Alexandra Nicolas of The Chart, Missouri Southern State University's award-winning newspaper, asked Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, the question that apparently was never put to him by anyone with the Joplin Globe- Are you a candidate for the presidency of MSSU:
Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) told The Chart today that he is not a candidate for the position.
"No, there's no substance to that rumor," he said. "I was just appointed chairman of the (Senate) Appropriation Committee." Nolder also said he is "obviously in a position to benefit Southern," in other ways, though he was encouraged to apply by members of faculty and the community.
Currently the committee, made up of faculty, Board of Governors members, community members and one student is preparing to begin the selection process. Sharon Odem, secretary to the Board and the president, confirmed there are currently only two applications on file. The position is currently advertised in The Joplin Globe and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Board Chairman Dwight Douglas has also said he does not plan to pursue the president's position, and intends to find Southern "the best president" possible.
A nice job by Ms. Nicolas of putting the question to Nodler and putting him on the record, but despite the denial, I have no doubt there is more to the story.
48 comments:
what is probably missing is the last part of the sentence "right now". I doubt he wants to do it right now, but in the future I am sure he would love to. Like, when his term is over and he can devote his full energies into ruining other things.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I can relax. But before Senator Nodler considers the job of MSSU President, he needs to seek a terminal degree, pay his dues, and get some experience in academe.
The Chart deserves a big pat on the back!
Here's the ad posted in the Chronicle of Higher Ed. I'm glad to see the job qualifications are as they should be:
Position: President
Salary: Unspecified
Institution: Missouri Southern State University
Location: Missouri
Date posted: 9/3/2007
PRESIDENT
The Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University invites applications and nominations for candidates interested in the Presidency of the university.
The next president of MSSU should be a campus leader who can execute a vision of academic excellence and student-focused learning. The new president must possess excellent communication skills, be able to demonstrate successful leadership experience in a higher education environment, and be able to create collaborative partnerships with business, industry, education and other organizations. Qualifications include experience in the successful management of people and assets, skills in fiscal management and fund-raising, the ability to make timely decisions, and experience in implementing strategic and long range planning. Candidates should also possess an earned doctorate from an accredited institution.
Founded in 1937 as a Junior College, MSSU has grown to a public university offering Bachelor's and Master's degrees with a student population of approximately 5,600. Inherent in its international approach to undergraduate education is the University's desire to prepare its students to understand world affairs, international issues, and other cultures as seen through their history, geography, language, literature, philosophy, economics, and politics. The faculty and staff emphasize quality teaching and learning as the most important attributes of the institution, complemented by scholarly and creative expression and dedicated community service. MSSU also offers the option of distance learning which is a unique opportunity for students and faculty.
The modern, attractive 373 acre campus is in the midst of a $35 million new construction program which includes an academic building to house health sciences programs, a new student recreation center and health clinic, and the renovation of the student union.
MSSU is located in Joplin, Missouri in the southwest corner of the state. Joplin is a friendly city of more than 47,000 with a market area of nearly 500,000. The campus and community provide a variety of cultural pursuits and the surrounding area provides a variety of outdoor recreational activities.
Recruitment will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. MSSU offers a competitive salary and benefits package. To apply, please send by November 1, 2007 a letter of application, current résumé, and a list of three or more references with contact information (by postal mail only) to:
Ms. Sharon Odem, Secretary to Board of Governors
Missouri Southern State University
3950 E. Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801 - 1595
More information about the university can be found at: http://www.mssu.edu. Please e-mail questions or comments to: odem-s@mssu.edu.
MSSU is an Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.
This is all so goofy, Randy reports a rumor that clearly was baseless, gets folks stirred up and then declares "there's more to the story". There is: "who started this rumor and why?" If this young lady is a good reporter she will go after that story. She could begin by asking Turner where he heard it, then track it back to the source and ask why they started the rumor.
Randy, Randy "Despite the denial"? OK put up or shut up, if you have no doubt there is more to the story you imply that Nodler did express some interest in the position. Put up or shut up, where is your evidence your quote, your source to support this. Perhaps you "have no doubt" because to doubt would suggest that you understand why you should never have printed a baseless rumor in the first place, proving once again why you are not employable as a reporter.
