CL, 5/10/06: MUW grads concerned about office shake-up - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 10, 2006

CL, 5/10/06: MUW grads concerned about office shake-up

Date: May 10, 2006

info wrote:

Late last month, school officials removed the alumni affairs director and assistant director, changed the locks on the office and seized records . . . The alumni association is a private group. President Claudia Limbert said this week that she took the action against employees who "were acting outside of university interests."...

If the alumni association is private, how is it that a state university has the authority to change the locks and seize its records?

Date: May 10, 2006

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=218683&pub=1&div=News

MUW boosters seek alum director's reinstatement

5/4/2006 6:50:54 AM
Daily Journal

COLUMBUS - Just weeks after deciding to stay at the helm of Mississippi University for Women, President Claudia Limbert is feeling the heat from some alumnae....

..."The suspension of the alumni staff bothers me," said attorney Lydia Quarles, a 1971 MUW grad and a commissioner with the Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission. Quarles, the alumni board parliamentarian, said many MUW alums cannot understand why the two were disciplined, especially McDaniel, whom she described as a faithful 43-year MUW veteran.

Limbert's reaction to all this seems to be a case of "killing a gnat with a sledge hammer," Quarles said, although she said the records situation doesn't bother her....

...The dispute reflects growing tensions between Limbert and alumni leaders, Quarles said. "She's not had a good relationship with the Alumnae Association. We hope it can improve."...

NE MS DJ

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=218986&pub=1&div=News

MUW hires retired professors to run alumni relations

5/9/2006 6:49:08 AM
Daily Journal

COLUMBUS - Mississippi University for Women's alumni relations office has two new leaders with a long history at the Columbus school.

But MUW alums remain unhappy with the sudden dismissal of longtime alumni chief Patsy McDaniel and assistant Tracey Dexter Ervin.

Some have organized a day of prayer Thursday at alumnae chapters nationwide as their latest step to voice concerns after last week's shakeup. Alumnae leaders also will meet in Jackson to discuss the dismissals....

...Linda Ross Aldy, a past MUW Alumnae Association president. "We are not satisfied how the process was handled - the entire thing. It's been overkill.''

The issues being raised by alumnae leaders "are not over by a longshot,'' Aldy said Monday....

...McDaniel said she appreciates the support she's received from alums but won't comment on actions taken by MUW. First, she was placed on administrative leave with pay and then replaced. She's a tenured professor.

Date: May 13, 2006

CL, 5/13/06

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060513/NEWS/605130349/1001

MUW records release questioned
University foundation says alumni office released confidential donor files

The fund-raising arm of Mississippi University for Women on Friday accused the school's alumni office of releasing confidential donor records.

It appears to be the latest development in a dispute about the suspension of the school's longtime director of alumni affairs.

"You wouldn't want financial information given out by your credit card company, and this is the same thing," said attorney Kevin Watson, who was hired to represent the MUW foundation....

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060513/NEWS/605130353/1001

Foundation states position on records

Statement issued by the Mississippi University for Women Foundation, Inc., Friday, May 12, 2006:

The Mississippi University for Women Foundation recently was made aware that the MUW alumni office gave confidential donor records to people who had no authority to receive them. The Foundation's board of directors has retained attorney Kevin Watson of the law firm of Watson & Jernigan, P.A., to assist the Foundation in the recovery of proprietary records and prevention of any further unauthorized use or dissemination. The Foundation is in the process of requesting the return of these records....

http://clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060513/NEWS/605130354/1001

Letter urges support for workers placed on leave

The following letter was posted May 1 on the listserve for the university alumni:...

...From questions that both Patsy and Tracey were asked during nearly three hours of questioning by the university's legal counsel on Friday,...

...Patsy and Tracey were also asked numerous questions about whether or not they were aware of people who did not like their former boss, Scott Rawles, or who did not like Dr. Limbert....

...Patsy and Tracey were among a number of employees who had been approached late last year by the university's attorney who solicited information from them about specific tactics employed by Mr. Rawles in his capacity as Vice President of Institutional Advancement....

