Doty Attacks Faculty - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 12, 2006

RE: Doty Attacks Faculty

Date: Feb 12, 2006

The Road to Tenure and Promotion(s) is paved with quality teaching, stable service to the University community, and research, which is measured by both quality and quantity. The balancing act that is requisite for advancement is also what makes a faculty member mobile. For those who have not balanced their vitas properly the temptation is to make deals to reach higher levels of pay and prestige. When faculty with a well-balanced record seeks promotion, higher pay is achieved but the prestige is already there, as colleagues recognize contributions well before the actual "title" is conveyed. When one deals for promotion, the pay comes but the prestige hasn't been conveyed nor will it be conveyed -- the dealer's prestige level actually falls. These are predictable outcomes. To wit, when faculty starts to deal the expectation should be a raise in pay and a decline in personal prestige. I guess that's okay from a personal decision-making standpoint as long as the dealer makes peace with that outcome.

However, in this instance, the administrator who made the deal damaged the college's reputation at a University-wide level as a byproduct of the interpersonal deal. The moment that happened, it became incumbent on the faculty of the College of Business Administration to censure that administrator for his actions that have negatively affected the college. One such faculty has put his personal convictions into action.

For those who live by the credo of Personal Responsibility, this whole situation is a morality tale to be heeded -- Speak against evil or become evil yourself.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

No Fan of Admins wrote:

This is the Glamser/Stringer thing all over again. Faculty exposes corrupt administrator. In the process, a claim of "breech of confidentiality" is made. Corrupt administrator takes action against faculty who exposed his corruption. Left ASAP, if I understand you, you're making the case that A. Dvorak was wronged by G&S and that G&S should have been fired. My assumption follows logically from your statements. I wonder why USM settled with G&S rather than outright termination? Was it because the University didn't have a case? For all of you who want to defend a corrupt administrator in another department or college or at another university, I won't be listening when you get screwed by your department chairman/dean/whatever and come looking for some sympathy.

No Fan of Admin, I just past by this thread and read some statements by Southern Justice (SJ) that didn't seem to be in agreement with my memory of the Handbook. I checked the handbook and posted relevant quotes. I have no agenda.

I don't agree the situation is the same as the Glamser/Stringer adventure. Your first statement should be your conclusion, "Faculty expose corrupt Administrator." I hope a hearing is conducted so that you can determine is this is a true statement for this case.

The "claim of breach of confidentiality" was all I was addressing. If the information was made public by any committee member or administrator, then there was a breach according to the Handbook. Don't jump on me-- I didn't write the handbook.

I would love to see your "logic" that has you assuming that I think G&S wrong concerning Dvorak. If you knew my identity you, SFT and others would have a hardy laugh.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Southern Justice wrote:

So you admit that you have not seen the document? Like so many others on this board, you allow your personal experiences to outweigh logic in making decisions. ...For someone who "LeftASAP" you seem to know enough about the political climate of the CoB and the motives of certain players to cast aside some "evidence" and accept other "evidence". ...

Southern Justice, as I said in another post, I just passed by and posted some relevant sections of the handbook. I did this because your statements were not in agreement with what was written there. I never claimed to have seen any other document, but pointed out that "just because you consider it a contract doesn't make it as contract." That is a true statement about anyone's opinion.

I have zero knowledge about CoB politics so it is impossible for me to "allow my personal experience to outweigh logic" on this issue. I hope the faculty of CoB have a hearing to decide if your "interpretations" of events are valid. I also don't know the players or evidence and so it is impossible for me to do what you accuse me of above.

I hope all of you have a pleasant evening. Some day when SFT leaves you may learn who I am and how wrong your statements are about my intentions.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

My interpretation of the "strictly confidential" language in the Handbook is that it does not prohibit the College representative from relaying information from the University Committee to other members of the College Committee, or to the members of the Department Committee. Nor would it serve any purpose to break the lines of communication between the University level committee and the college committee. Part of the responsibility of senior faculty members in a department or college is to provide advice and guidance to junior faculty. It is important to know what will fly at the University level committee just as it is important to know at the department level what will fly at the college level.

In the case at hand, it was not revealed how individuals voted, or the vote count, and the information was not shared by the college rep with anyone who had not been involved in the process at some point along the way. However, one or more of those who were given the information could have revealed it to someone who had not been involved in the process.