"he needs to seek a terminal degree, pay his dues, and get some experience in academe." Folks at Columbia University are glad there board ignored this kind of narrow thinking, it would have denied them there greatest President one Dwight D. Eisenhower. Of course I am sure the faculty at MSSU looks down on those mongrels at Columbia. The people of Oklahoma should be grateful that that board ignored this backward and outdated notion when they picked there current President, most in that state believe he has been a great President too. This should be about finding the best person who has the qualities to lead, not about "paying dues"
Someone, somewhere, should have taught you better, so you would not mistake "there" for "their," etc.
But I'm sure you know best, since you clearly aren't a fan of working hard to attain a position by meeting qualifications.
I'm amazed. How can you even compare a man like Dwight David Eisenhower, who was very educated and rose from the ranks to become one of the greatest military minds of the 20th Century, BEFORE HE WAS PRESIDENT, EVEN, with a state senator from Newton County whose chief claim to fame is that he worked for Gene Taylor, worked for the Small Business Adminstration as a regional director (an appointment from the first George Bush, no doubt a political favor), started a cable company, a consulting business, and is now a state senator?
No offense to Senator Nodler, who may yet become great in his own right, and certainly is not bereft of ambition, but comparing him to Eisenhower? General Eisenhower not only masterminded the European Theatre during WWII, but when President he created the Interstate Highway system and applied his knowledge of moving goods and people during wartime to peacetime America. He was a genius who had extreme ability, plus much experience. He also had, for his time, what was considered a terminal degree, plus graduate education. He graduated from the Military Academy and attended various War Colleges.
Eisenhower was also a man of the people, very popular. He supported Civil Rights, was a stalwart supporter of FDR's New Deal programs, which he continued, and presided over one of the largest economic expansions in our nation's history.
His tenure as President of Columbia College, on the other hand, was rather a non-event - for most of his five years there, he was on leave so he could serve as commander of NATO. The rest of the time he was busy writing a book. His appointment was, for the most part, ceremonial in nature.
I certainly hope you aren't suggesting that MSSU needs a ceremonial president? If Senator Nodler is to be compared to Eisenhower, then his talents would truly be wasted in Joplin -- he should stay in politics and run for a higher office when his term is up in the senate. With his influence and considerable clout, he would be a valuable ally in Washington.
There was more to this than just rumor, which should be obvious to everyone except the one or two people who have made it a habit of ripping into me every time I write anything about Nodler. Even Nodler's comment shows it was talked about. As for Nodler's comment about his position as head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, over and over again this summer we have seen senators and representatives, many of them in powerful committee posts, who have decided to leave those positions for other, better-paying positions. As for the comment of having someone ask me my source, let me save everyone a lot of time. I haven't given up a source in 30 years and I don't plan to start doing it now.
I suggest you need to find better sources because bad ones can splatter egg all over your face as in this case. You don't convince many people, Randy. Most will believe you started this rumor on your own because of your distaste for Senator Nodler.
I also want to support the idea that many good men and women are not chosen because they don't fit the mold of some job. This has nothing to do with the presidential search at Southern, but I believe in thinking outside the box. Many, many, many good college presidents came into office through outside tracks.
To Pinkie Lefebvre: This is not about comparing Nodler to Eisenhower but to point out that the path to an institution presidency should not be just academics and a terminal degree. All over this country progressive institutions are moving away from this notion that just has the effect of narrowing choices. While Nodler is not a candidate, the search should not be limited to these narrow confinements.
You are not going to find that many people out there who believe my sources were wrong. And despite your constant harping about my writing about Gary Nodler, he hasn't been treated any differently than any number of politicians I write about, on both sides of the aisle. He happens to be the state senator for my district, so naturally I am going to watch what he does carefully. If the media wants to get to the bottom of the story, it is going to have to dig deeper than Gary Nodler and Dwight Douglas.
Randy "it was talked about" that is what a rumor is, not news.
Randy, Get to the bottom of what story? "You are not going to find that many people out there who believe my sources are wrong". We know your rumor was wrong, therefore we know your sources were wrong! It would be good for you soul just for once to admit a mistake. You reported a rumor that had no basis, just admit it.