... it appears that those bridges and relationships will be virtually impossible to reestablish in light of the current events pertaining to the Alumni Office staff. Following the records seizure and computer sweep,...

Date: Jun 4, 2006

Commercial Dispatch, 6/3/06

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/06/03/local_news/local04.txt

Limbert, alums begin patching up their rifts

Mississippi University for Women President Claudia Limbert and alumni leaders met Friday as they continue efforts to resolve their differences following last month's ouster of the school's popular alumni director.

“Progress was made in setting goals and objectives for the future of the university,” Limbert said in a written statement issued with MUW Alumnae Association President Betty Lou Jones and MUW Foundation Chairman Connie Kossen....

...MUW also announced Friday that Kossen is resigning as foundation chairman after serving four years....

...Limbert in May booted out alumni relations director Patsy McDaniel and assistant Tracey Ervin, sparking protests from MUW graduates who said the two were unjustly dismissed.

McDaniel last week resumed working at MUW as a library faculty member. Ervin plans to sue MUW.

The MUW alumni office gave away confidential information about financial contributors to people not authorized to get these records, according to the MUW Foundation. However, the university and foundation will not say if they blame McDaniel or Ervin for this breach....

...In what they described as “a day-long retreat,” about 30 MUW administrators, alumni association members and foundation representatives met Friday.

“Progress was made in setting goals and objectives for the future of the university,” Limbert, Jones and Kossen said in their joint statement.

Clausen is acting as a “facilitator” in this effort, said Sansing, a member of Limbert's cabinet. Clausen is the chief administrator of the eight colleges in the University of Louisiana System, which is separate from the Louisiana State University System.

Jones said in May that someone was needed to mediate differences MUW alums have with Limbert....

Date: Jun 20, 2006

Commercial Dispatch, 6/19/06

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/06/19/local_news/local01.txt

‘W' alumni leader ends her silence on recent conflicts

Mississippi University for Women's alumni leader is urging her followers to join efforts to reconcile conflicts with MUW President Claudia Limbert and the school's fundraising arm.

Ending a period of public silence, MUW Alumnae Association President Betty Lou Jones said progress is being made....

...University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen was brought in to help end the dispute between alumni, Limbert and the foundation.

Limbert had previously downplayed the alumni leaders' grievances and said they don't reflect the views of most of MUW's 20,000-plus graduates.

However, she has pledged to do more to listen to them.

“Dr. Limbert stressed that she wants to establish and maintain open communication lines and welcomes input from alums,” Jones said in her letter....

...The first grievance Jones cited in her letter were problems she said were associated with former MUW vice president Scott Rawles. After overseeing university fundraising and external relations for three years, Rawles resigned last December. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Among other complaints listed by Jones: “questionable use of foundation funds; fiduciary responsibility, incomplete disclosure of information related to foundation sources of revenue and expenditures; ... lack of direct access for communication with the president; the firing of Patsy and Tracey, and, of even greater concern, the contrast between the dismissals of Patsy, Tracey and Scott Rawles; ... and questions of conflict of interest with foundation board members doing business with the university.”

She said these issues have had a “cumulative negative impact on The W's image and reputation.”

Jones cited “distrust of the foundation and the administr ation; a dysfunctional alumni office where communication lines were down and a smooth transition was rendered impossible; talk of potential lawsuits from wronged parties; a deterrent to recruitment of faculty, students and staff and a ton of bad publicity for the university.”

Among the alums' proposed solutions:

“... Establish a termination policy for the university that is fair, consistent, protects due process and adheres to the principles of progressive discipline and the guidelines of the American Association of University Professors; hire a new alumni director ASAP with input and approval of the Alumni Association (“W” graduate preferred); greater transparency, openness and accountability from the foundation; change organizational chart to make alumni director a direct report to the president; independent audit of the foundation; ... establish our right to ... support a national dues structure; and allow us to hold fundraising projects.”

