[Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

Rosemary Huskey donaldrose at cpcinternet.com
Sun Aug 19 15:37:16 PDT 2012


Hi Scott,

Because I live seven miles from Moscow (although our address is Moscow,
Idaho, our children all attended and graduated from Moscow schools, we buy
all our groceries in Moscow, and support Moscow businesses) we can't vote in
city elections.  The truth is that our city council is controlled by right
wing Republicans and their not very thoughtful, but easily led, minions.
When these jackasses bray naturally we get homophobic responses to
legislation regarding equality and respect.  If this was Out House,
Louisiana circa 1965 they (with a single exception) would all be members of
the White Citizen Council singing The Old Rugged Cross every Sunday morning
in some self-started church (sound familiar??) and firing up a cross that
evening in someone's front yard. In 2012 Moscow, Idaho it's all about
Republican wing nuts which are equally hateful, and discriminating.   And,
don't think for a nano-second any of these ________ (fill in the blank, I
think bogger eating moron works pretty well) are even embarrassed about it. 

Rose Huskey

 

From: Scott Dredge [mailto:scooterd408 at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:37 PM
To: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com; donaldrose at cpcinternet.com;
v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com; viz
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

It's easy for students to follow their conscience and do the right thing
because they're less likely to face political and / or financial
repercussions that would otherwise force them to choose between what's in
their own personal best interest or altruistically sacrificing most or all
of it for the betterment of some other person or group.  And, well, with
people being what they are which is human / selfish / greedy / power hungry
/ desperate to placate their electorate so they can continue clinging on to
their council seat, you get what you get which in effect is 'yes' men &
women and ultimately 'mob rule'.  And maybe I have it all wrong, and if so,
maybe a council member or two might consider stepping up to the plate and
posting to v2020 their version of 'the real story'.

Donavan - you can play the waiting game for all the old dogs to die off, but
that can take a mighty long time and who's to say that the new guard isn't
goose stepping to the same scripture that's been around for a few thousand
years and continues justifying the enforcement of their bigotry and
oppression? 90% of adult Americans were against mixed race marriage in 1948
when the evil 'activist' California State Supreme Court legalized it.

So the Moscow City Council can't adopt some simple language that calls for
the protection of someone against being discriminated against on the basis
of gender identity and sexual orientation?  If there is an official
explanation as to 'why', I'd really love to see it.  And just the cold, hard
facts of a 5-1 vote defeating it does not provide any insight into the
motivation of why not to protect a minority from a mob.  BTW - who was the
sole courageous soul who bucked the prevailing dogma?

-Scott

  _____  

Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 00:27:12 -0700
From: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho
To: scooterd408 at hotmail.com; donaldrose at cpcinternet.com;
v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com;
vision2020 at moscow.com

The students at UI voted an end to this kind of discrimination in 2003, and
North Idaho College students in 2000. The nice thing is that most the bigots
are older and fading away while the more open minded people are younger and
coming into positions of power and influence.

 

When any of these council members run for office again I am going to print
up some fliers for them with the Dixie Flag in the background. 

 

Donovan J. Arnold

 

From: Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com>
To: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com; donaldrose at cpcinternet.com;
v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com; viz
<vision2020 at moscow.com> 
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:00 AM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

Amazing.  And it probably won't change any time soon.  Even Micron added
sexual orientation to their anti-discrimination policy after being beaten
over the head by the shareholders (the owners of the company).  And that was
over 5 years ago.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660217122/Micron-adapts-policy-to-bar-ant
i-gay-bias.html?pg=all

Looks like Moscow is just frozen in time.

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 23:45:11 -0700
From: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho
To: scooterd408 at hotmail.com; donaldrose at cpcinternet.com;
v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com;
vision2020 at moscow.com

Scott, that is OK. The Moscow City Council isn't up to date on anything
either. Most the City Council members that voted against sexual orientation
as being protected from discrimination will brag to you about their decision
if you ask them. Their ridiculous reasoning is that protecting someone from
discrimination on the bases of gender identity and sexual orientation is
discrimination against the majority. Which is very confusing to me because
the vast majority of people I know have a gender identity and sexual
orientation. But you know, stupidity and bigotry are usually synonymous. 