People, People, People. Have you forgot what Randy does for a living? This "award winning reporter" is so good at his craft that he is teaching junior high students. Always remember....anyone who touts themselves as an award winning, hard hitting journalist but then can't get employed by a newspaper has issues.
Randy, I don’t believe you do treat Nodler differently. Don’t think for a moment that because you are wrong about Nodler and unfair to him means you are right or fair when writing about anyone or anything else. That’s the point isn’t it? It’s also why you can’t hold a job in journalism. You protect the sources of true stories; you don’t protect the sources of lies. If this report about Nodler had substance you would be right to protect your “source”. Since we know it is false, you should reveal the source of the lie, it obviously was motivated politically. You will make your choice but to most people, until they know better, this started in your own imagination.
Randy ends his post with "despite the denial". I read the story and Nodler didn't denie anything. He was asked if he was applying for the job and he said no. What denial are you refering to?
Randy, I have noticed everytime you blog something about Gary Nodler, you get a lot of comments telling you you are wrong in what you are saying about Nodler.
The comments are all anonymous comments and they are all favorable to Nodler.
While he is not my senator, (I still remember the movie theater incident), he may or may not be a better senator than my senator, Senator Aunt Norma.
Randy was not the only one who heard the rumors. The Nodler rumor was making the rounds at the University for several days before Randy's blog came out, and the rumors I heard were verbatim what he wrote in the blog. Whether the rumors were based on fact or not is immaterial. Randy did raise the flag, and got people talking, and this did result in somebody (although a Chart reporter, and not the Globe) asking Nodler whether he was interested in the position. I think that is a positive thing.
Several posters impugning Randy should realize that he is doing just exactly what he loves, in teaching, plus this blog, and there is nothing wrong with that.
A "real" job in journalism is no better, except that you are restrained by what your organization wants to print.
I think some of those posting are less capable of holding down a real job, based on their spelling and writing style.
So Randy, Thanks. Pay no attention to those behind the curtain.
To busplunge: At the moment Randy has 5 posts on Nodler. Three of those posts have no response at all. The two that do, both deal with this issue. The response seems to be from rumors at MSSU. Only one of the 19 comments here could be construed as being favorable to Nodler, that one saying Randy is unfair to Nodler the same as to everyone. The other responses deal with office qualifications and rumor accuracy. Go back and re-read these 19 comments and you will see that what you notice isn't present in this instance, so maybe you notice something that isn't there. I just went back and re-read the comments, 33 of them, on the first posting on this subject. Not a single one seems to be a pro-Nodler comment, being for Nodler isn’t the subject of the discussion at all, there are just several rude people throwing low-class insults at Nodler and others pointing out that that isn’t appropriate. To your comment “they are all favorable to Nodler”. I suggest you go back and re-read all 52 of these comments; it might give you some perspective to see how far your perception is from reality. This has nothing to do with Nodler it is about Randy spreading false rumors and we already know he loves to do that.
To An anonymous poster said:
Whether the rumor was circulating isn’t the question. Whether Randy's post matches the rumor you heard and perhaps repeated isn't the question. Randy spread a false, baseless rumor and put it in print on the internet giving wider circulation. Randy is not a news reporter but a rumor monger and this blog should never be seen as a source of information, just a place to vent and spread rumors, true or false!
What's the big deal? You have a blogger that is not credible posting about a rumor that isn't true. That's what most blogs are about so why are you surprised with this one?
I'm sure Senator Nodler is grateful to have as his press agents such credible posters.
Call Randy what you will, but Nodler's press agent he is not!
I don't understand all the criticism of Randy. He does pass on some useful information. Some of it is rumor, to be sure, but there's often quite a bit of truth mixed in. His blog makes public officials accountable and uncomfortable, which is always a good thing. If the Globe were more of a watchdog, the value of The Turner Report would be greatly diminished.
I heard it all over town and sorry Randy, but I don't think all of those people read your blog (although I am very dedicated). I know one of the Nodler lovers is his brother because of some of the details he has spouted off could only have been known by him. I think it is funny that they consider you a sort of threat (by posting truths)and have to have a spy read your stuff. FUNNY!