Date: Jun 24, 2006

Commerical Dispatch, 6/23/06

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/06/23/local_news/local02.txt

Ousted MUW alumni director resigns from library position

Mississippi University for Women's ousted alumni director is retiring, opting not to continue her 42-year stint there in another job.

Patsy McDaniel annnouned June 13 she doesn't want to be on the MUW library faculty, said university attorney Perry Sansing. Her retirement is effective July 1, he said....

...To bring peace to the discord, reconciliation talks have taken place between Limbert, alumni leaders and foundation members.

Acknowledging there have been “painful discussions,” [MUW Alumnae Association President Betty Lou] Jones said Monday she was optimistic they all will “pitch in a little harder” to overcome their differences and support MUW's students and faculty.

“We're excited about those two things - supporting the faculty and helping with student recruitment,” she said.

Jones issued a detailed letter to alumni last week outlining her thoughts.

However, incoming MUW Foundation Chairman Eddie Betcher issued a statement Thursday saying the group was “disheartened” that Jones recited concerns alumni leaders have previously expressed about the foundation's financial management.

“The statements by the alumnae association president citing cooperation and progress are undermined by vague, unsubstantiated allegations against the foundation,” Betcher's statement said.

Betcher, an MUW graduate, said today he had not read Jones' letter and was responding to news reports of what she wrote.

The statement issued on behalf of the foundation stressed that the group “takes its fiduciary responsibilities very seriously and will continue to ensure that all of its operations are ethical and conducted with integrity.”

“Our mission is to serve MUW in an open, transparent and honest manner.”

However, MUW has denied The Commercial Dispatch's request to see foundation documents related to the alumni office shake-up, citing the foundation's status as a private entity that is not subject to the state open records law.

A lawsuit is currently pending against the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation on whether these fundraising groups are subject to the state public records law.

Date: Jun 29, 2006

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/06/28/local_news/local02.txt

Commercial Dispatch, 6/28/06

Records request yields MUW alumni office e-mails

Letters seized from the computers of Mississippi University for Women's fired alumni director and her assistant show their close alliance with alumni leaders trying to undercut MUW President Claudia Limbert and her former fundraising chief.

The e-mail notes mainly reaffirm the dislike that prominent alumni have publicly expressed for Limbert - wanting her to quit or be fired. The notes also show their efforts to establish a fundraising group to rival the university's foundation.

Complying with an open records request from The Commercial Dispatch, Limbert and her attorneys provided a bundle of e-mail notes obtained from the computers of former MUW Alumni Relations Director Patsy McDaniel and Assistant Director Tracey Ervin.

The Dispatch sought records detailing why Limbert fired McDaniel and Ervin in May. Limbert has said they acted too independently in the university's alumni relations office, but she had declined to elaborate, saying it was a personnel matter.

Limbert's chief aide and attorney said today that McDaniel and Ervin were working against the foundation and the university's institutional advancement office....

...In notes written to their fellow alumni, McDaniel and Ervin suggested their bosses - Limbert and ex-vice president Scott Rawles - exaggerated the amount of private donations they got for the university....

...Tupelo attorney Jim Waide, who has met with McDaniel and Ervin, has said he'll probably sue MUW on their behalf. Waide said last week no final decisions had been made yet for filing a lawsuit....

...Also, in an e-mail sent to McDaniel, Ervin and others, prominent alums discussed meeting with state Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith about the prospects of the state Board of Institutions of Higher Learning firing Limbert.

The board, however, renewed her contract earlier this year....

...E-mail that Limbert did give The Dispatch includes private notes written by prominent MUW graduates. Among them are Quarles, Supreme Court Justice Kay Cobb, former IHL board member Ricki Garrett and former Mississippi Employment Security Commission Executive Director Linda Ross Aldy.

Cobb, Garrett and Aldy are former MUW Alumnae Association presidents.

There are notes written by or to several other women who've served as alumni president in recent years. They include Laws, Meredith Talley, Lynn Curtis, Adelaide Fletcher, Jan McSpadden and Alma Ellis....

...Limbert has downplayed the alumni leaders' grievances and said they don't reflect the views of most of MUW's 20,000-plus graduates. She said she gets along well with other former association presidents and rank-and-file alums....

