[Vision2020] Daily News OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens whofund it is appalling

Mon Aug 16 14:38:18 PDT 2010

This dovetails nicely with an ongoing theme at Vandal Venue, the (primarily) sports board I read.  There have been several posters, most of them Idaho grads who live elsewhere now, who have written that the citizens of Moscow have been remiss in our attitude toward, lack of appreciation of, and lack of cooperation with the U of I.  In general, the criticism from these posters has been pointed toward the city.  I wonder how most residents of Moscow feel about the current state of the town-gown relationship?  And to improve the situation, what steps would a town-gown marriage counselor recommend?  

From: london at moscow.com
To: v2020 at ssl.fastmail.fm; vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:56:08 -0700
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Daily News OUR VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens	whofund it is appalling

Saundra--
I agree with you that the UI has blown it big time, 
but I would like to point out one bit of good news in this mess.

The Daily News editorial page -- and the entire 
paper actually -- has been mainlining testosterone.  The editorial you 
quote below is a good example. This editorial has a gutsy, community 
perspective, clearly stated.   With a new administrative team in place 
at the DN, the paper is back.  And I am very glad to welcome 
them.......

BL

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Saundra 
  Lund 
  To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 8:52 
  AM
  Subject: [Vision2020] Daily News OUR 
  VIEW: UI's disdain for citizens whofund it is appalling

  Many thanks 
  to the friend who sent this to me!

  I think this 
  editorial hits the nail squarely on the head:  Mues is not only utterly 
  unqualified for his position at the UI, he is also fundamentally unsuited to 
  work for a public institution where public accountability & transparency 
  are crucial.  This is just the most recent in a string of sneaky 
  decisions that track back to him where those outside of the administration are 
  kept in the dark before -- after decisions -- are made.  I can just see 
  Mues sitting behind his desk at the UI rubbing his hands together in glee at 
  the coup of keeping the whole AlliedBarton issue secret until it was too late 
  for anyone to have any effective input.

  I agree with 
  the editorial that while this kind of crapola is suitable at a private 
  college, it is wholly inappropriate at a public institution where even UI’s 
  top administrators are accountable to those who pay their salaries, and that 
  would be we-the-taxpayers.

  Further, 
  there’s something grossly obscene about the UI’s decision to pay a private 
  security contractor nearly $400K during these tough financial times where 
  student fees were just jacked up 9.5%, programs have been cut into the 
  bone, severe understaffing of all but the top level of administration is 
  rampant, and all faculty & staff but those making less than a living wage 
  in Idaho – a paltry $22,360 – were forced to take a very real pay cut in the 
  form of mandatory furloughs.

  Saundra 
  Lund
  Moscow, 
  ID

  The least I 
  can do is speak out for those who cannot speak out for 
  themselves.
  ~ Jane 
  Goodall

  -----------------------------------
  OUR VIEW: UI's 
  disdain for citizens who fund it is appalling
  Posted on: 
  Monday, August 16, 2010
  We apparently 
  are too stupid to consider properly how the University of Idaho plans to spend 
  our money. 
  The university 
  is trying to upgrade its security services, and it turns out that is going to 
  cost a lot more money, some $300,000 more, than it took last year when it was 
  all handled by the Moscow Police Department. 
  What is the 
  necessity for that upgrade? What dire risks are facing our local institution 
  of higher learning to require this substantial increase in spending of public 
  tax dollars. It must be pretty important, considering the budget-cutting going 
  on throughout government, including our colleges and 
  universities.
  When Daily 
  News reporter Holly Bowen asked that question Tuesday, before the increase had 
  been approved, she was told the UI was "not making anyone available." There 
  would be no comment on this big increase in state spending until after 
  Thursday's meeting of the Idaho State Board of Education where the proposal 
  was to be considered, approved and funded. 
  After that 
  meeting - where the proposal was indeed approved - Lloyd Mues, UI vice 
  president for finance and administration, explained pompously and vacuously, 
  "The absolute best thing we can do in a process like this, as with any of 
  them, is all of that negotiation and all of that communication is pretty 
  private." 
  Gee, Mr. Mues, 
  we thought the UI was pretty public, actually. There are many pretty private 
  colleges around here, but not the UI.
  But what about 
  those serious security threats we have to pay $300,000 a year to stop? 

  Mues again: 
  "Every now and then, someone will decide they want to drive across the 
  Administration Building lawn in a four-wheel drive." He apparently was 
  perfectly serious.
  So, will a 
  heavily armed vehicular deterrence team be roaming 
  campus?
  No, it turns 
  out this expenditure will pay for one to three unarmed security guards to roam 
  campus on foot around the clock. 
  It's no wonder 
  the university didn't want the press or taxpayers asking serious questions 
  about this proposal before it was approved. 
  - Lee 
  Rozen, for the editorial board

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