Thank you anonymous poster for at least admitting that Turner prints half-truths. Now if you only understood that this was a bad thing not a good thing.
As to elected officials feeling uncomfortable, well you and I would also feel uncomfortable if some bozo were out telling half-truths about us too. There isn't much "holding accountable" when half-truths are used to do it.
And before anyone thinks I am a Nodler defender, I think he is a pompous ass. But even at that, given the choice between Nodler and Turner as to credibility, Nodler wins hands downs.
Half truths. that says it all. End of conversation. Randy, you lose.
Signed: A first commentor on this post.
I am not Nodler’s brother and there hasn’t been anything on here that I don’t know except the rumors that turn out to be false. So what has been on here that only Nodler’s brother could have known, let’s face it we all know that nothing in this exchange falls in that category. This is just someone that wants to expand the attack to include Nolder's brother, why not his wife and mother and kids and grandkids while your at it, maybe the folks he goes to church with or maybe you want to include the 2/3rds of the people out there who support him!
Here's a new game. Let's forget that this about a false rumor that Randy posted about Nodler, and has nothing to do with anything Nodler has said or done, instead we will try to guess who the anonymous posters are. We can guess that some of the anti-Nodler comments come from crazy liberal teachers at the college or reporters and we can guess that if someone says something in Nodler's defense it a member of his family or some rich corporate CEO. The rumors don't need to have any substance at all; we can just start naming people at random and assign some anonymous comment to them, Wow, what a blog!
To 5 anonymous's back:
"they consider you a sort of threat (by posting truths)" This is 2007 not Orwell`s 1984.
This is about Randy posting something totally untrue(the fact that you heard the false rumor all over town didn't make it any more true). When the pro-Randy comment relies on calling what is false "truth" enough has been said its time to close this line of comments
A new game.
Which one of the above posters is Nodler himself? My republican husband met him prior to the movie incident and thought he was totally obnoxious.
Everyone keeps missing the point of posting a rumor. Remember, he never said Nodler was for sure looking into running. He just said there was controversy at the school about it.
It doesn't matter whether or not it's true, a rumor, or even a story; it matters whether or not we can find facts to end it.
The Chart did just that. It went on the trail to squash the rumor where it should be squashed. Randy is simply providing the media with leads it can follow. The job isn't to spread a rumor; it's to give guidance.
Oh, but Nodler is an honorable man, right?
LOL
Randy is just giving the media guidance???? LMAO
Randy is a rumor monger period. Half-truths are still lies and Randy is a master at telling them.
As someone said earlier in this thread, there is a reason Randy is not an award winning report working on an award winning paper. However, I suspect that most papers still need someone to sweep the floors.
I have been amused over the past few years at how Randy's reporting abilities are never questioned unless he writes something about Gary Nodler. Nodler's attack dogs, and it may just be one or two people, immediately start in on Turner and do so with considerably more venom than anything that Turner has ever written about Nodler. Gary Nodler and Dwight Douglas floated a trial balloon about the possibility of Nodler becoming president of Missouri Southern to see how the natives would react. The natives were restless to make an understatement. Word spread about the possibility of Nodler becoming MSSU president days before Turner wrote his first story and that information was keeping qualified candidates from stepping to the plate. Some said specifically they did not intend to waste their time applying for a job when it was obvious who was going to be hired. That by itself made this "rumor" news. When the Joplin Globe and the TV stations ignored the "rumor" because "reputable" news organizations do not report on rumors they increased the chances that Gary Nodler would move into a position for which he is woefully underqualified. Turner shined a light on the situation, and brought an end to any possibility that Gary Nodler would become the university's president. What is sad is that Turner also wrote a story in the same week about how Gary Nodler has more than doubled the amount of gifts he is receiving from lobbyists and is now letting them wine and dine his wife as well. No one commented on it. What Turner does and has done for as long as I can remember is to shine a light on the seamier side of politics, something that should be done by our newspapers and television stations. As for Carolyn's comments about Randy being a liar and the earlier comment that said: "This 'award winning reporter' is so good at his craft that he is teaching junior high students. Always remember....anyone who touts themselves as an award winning, hard hitting journalist but then can't get employed by a newspaper has issues."