Unfortunately, the focus of many posts has been to demonize the faculty member who served in the capacity of college representative. He did not seek that dubious honor, but when given the task he did the best he could. The abuse that has been heaped upon him sends a clear message to other faculty. Avoid providing service for your department or college. If you do the job well, no one will thank you. If they object to the job you did, then they will second-guess you, demean you, and sic the Provost, President, and the University lawyer on you.

I do not know how the representives on the committee from the other colleges are responding to this. I suspect that they would be supportive of the CBA representative and disappointed at the actions of the CBA Dean and the demonizing of the CBA rep. My position is that the University Committee performed well. They evaluated the package and found it did not stack up to the University standards. I am concerned that one of the fallouts from this episode will be that it has diminished the reputation of CBA and it may not bode well for CBA faculty seeking promotion and tenure in the future.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

The Coast faculty will never leave Doty's side. Don't forget that.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Cossack wrote:

My interpretation of the "strictly confidential" language in the Handbook is that it does not prohibit the College representative from relaying information from the University Committee to other members of the College Committee, or to the members of the Department Committee.

Copies to non-faculty staff fall where in your interpretation?

Date: Feb 12, 2006

A. Friend wrote:

The Coast faculty will never leave Doty's side. Don't forget that.

nor will marketing, managment and fashion merchandizing now that we see fin and eco for who they are. Southern Justice is very convincing.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

A. Friend wrote:

The Coast faculty will never leave Doty's side. Don't forget that.

Harold Doty has curried favor with certain groups while browbeating other groups. To paraphrase Orwell: All faculty members are equal. Some are more equal than others.

This type of "management" is indicative of his lack of qualification for the job.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

independent thinker wrote:

A. Friend wrote:
The Coast faculty will never leave Doty's side. Don't forget that.
nor will marketing, managment and fashion merchandizing now that we see fin and eco for who they are. Southern Justice is very convincing.

If you're in Management, Marketing, or FM, then one might say that I "live" a lot closer to you than I do to Economics or Finance. Didn't know you were attacking one of your own? Not surprising, considering that nobody really knows anybody in the CoB. Perhaps an truly independent thought would be to consider the participants' track records on ethics. Who has power to make deals, sway outcomes of votes, give and take away rewards? Is it individual P or individual Q? How has that power been used? As has been stated, though, the blind follower model triumphs in certain departments more than in others.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

independent thinker wrote:

A. Friend wrote: The Coast faculty will never leave Doty's side. Don't forget that. nor will marketing, managment and fashion merchandizing now that we see fin and eco for who they are. Southern Justice is very convincing.

When you say marketing/management, are you counting faculty or both faculty and girlfriends who work in the college as well?

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Cossack wrote:

My interpretation of the "strictly confidential" language in the Handbook is that it does not prohibit the College representative from relaying information from the University Committee to other members of the College Committee, or to the members of the Department Committee. Nor would it serve any purpose to break the lines of communication between the University level committee and the college committee. Part of the responsibility of senior faculty members in a department or college is to provide advice and guidance to junior faculty. It is important to know what will fly at the University level committee just as it is important to know at the department level what will fly at the college level. In the case at hand, it was not revealed how individuals voted, or the vote count, and the information was not shared by the college rep with anyone who had not been involved in the process at some point along the way. However, one or more of those who were given the information could have revealed it to someone who had not been involved in the process. Unfortunately, the focus of many posts has been to demonize the faculty member who served in the capacity of college representative. He did not seek that dubious honor, but when given the task he did the best he could. The abuse that has been heaped upon him sends a clear message to other faculty. Avoid providing service for your department or college. If you do the job well, no one will thank you. If they object to the job you did, then they will second-guess you, demean you, and sic the Provost, President, and the University lawyer on you. I do not know how the representives on the committee from the other colleges are responding to this. I suspect that they would be supportive of the CBA representative and disappointed at the actions of the CBA Dean and the demonizing of the CBA rep. My position is that the University Committee performed well. They evaluated the package and found it did not stack up to the University standards. I am concerned that one of the fallouts from this episode will be that it has diminished the reputation of CBA and it may not bode well for CBA faculty seeking promotion and tenure in the future.

Cossack,

Your interpretation of "stricty confidential" makes absolutely no sense. "Strictly confidential" means "strictly confidential." Your desire to get the discloser off the hook is blinding you. The "ends," do not justify the means, which involved violating the rights of the applicant. Anyone who is following this thread who thinks the disclosure was an innocent occurrence is incorrect. The purpose of the e-mail was to embarrass the Dean--to hell with the applicant--who, by the way, just happens to be a colleague. If I were this "colleague" I would already be in touch with an attorney.

