third.
11/28/2011: Matt Donegan was pretty coherent – it turns out he’d put Lariviere on double secret probation back in June – and he allowed for some cathartic back and forth. Allyn Ford was sad, Francesconi and Kelly teared up. The rest of the board read insulting prepared statements – for a decision they are claiming was not made until the meeting? A sham and a farce. Their vote was unanimous – 30 days notice. Read about it in the papers. Meanwhile, mail off those public meetings petitions and email the requests that the Board to hold a public meeting to fire Pernsteiner like they just did for Lariviere.
Not pissed off enough? Just watch and listen to Pernsteiner at the post meeting news conference here. Donegan does not come off very well either:
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Two quick questions:
1) What sort of interim president will they cram down our throats? Lorraine Davis? Jim Bean?
OUS Job Opening (thanks to anon)
Wanted – Mediocre, milquetoast administrator with established track record of blind adherence to status quo to lead previously innovative state university. Successful candidate will be an experienced sycophant with proven past behavior demonstrating unthinking
compliance and submission to all local, state and bureaucratic agencies. Physical requirements include a strong, non-dominant hand grip strength to effectively rubber stamp all proposed initiatives – spine not required. Minimal need for creative thinking or bold
leadership potential required, and, in fact, such behavior may disqualify candidate. High likelihood of rapid placement, as projected applicant pool expected to be very, very sparse. If above qualifications are met, but candidate is not selected for current position advertised, application will be forwarded to Salem offices for consideration for another similar post and/or governorship.”
2) The elephant in the room was Chancellor George Pernsteiner. This WWeek story quotes Donegan as saying he and Lariviere were not even on speaking terms at the end. Ok – so fire Pernsteiner:
- He was hired in 2004 by Neil Goldschmidt as an interim appointment, then made permanent after the molestation story broke and everyone was too busy to go through a public search process.
- He does not have a PhD – unique for a university Chancellor.
- He is paid $280,900 in straight salary – while OUS staff get furloughs.
- He gets another $23,320 for “professional development expenses.” He does not document how he spends this, despite state audit rules – he just takes it as a cash salary add-on.
- He gets a free car with all costs paid.
- He gets a $12,720 retirement add-on, to top off his regular PERS account.
- He gets an all expenses paid mansion in Eugene, Treetops, which he uses about 4 nights a month, at a cost to the state of over $50,000 a year. Landscaping is $1300 a month.
- To fight a voter fraud investigation his lawyer claimed he lived in Eugene.
- We pay about $7,000 a year for his maid service.
- He gets another $26,000 from OUS in housing allowance to pay the mortgage on his own house, in Portland.
- He charges the state $52 a day for his personal food while he’s in Portland.
And his contract will be automatically renewed unless the OUS board acts by 12/31/2011.