Only a jerk with a superiority complex, which reminds me of the topic of the original post for some reason, would make such a comment. Being a teacher is supposed to be a step down. Have you checked how much newspapers pay. I can guarantee you that Randy makes more money as a teacher than he could as a reporter for our area newspapers. And judging by the quality of his reporting compared to what I see in the Joplin Globe, Neosho Daily News, Carthage Press, Springfield News-Leader, etc., he does a better job doing investigative reporting as a hobby than any of the so-called professionals.
One last thing: I ordered his latest book The Turner Report from his publishing company. I wouldn't have minded seeing some reporting on Gary Nodler in the book, but Nodler was barely mentioned, and those references were only in regard to his Seventh District race against Roy Blunt. If Turner is "obsessed"with Nodler, as the Nodler supporters who are obsesed with Turner keep saying, I would think he would have taken advantage of this opportunity. I await your indignant responses.
Bravo! I applaud your very much needed, and deserved remarks about Randy. I have been fortunate enough to have encountered some of the young people he has taught, and they are served very well by his example. Missouri Southern should be so lucky as to snap up some of those students, but unfortunately they often go on to universities and colleges in bigger towns.
Teaching should be lauded for its excellence. Unfortunately, it is often not. And while Randy makes more money than a journalist does, he still isn't paid enough.
As for Nodler, you did hit the nail on the head - the rumor was not a rumor - it was real. Nodler is a joke, but unfortunately he is our joke. I long for the day when people like him won't be embraced in places of influence. He has shown, so many times with public comments he has made, that he is very inept, unschooled, and has few manners. His supporters, especially on this board, are also lacking in those areas.
One reason Nodler should never be president of Missouri Southern is his total lack of knowledge about use of public property for personal gain. For example, when he was running for the Senate the first time, in 2002, I believe, his supporters used campus email to send out political material. This was stopped, of course, but not before it inflamed the passions of "some crazy liberal teachers," as Nodler's group likes to call those professors at MSSU who didn't drink the Kool Aid of the GOP.
One can just imagine the results of an audit at MSSU if Nodler were president. I can imagine the old boy would be doing time at the Gray Bar Hotel before it was over.
Hmmm. Maybe Nodler should put in his application, after all????
Turner has always had a hard on for Nodler. Go back through the archives. He has overwhelmingly written about Nodler more than any other single topic by FAR!(Although Mark Mayo is a close second) Randy is and always been a joke. As for him being a "teacher"....I go back to the old phrase "those who can do; those who can not teach." This pretty much sume Turner up.
'Signum scientis est posse docere.' This Latin dictum translates, 'The touchstone of knowledge is the ability to teach'. Henry Adams said: 'A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.'
So, despite George Bernard Shaw's maxim, "He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches," it is patently obvious that those who disparage teaching are just munching on sour grapes. It is not even clear if Shaw meant the statement to be taken verbatim, but he probably did.
No matter.
It's just ironic that people who think Nodler should have received, nolo contendre, the plum of the MSSU presidency, would say such hateful things about teaching.
To those who think Turner is well acceptd except for his comments about Nodler, you need to get a life. Turner's blog would be nothing if it weren't mentioned now and again on Combest.com.
If it weren't for half-truths, he would have no stories of substance period. He tells half-truths, which mean they are true, and then has his minions, somewhere between one and five people it appears, jump on it.
I repeat my earlier statements that I think Nodler is a pompous ass but would pick him hands down over someone who cannot repeatedly tell the truth without stretching it.
Turner is still relatively young, perhaps he will yet get it right before he loses the rest of his credibility, if he has any.