I wish all of you defenders of this disclosure would put yourselves in the shoes of the applicant. You learn of a negative decision on a promotion application from a colleague who has received an e-mail from the College representative, who in the e-mail chastises the Dean for making such stupid agreement to promote you. Wow, that's a good feeling--here is a fellow faculty who thinks your record is crap and has gone on public record to say so in a supposedly confidential process. No matter though, you don't like the Dean and want him to look bad.

I can assure you, however, it's not the Dean who looks bad. Anyone who uses such a forum as a part of an effort to get at the dean is way out of line.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

I just found out that the associate dean will support the dean regarding this situation. The days of eco and fin are now numbered.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

wp wrote:

I just found out that the associate dean will support the dean regarding this situation. The days of eco and fin are now numbered.

Better start sniffing around in other offices. When you get to my door, I'll let you in. It's not just Economics and Finance. Others see the light about Harold "Anything you can do, I can screw up" Doty.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

mrs. manners wrote:

When you say marketing/management, are you counting faculty or both faculty and girlfriends ...

Tasteless and tacky.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Vanderbilt wrote:

Tasteless and tacky.

Yet true.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

"Strictly confidential" means "strictly confidential."

Not so,

Defining a phrase by repeating the phrase does not help someone like me who is dense. Perhaps if you could answer some simple questions, then I could understand.

Is there anyone that the college representative can tell about the university committee's decision? If so, is there a specific time period before which the representative cannot tell whoever may be told about whatever can be told. It seems that the alternative to telling someone somthing at some time is that the representative must keep eveything a secret for the rest of their lives.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Cossack wrote:

Is there anyone that the college representative can tell about the university committee's decision? If so, is there a specific time period before which the representative cannot tell whoever may be told about whatever can be told. It seems that the alternative to telling someone somthing at some time is that the representative must keep eveything a secret for the rest of their lives.

Which cannot be true given that each faculty member's rank and salary are published annually in the USM budget. This confidentiality issue is mostly a sham...strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

Date: Feb 12, 2006

Poor Professor Higgins!
Poor Professor Higgins! Night and day
He slaves away! Oh, poor Professor Higgins!
All day long On his feet; Up and down until he's numb;
Doesn't rest; Doesn't eat;
Doesn't touch a crumb! Poor Professor Higgins!
Poor Professor Higgins! On he plods Against all odds;
Oh, poor Professor Higgins! Nine p.m. Ten p.m.
On through midnight ev'ry night.
One a.m. Two a.m. Three...! Quit, Professor Higgins!

Cossack wrote:

"Strictly confidential" means "strictly confidential." . . . It seems that the alternative to telling someone somthing at some time is that the representative must keep eveything a secret for the rest of their lives.

By George. He's got it!

Date: Feb 13, 2006

Henry Higgins wrote: Poor Professor Higgins! Poor Professor Higgins! Night and day He slaves away! Oh, poor Professor Higgins! All day long On his feet; Up and down until he's numb; Doesn't rest; Doesn't eat; Doesn't touch a crumb! Poor Professor Higgins! Poor Professor Higgins! On he plods Against all odds; Oh, poor Professor Higgins! Nine p.m. Ten p.m. On through midnight ev'ry night. One a.m. Two a.m. Three...! Quit, Professor Higgins!

Cossack wrote: It seems that the alternative to telling someone somthing at some time is that the representative must keep eveything a secret for the rest of their lives.

Henry Higgins wrote: By George. He's got it!

OMGoodness, this is the cleverest post I have seen in ages! Too bad that only the people who saw the martyr memo will get it. Thanks for the morning laugh.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

Southern Justice wrote:

Cossack wrote: Is there anyone that the college representative can tell about the university committee's decision? If so, is there a specific time period before which the representative cannot tell whoever may be told about whatever can be told. It seems that the alternative to telling someone somthing at some time is that the representative must keep eveything a secret for the rest of their lives.

Which cannot be true given that each faculty member's rank and salary are published annually in the USM budget. This confidentiality issue is mostly a sham...strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

Sometimes I think S.J. has a reading problem. As far as the committee process goes the handbook clearly states:

"Confidentiality of Proceedings. The deliberations, records, and recommendations of departmental chairs and departmental entities formed for the purposes of hiring, evaluating, reviewing, and recommending personnel actions are strictly confidential."