Date: Jun 29, 2006

It appears that USM isn't the only screwed up institution in this sorry state. Maybe the reorganization of the IHL will help things run better in the future, but the system and state are only as good as the people given power.

Date: Jun 29, 2006

Sad Prof wrote:

It appears that USM isn't the only screwed up institution in this sorry state. Maybe the reorganization of the IHL will help things run better in the future, but the system and state are only as good as the people given power.

Even sadder is Limbert has tried and tried to get another job....and IHL renews her contract.

The schools where she applied probably knew some of her dealings and took her off the list, but IHL tolerates her actions and then rewards her with a contract extension.

Date: Jun 30, 2006

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/06/29/state_news/state01.txt

Commercial Dispatch, 6/29/06

McDaniel: ‘We were not trying to undermine (Limbert)' (6/29)

Former Mississippi University for Women Alumni Director Patsy McDaniel disputes MUW President Claudia Limbert's charge that she worked against the university and its fundraising efforts....

...“They don't have enough to fire us from our jobs and have not had enough to begin with,” McDaniel said Wednesday.

“I have worked for eight presidents and probably had about 100 supervisors, and I have never undermined that university,” said McDaniel, who's been working at MUW since graduating from there in 1963.

McDaniel and Ervin didn't tell Limbert about notes they received from alums demeaning the university president and pushing for her ouster, according to [Limbert's spokesman] Sansing.

However, McDaniel said Limbert acted too abruptly after seeing the notes she had seized from the alumni office computers.

“We were never given a reprimand or ever called into her office or told that we needed to be more open with her,” McDaniel said.....

...In notes written to fellow alumni, McDaniel and Ervin suggested their bosses - Limbert and ex-vice president Scott Rawles - exaggerated the amount of private donations they got for the university.

The two alumni office executives also questioned the finances of the MUW Foundation, the university's private fundraising arm....

Date: Jun 30, 2006

Among the alums' proposed solutions:

“... Establish a termination policy for the university that is fair, consistent, protects due process and adheres to the principles of progressive discipline and the guidelines of the American Association of University Professors; hire a new alumni director ASAP with input and approval of the Alumni Association (“W” graduate preferred); greater transparency, openness and accountability from the foundation; change organizational chart to make alumni director a direct report to the president; independent audit of the foundation; ... establish our right to ... support a national dues structure; and allow us to hold fundraising projects.”

WHAT?!!! THAT . . . UNION?

THOSE RADICALS?

Date: Jun 30, 2006

Best line of all time...

"Ain't a Union, Polymerman"

Credited to Invictus, of course.

info · Status: Offline

Commercial Dispatch, 8/5/06

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2006/08/05/local_news/local04.txt

MUW looks ahead with posts filled

Mississippi University for Women President Claudia Limbert's appointments last week of two administrators put them in key positions to help the school overcome its recent turmoil in alumni affairs and fund raising.

But at least one outspoken critic of Limbert is not sure the fences can be mended so easily.

Jan Miller of Columbus on Friday was named MUW's director of alumni relations to replace Patsy McDaniel, ousted in May when Limbert discovered she communicated with disgruntled alumni who wanted the university president to quit or be fired.

On Wednesday, Limbert announced the appointment of former Indiana State University executive Gary Bouse as vice president for institutional advancement. He replaces Scott Rawles, who resigned in December. Rawles was criticized by some alums who questioned his public-relations and fund-raising abilities....

oldtimer · Status: Offline

The most interesting aspect of this story to me is that MUW complied with a FOIA request:

info wrote:

Complying with an open records request from The Commercial Dispatch, Limbert and her attorneys provided a bundle of e-mail notes obtained from the computers of former MUW Alumni Relations Director Patsy McDaniel and Assistant Director Tracey Ervin. The Dispatch sought records detailing why Limbert fired McDaniel and Ervin in May.

Compare this to USM's response to the Hattiesburg American's request -- "we have no written record of e-mail monitoring", so we have nothing that we can release to the local media.