I gratefully acknowledge the positive effect that John Combest's mentions have had on the traffic to this blog. When he provides a link to one of my posts, I usually receive a couple of hundred extra readers, sometimes more, depending on the readers' interest in the particular subject. I give him a great deal of credit for helping me to expose The Turner Report to his regular readers in Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis, and across the state. That being said, I have always had a steady following in Jefferson City, and the regulars across the state have increased, probably due to the sampling provided by John Combest and the blogs that have been kind enough to link to this one. I expect they will continue to return to this blog until such time as I am not providing anything to interest them. Linking is the way that blogs increase their readership, and I have tried to do the same thing for many deserving blogs, whether they be from the left side or the right side of the political spectrum. At some point in the past, Carolyn, apparently I have written something or written about someone that has caused you to have such personal animosity toward my work. It appears, however, that many of my negative commenters must have a masoschistic streak since they just keep coming back for more.
I do understand you would like for only your minions to post here. It is unfortunate that those who vainly attempt to keep you honest upset you so badly.
It is the epitome of self-aggrandizement that you think that the majority of people who read your blog are doing so to become educated. It is, like most of your postings, partially true. Most of those who read your drivel do so in order to be prepared to give the whole truth to any who would be fooled by your half-truths.
Honesty and slavish devotion to a cause or person are not synonymous, Carolyn. It's too bad you don't know that.
Nodler would prefer, Carolyn, that only the local media he has been able to bully report on him. Fortunately, Randy doesn't back down so easily. The Joplin Globe and the Neosho Daily News won't report negatively on Nodler unless the story becomes so big they have no choice, as in the coverage of his movie theater comments.
Nodler is not the only one, though; there is a strong bully pulpit in the Jopllin area that puts a chilling effect on any criticism of people like Nodler.
It's more of the "you're either for us or against us" mentality. In a free society, it will never work to suppress information.
And, I strongly believe that Nodler and Dwight Douglas were planning to somehow put this nitwit in the job of MSSU president. Thankfully, the student newspaper and this blog brought this all to light, and it was stopped.
To the anonymous who said the Nodler supporters wanted Nodler to have the presidency, I have re-read every comment, I have not read one comment from Nodler or anyone else saying that he should have the presidency or wanted it. To the long-winded one that claimed Nodler and Douglas sent up a trial balloon, when, where and to whom? It appears that that comment may come from the real culprit who started this phony rumor to begin with and is now trying to deflect from his or her own responsibility. If anyone can produce even one person that Nodler ever expressed an interest to, let them. The only thing that we know is that when the rumor was that this was a done deal a reporter asked Nodler if he was applying and he said no. That is the only fact. The way this works is Randy makes up a rumor about Nodler or passes on one made up by someone else, then all the anti Nodler folks all 5 o 6 of you begin to call him names and attack him or Douglas. When the Rumor is squelched that becomes a reason to attack again, this is just ridiculous.
Let’s analyze this rationally. The anti-Nodler forces as usual have themselves in such a frenzy they continue to trip over the facts. The original post from Turner indicated that Nodler controlled the board through Douglas. If that was true he still does. The rumor was that Nodler was going to be made President of MSSU. If that rumor was true it still is. The rumor required the job description to be one Nodler could meet. If the rumor was true it still is. Turner bloggers pleaded for someone just to ask Nodler and a Chart reporter complied. Nodler said he wasn’t interested. Now those who stirred this up including Turner, are faced with the fact, the rumor is untrue. But Turner says, “there’s more to the story” If the original rumor was true, it still is. If Nodler controls the board through Douglas as the rumor states he can have the job if he wants it, if the rumor was true. If he says he doesn’t want it and isn’t applying, the rumor is untrue and always was untrue, period. Now you have never needed a reason to attack Nodler or facts to support the attack so my guess is that all 5 or 6 of you will keep it up……. bye bye!
So many of you have spent your time attacking Randy, nutty he may be, instead of asking the real question. Why is a campus newspaper beating ALL the local daily papers to the punch. I would like to know just how long it took Miss. Nicolas to track down the information. This speaks volumes about the quality of the local media. The Chart is now at the top of my reading list.
To the last anonymous: There was no punch, it was a false rumor that didn't belong in a newspaper because it had no substance. As to how long it took her, the answer is: no time at all, she called Nodler, asked him, he answered and there was no story. What would you have had the papers report? “There was a rumor that turned out to be false"? Why would anyone report that?
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