Now AFTER the process is complete and the result is public via Budget Book, newspaper announcing promotions, etc the committee members are still bound by the confidentiality stated above concerning statements made in deliberations, votes, letters, etc that occurred in the committee. The final result being public does not change the requirement of confidentiality of the committee's proceedings.

This is true even though "Southern Justice" says otherwise. Funny how that works.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

No, Left ASAP, you are the one who lacks information. The rep did not reveal how anyone in particular voted nor did he discuss a "letter" out of school -- the applicant had shown the letter to several faculty members in an attempt to let them know who was on his side. For someone who claims to have no dog in this fight and no real information other than the handbook at his disposal, you sure seem to care a lot about this situation.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

Southern Justice wrote:

No, Left ASAP, you are the one who lacks information. The rep did not reveal how anyone in particular voted nor did he discuss a "letter" out of school -- the applicant had shown the letter to several faculty members in an attempt to let them know who was on his side. For someone who claims to have no dog in this fight and no real information other than the handbook at his disposal, you sure seem to care a lot about this situation.

I care about Truth, Justice and the American Way, S.J. I have no dogs in the fight and really no information other than the Handbook and your statements. Please read carefully. The Confidentiality Statement says nothing about the candidate or applicant for promotion. That person can make information public. I never said otherwise.

Why do you get so upset when I correct your errors? You should be thankful for the education I provide. Maybe I should join the CoB and see the world.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

Left? Left? Oh, Left? Where are you ....?

Oh, there you are. Walk this way, follow my flashlight. I have a rope tied around my waist and the other end is anchored back there in reality . . . grab my hand, and let's get the heck outta here.

Man, I warned you yesterday! Your leg is all chewed up from one-a them gators. Remember, these guys are NEVER WRONG. Their heads would implode if they had to admit to an error. Why do you think the rest of us never come in here?

Come on, let's git. I'll make you a cup of coffee when we get back, and you can make some notes for your memoir.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

B&B wrote:

Man, I warned you yesterday! Your leg is all chewed up from one-a them gators. Remember, these guys are NEVER WRONG. Their heads would implode if they had to admit to an error. Why do you think the rest of us never come in here?

Come on, let's git. I'll make you a cup of coffee when we get back, and you can make some notes for your memoir.
__________________

Think about me while you have your cup of coffee- I live there and work with these yahoos everyday. Take me with you, please. I'm not one of the crazy ones.

Date: Feb 13, 2006

help wrote:

Think about me while you have your cup of coffee- I live there and work with these yahoos everyday. Take me with you, please. I'm not one of the crazy ones.

If you think your colleagues are crazy then why don’t you change jobs or are you one of the do nothings who can’t get another job?

Date: Feb 13, 2006

mobile man wrote: If you think your colleagues are crazy then why don’t you change jobs or are you one of the do nothings who can’t get another job?

Assuming an honest question, I will try to give an honest answer. Having grown up in a poor farm family in Nebraska I was never able to go the circus as a child, my family could not afford such entertainment. Now I have the circus 365 days a year. I am a little tired of the man eating tiger acts and the clowns but would love to see a trapeze act where someone soared above it all

Date: Feb 13, 2006

LeftASAP wrote:

I care about Truth, Justice and the American Way, S.J. I have no dogs in the fight and really no information other than the Handbook and your statements. Please read carefully. The Confidentiality Statement says nothing about the candidate or applicant for promotion. That person can make information public. I never said otherwise.
Why do you get so upset when I correct your errors? You should be thankful for the education I provide. Maybe I should join the CoB and see the world.

We seem to have some very different ideas of what confidential means. Definition:

confidential: (1) marked by intimacy or willingness to confide, (2) PRIVATE, SECRET, (3) entrusted with confidences, (4) containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could be prejudicial to the national interest.

Source: Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition

In this case, the preferred definition (2) would be most applicable.

Date: Feb 15, 2006

What is the marketing chair's take on this situation? I would think people should seek his advice and counsel. Surely he has commented by now? Can the CoB folk fill us in?

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Dean Doty’s "T&P Do's and Don't's" Guide for Junior Faculty

Do Try:

1. Civil Suit against University

2. Presidential Appointment "Coming In"

3. "Letter of Agreement"

Don't Waste Time On:

Traditional Folders with Noteworthy Content