[Vision2020] Idaho Statesman trolling for stories

[Saundra Lund]

I completely disagree, and why you're picking on the Statesman when they
aren't the only news organization trying to get first-hand accounts from
students taught by Bustamante is beyond me.

Look:  for whatever reasons, the UI is being less than forthcoming.  Like it
or not, the heartbreaking tragedy of Katy Benoit's murder by a professor in
her department is a big story.  It seems to me a crucial aspect of the
tragedy -- and perhaps preventing future tragedies -- is trying to determine
who knew what when.  Katy's family is apparently under the impression that
Katy wasn't the only student to have problems with Bustamante, and if that's
the case, don't you think that's important to know?

To me, it's a no-brainer that former and especially current students might
be more willing to talk to reporters about their experiences with Bustamante
than to an institution that's perceived to have -- at the expense of student
safety -- protected a problem professor.  Certainly, there are enough claims
out there about Bustamante's behavior in class that it warrants
investigation.  And, since Bustamante is dead, there sure isn't going to be
a criminal trial.

What's the problem with that?  ***If*** Katy's complaint was mishandled, or
if flaws in the UI's process can be identified to prevent another tragedy,
don't you think Katy's loved ones and her memory deserve that?!?!

What's crystal clear at this point is that UI mouthpieces are being less
than forthcoming & disingenuous at best.  The UI is citing legal reasons for
not disclosing more information, and while that may be a legitimate excuse,
it doesn't make the UI look good, particularly when it is the custodians of
the records documenting how well or how badly it handled the situation.

And, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the UI has a *huge* PR
problem on its hands . . . all you have to do is *listen* to what people are
saying up here, around the state, around the country, and even around the
world.  Had students had nothing but positive reports about their classroom
experiences with Bustamante, there would perhaps be less speculation.  But
that's not the case.  There are widespread "rumors" that Bustamante's
classroom behavior was . . . way out of the ordinary and includes accounts
of him claiming to have "multiple personalities."

This *isn't* an instance where those who had contact with him have said, "My
gosh -- he was so normal!  I never would have expected him to go off the
rails and murder a young woman!"

No, quite to the contrary:  when you have a professor who claimed to have
"multiple personalities" including one he identified to ***at least*** one
student as a "psychopathic killer," that doesn't fall into the "he was so
normal" category.



JMHO,
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
~ Edmund Burke



-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Tom Hansen
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 3:12 PM
To: Debbie Gray
Cc: vision2020
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Idaho Statesman trolling for stories

Ah, yes.

Normally formats such as this one are more often associated with the Jerry
Springer Show, like that one a few years back . . .

"Hey, guys! Do you want to come out of the closet and tell your father that
you are having an illicit affair with his best friend . . . on national
television?  Call Jerry Springer at . . . "

Idaho Statesman subscriptions must be falling.

This is truly lame!

Ah, well . . .

Tom Hansen
Moscow. Idaho


On Thu, August 25, 2011 3:00 pm, Debbie Gray wrote:
> Is it just me or is this over the line?
>
> 	* News > Local News
> University of Idaho students and parents: We want to hear from you
>  - Idaho Statesman
> Published: 08/25/11
>
> 0 Comments
> Students and parents of students at the University of Idaho:
> Do you have concerns about student safety?
> Are you satisfied with the university's response to Monday's 
> murder-suicide?
> Did you take Psych 218 from Ernesto Bustamante?
> Contact Statesman Reporter Kathleen Kreller at 208-377-6418 or via 
> e-mail at kkreller at idahostatesman.com.
> Read more:
> http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/08/25/1772369/university-of-idaho-s
> tudents-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Fe
> ed%3A+IdahostatesmancomLocalNews+%28IdahoStatesman.com+Local+News%29&u
> tm_content=My+Yahoo#ixzz1W53Tmvht 
> =======================================================
>  List services made available by First Step Internet,  serving the 
> communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com 
> =======================================================


"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Author Unknown

=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================