 

Donovan J. Arnold

 

From: Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com>
To: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com; donaldrose at cpcinternet.com;
v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com; viz
<vision2020 at moscow.com> 
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 8:42 PM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

Thanks Saundra.  I wonder why it took so long for the geniuses in higher
education to figure how to walk through the apparently egg shelled filled
path toward equal benefits.  What changed since 2008 when they cowardly side
stepped the whole issue instead of just offering benefits already covered by
the insurance carrier?

And sorry Donovan (and Saundra), I am not up to date on what's going on with
the Moscow City Council.  I saw something about a 5-1 vote against something
seemingly gay rights related.  Can you send me a link or a cut an paste
online or privately so I can blast them publicly too?

-Scott

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 18:28:26 -0700
From: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho
To: donaldrose at cpcinternet.com; v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm;
scooterd408 at hotmail.com; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com;
vision2020 at moscow.com

Good job by the Faculty Council! Now we just have to get rid of the bigoted
policies of the Moscow City Council. Or get rid of the bigoted members of
the city council.

 

BTW. If anyone wants to claim me as their "other adult" to give me benefits
I am open to that invitation LOL. And I can be cute in right light at the
right angle since I lost 75 lbs of ugly fat. J/K. 

 

Donovan J. Arnold

 

From: Rosemary Huskey <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com>
To: 'Saundra Lund' <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm>; 'Scott Dredge'
<scooterd408 at hotmail.com>; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com;
'viz' <vision2020 at moscow.com> 
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

Thanks, Saundra.  Even in Idaho once in awhile the good guys win!

Rose

 

 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Saundra Lund
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 5:55 PM
To: 'Scott Dredge'; rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com; 'viz'
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

In part, Scott wrote:

"U of I does very little of these things.  No bold aspirations and no guts
in even doing the right thing such as extending benefits to domestic
partners of their faculty."

 

Try to keep current, Scott  J

 

http://www.uidaho.edu/benefits

 

Annual Benefits Enrollment on the Horizon

As a result of the University's continued effort to provide world class
benefits, exciting new additions will be rolling out for 2013. One of the
highlights of the plan is the Other Eligible Adult policy. This policy
allows adults who are financially interdependent and share a household to
potentially qualify for health benefits. It may also cover the children of
other qualified adult individuals in a household. Additional information on
this change will be available in early October.

 

New Tuition Benefit Available Now

With spousal tuition benefits remaining unchanged, employees will now have
the option of using a new 50 percent in-state tuition reduction benefit for
one of their children beginning fall 2012. Contact the Benefits office if
you would like additional information on this new tuition benefit available
now.

 

Now, I admit that I don't know what "potentially qualify" for health
benefits means, but I'm anxious to learn.

 

Here's a little more information from an email my dh received Wednesday from
VP Ron Smith, :

"As Kenton Bird, the new president of the Faculty Senate said, "By expanding
health benefits to other qualified adult individuals in a household, we are
providing an important benefit to our employees. Many of the University's
peer institutions offer a similar benefit, so this will enable us to be
competitive in the hiring of top-tier faculty and staff. At the same time,
this action boosts the morale of current employees and demonstrates the
University's commitment to fairness. The University Faculty was unanimous in
support of the change when the policy was considered in April - a vote that
prompted spontaneous and resounding applause."

One might think there would have been an article in the Daily News about
these two items, but I've not seen anything, at least not yet.  It's also
possible I missed something, but since the usual wing nuts haven't deluged
the Opinion page, I don't think that's too likely.

 

 

Saundra

 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Scott Dredge
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 2:26 PM
To: rforce2003 at yahoo.com; idahovandal1 at live.com; viz
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

My hat is off to bSU.  They want something, they go after it, they get it.
U of I does very little of these things.  No bold aspirations and no guts in
even doing the right thing such as extending benefits to domestic partners
of their faculty.  Seems to me the leadership at the U of I is just fine
with the status quo so it's onward and upward for bSU and I wish them well
because their guts is paying dividends with glory.  Say all you want about
graduation rates, research, and even a self designation of 'flagship'.
Bottom line is that you can still get a marketable degree from the U of I
and you can still be gainfully employed on their payroll as well so it does
serve a tremendously useful purpose for the citizens of the city of Moscow
and the great state of Idaho.  It is a functional institution that will be
around long after I've dropped dead myself.

