In the latest edition of the campus newspaper, The Chart, Speck says he does not know what to do now that the search for a vice president for academic affairs has been scrapped following the decision of two candidates to drop out of the process:
When asked afterwards what the next step would be, Speck said he didn't know. He also declined to offer a timetable for any decision.
"I don't know," he said. "I've got to think about it. I don't really have a time."
In his "Notes from the Prez" for today's Board of Governor's meeting, Speck said he was contemplating the next step.
"There's been a huge amount of effort put in by the search committee," Speck told The Chart. "They spent many hours and were very dedicated to it. We spent institutional money to bring these people on, so it's a costly process and I think when you invest those types of resources, especially the resources of those people on the committee, it's discouraging when you have a failed search."
If you follow Speck's reasoning, and in this case it is hard not to, that would indicate that you would have a failed search if you have three finalists and only one does not drop out. In other words, the same scenario pretty much that occurred when Speck was hired. In this case, Speck broke with precedent by not offering just one candidate to the board.
Board of Governors Chairman Rod Anderson continued to show the kind of arrogance the board showed when it thumbed its nose at the university's immediate future by extending Speck's contract for two years when the president was the cause of turmoil on the campus. In this case, he showed disdain for the university's students by refusing to talk to the Chart:
Rod Anderson, president of the Board of Governors, refused to comment on the failed search when reached Wednesday afternoon, calling it a personnel matter.
"I'm through talking," Anderson said.
When questioned further about his reaction to the failed search, Anderson responded: "I run a business here. I don't work for you," and hung up.
Yes, Mr. Anderson, you do work for them, as well as for every other student on the campus and for every student who might consider taking classes at the university.
Anderson later called back, apologized, and offered a comment.
And the merry-go-round continues.
6 comments:
Rod Anderson is a good man. Unfortunately, he's had the most difficult year a Board of Governors chairman could ever imagine. Take an incompetent, buffoonish university president and throw in a domineering former board president who refuses to relinquish control, and you have a recipe for disaster. All of Rod's troubles would be over if he can convince the rest of the Board to pull the trigger and fire Speck. No one would shed a tear for Bruce except for ole Dwight, whose Herculean ego would suffer as a result. But the university would be a better place and we could begin the healing process.
I know Rod Anderson, both professionally and personally. I first met him professionally when he was on the Monett School Board. I have always found Rod to be fair and balanced---(dang I hate using that term because of the Fox connotations --I mean it in the most positive manner).
I don't know much about the MSSU squabbles but I suspect that Former Regent's comments are pretty square on.
I like Rod.
agree with former regent and busplunge. The problem is the "poison" that afflicts Southern (and southwest Missouri). Worse than arsenic, this poison is named "Douglas"
Douglas and Bruce should resign. When that happens, Southern (and Southwest MO) will begin to heal.
Great editorial in the Chart today. Thanks for defending the student jouirnalists, Randy. Globe won't do that. Now if you could publish that editorial, Carol...
DD may have been a dictator as chair, but the way Anderson has treated the press is not helping the school. To be terse with a student over the phone who is writing a legitimate article for the school newspaper is sad, unprofessional, and symptomatic of how people in power at Southern (administrators, BOG) treat people who are not (students, faculty, and staff).
I don't think the distinction is hard to draw here. Anderson may well be a very good man. But that doesn't make him a very good BoG chairman.
Sometimes, and especially during difficult periods such as this, being a good man with integrity is surely necessary for but not enough on its own to be a good chairman.
Outside of McGinty (the only clearly engaged and competent Board member), the entire Board should tender their resignations, starting with Dwight Douglas. The extension of Speck's contract under a cloud is evidence enough of their incompetence and need to go. More recent missteps and inaction only strengthen the case. Of course Speck should go first. Until that happens, Southern will continue to die a death by a thousand cuts.
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