“Interim”; it’s Latin for Git some! « News WNYmedia

“Interim”; it’s Latin for Git some! on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Does this photo remind of you of someone?

Judging from the email in my inbox, UB President John Simpson and his merry band of California carpetbaggers can’t be sent packing soon enough.

There is that lingering problem of his anointed successor, Nostaja, though. What’s up with:

the timing of Simson’s “retirement” announcement, on the first day of class no less. Guranteed to make sure those meddlesome faculty are tied up with teaching duties and can’t provide the input into the selection. By law they are have to be consulted.
What legal authority Jeremy Jacobs had to appoint Scott Nostaja, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, to serve as Interim President.

Its always fun to take a trip down the ole memory hole. How many of you recall the search for Carpetbagger Simpson?

NAMES TO BE KEPT SECRET FOR PRESIDENTIAL FINALISTS;
STEPHEN WATSON. Buffalo News. Buffalo, N.Y.: Jul 28, 2003. pg. B.1

The search committee — led by Jacobs, chairman of the UB Council and Delaware North Cos. — has made public extensive information about the timing of the search and the challenges facing the next president. But the committee has kept information on applicants for the position secret, and committee members signed confidentiality agreements.

SUNY guidelines say that when the committee reaches the point of selecting finalists and inviting them to campus, “their names are to be released to the public, along with general information about their background and qualifications.”
Further, the guidelines say, “Campus visits are designed to allow a large number of campus and community members to meet and hear from each candidate.”

- Well that never happened did it?

NEW UB PRESIDENT WASN’T FIRST CHOICE OF COMMITTEE;
STEPHEN WATSON. Buffalo News. Buffalo, N.Y.: Oct 28, 2003. pg. B.1

SUNY guidelines on presidential searches state the search committee should pass along its recommendations to the UB Council, which sends three names to the SUNY chancellor. The chancellor sends one name to the board of trustees, which gives final approval.

John B. Simpson was not the first choice of the committee seeking a new president for the University at Buffalo, according to officials familiar with the search process.

Eugene H. Levy, an astrophysicist and the second-ranking official at Rice University in Houston, was the leading choice when the UB search committee sent three names to the State University of New York chancellor, the officials said.
“The first choice did not accept the job,” said one high-ranking UB official, who asked not to be named, a contention confirmed by two other officials.
Search committee and SUNY officials have refused to disclose the names of the other two finalists for the UB presidency, even though SUNY guidelines say their identities should be made public.

But officials familiar with the search, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Levy and Susan Prager, a former Dartmouth College provost, were the other two finalists.

Jeremy M. Jacobs, the chairman of the presidential search committee and the UB Council, was out of town and not available to comment Monday.

One finalist did drop out after meeting with SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King and his senior staff, but that finalist was not the first choice of SUNY officials, said David Henahan, a SUNY spokesman.

Isn’t it time to remove Jeremy Jacobs from heading another botched, ultra-secretive search for the next John Simpson President? After 13 years on the UB Council, he was appointed by Pataki in 1997, he should know the legal limits of his authority, wouldn’t you think?

And maybe its time to get some community input into the selection of the next President of the University at Buffalo. After years of ignoring Buffalo, all the while telling us how they contribute so much the City, they need to hear from of the residents directly. That way, the next President might know that there is a mass transportation available right from the steps of the South Campus. Maybe the next President can have a plan on how to invest in the area around the Sotuth Campus instead turning his back to it and pretending it doesn’t exist, while the students continue to get mugged, raped and murdered. Maybe the next President will question the wisdom of spending millions on a loser sports program while filling our neighborhoods with coddled jocks and frat boys with nothing better to do than trash our neighborhoods and get Williamsville High Schoolers drunk enough to …

On the plus side of all this, Scott Nostaja’s extensive experience in the entertainment business should be perfect for a University whose administration seems determined to put academics a poor second to real estate and public/private partnership deals.