-Scott

Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:41:11 -0700
From: rforce2003 at yahoo.com
To: idahovandal1 at live.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

I wonder where the critics have been? Nellis took over in 2009 at the depth
of the country's worst recession since the 30s. He had to cope with a 25%
reduction in state appropriations over three years. And the present state
leadership? has indicated that the reduction in funding is the "new normal".
The bold visions put forth by Hoover & Co. are not likely to be realized.
Like all visionary leaders, Hoover thought that by providing excellence,
more state resources would be forthcoming. He greatly overestimated the
vision of Idaho's political leadership. Small and smaller (or dumb and
dumber) is now the word from Boise (except for football, of course).

 

I sat though enough briefings on the Boise project to understand how it was
going to work. Hoover was right that UI's future depended on diversifying
political support outside Latah County, and he tried to cultivate state
support by placing programs in strategic locations, particularly Boise.
However, the funding for the three buildings in the Boise Center was
essentially a real-estate play. Commercial development in the blocks West of
the center was supposed to pay for the project. When the Boise commercial
real-estate market collapsed in 2001-2 the funding for the academic
buildings went with it, leading to the events that sunk the Hoover
administration. The developers walked away with their cut, and the
University was left holding the bag.

 

It was really in trouble before that, in that the role that the UI was going
to play in Boise was never actually worked out. The Deans were being urged
to come up with programs for Boise, but could never identify unique academic
needs that only UI could fill. Law, sure, but at that time the ABA wasn't
approving branch programs and moving the whole program to Boise wasn't
economically or politically feasible. The Boise market was mostly
frosh-sophomore general ed, or mature, place-bound students who wanted
part-time courses. BSU had that market cornered. The Board of Education
wasn't going to allow duplication of basic education programs, so where the
students were going to come from to fill four buildings was never clear.

 

Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA

From: Carl Westberg <idahovandal1 at live.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 12:09 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] State of the University of Idaho

 

I wanted to share these thoughts from a U of I alum in Boise, posted on
Vandal Venue, regarding the current state of the University of Idaho.  While
the immediate subject is athletics, the post is about far more than that.
He writes of an overall ennui surrounding the entire institution.  He gave
permission for me to cut and paste.  I think he has some interesting
thoughts.  In quotes, his post.....

"Those are interesting observations, and they seem to be consistent with
what I sense is going on at the U of I.  Nellis seems to be more of a
caretaker president than one who is seriously pushing forward on anything.
I understand I only see a very small snapshot of what is actually going on
up there, but if that's the snapshot I'm seeing it says something about the
perception the school is getting down here."

"The "autopilot" characterization of the university is spot-on to me.  Not
going anywhere.  Stayed.  Static.  Unchanging.  I feel like the U of I has
been on autopilot for a decade or more, and in the meantime it has
substantially eroded its mantle and role in higher education in this state.
We have gone from being the undisputed leader to alarming irrelevance.  We
are letting others control the discussion of what our school is and what it
means to the state.  We are declining to show up for our own defense."

"I think another poster said awhile ago that the biggest tragedy about
University Place was that it didn't get finished.  As much as the whole
University Place caused havoc for the school (from which the school has not
yet recovered and may not ever), the vision was right while the execution
was wrong.  Hoover understood that if we didn't grow we would die.  He
understood that the new battle for higher education relevance in Idaho was
taking place in the Treasure Valley.  He understood that if we didn't make
the school prominent here we would lose exposure, then relevance, and then
the school as we knew it.  And that's exactly what is happening.  Ever since
the project got halted and the U of I was crucified in the media for the
financial aspects of it we have lost any semblance of leadership at the
school that actually wants to move the U of I forward."  

 
"The biggest reason why this has happened over the last 10 years is that the
culture of the school has just given up.  There is no push from the base to
move things forward, so the administration feels just fine not doing
anything.  Those of us who post on these message boards are not the true
representatives of the Vandal base.  No, the true representative of the
Vandal base doesn't really think much about Vandal football or athletics or
even what is going on in Moscow anymore.  They live their lives, go about
their daily affairs, and don't really care about what is happening to the
old alma mater.  The base isn't so much asleep as it has become the living
extinct."
 
"There is no push from the base, so there is no push from the leadership.
The base doesn't care, so the leadership doesn't act.  The battle is raging
and our school is essentially not participating.  There is no inspiration
anymore."          End of his post......  

 


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