Wednesday, May 3, 2017

SOMEBODY HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO

Multiple local media outlets are reporting that former SIU President and current John A. Logan College Trustee, Glenn Poshard, has resigned his position as President of Morthland College.  The Southern Illinoisan reports there are two different versions of his reason for resignation.  Poshard released a statement that read,
“I believe strongly in the vision and the mission of Morthland College and the opportunity it provides in offering students a faith-based, Christian education, however there are serious issues — both personnel and financial — of which I was not notified when I began as president, and which, I concluded, could only be resolved by an authority other than myself.”
A spokeman for Morthand College said Poshard gave them another reason.

“He resigned for health reasons, that is what he told us,”  
These statements lead one to two very different conclusions.  Poshard's statement implies that there are unspecified problems at Morthland.  Perhaps financial instability or malfeasance.  

The quote differs from the Southern's site to that of WSILThe Southern reports, "... issues — both personnel and financial ".  WSIL reports the quote as,

I believe strongly in the vision and mission of Morthland College and the opportunity it provides in offering students a faith-based Christian education. However, there are serious issues, both personal and financial, of which I was not notified when I began as president, and which, I concluded, could only be resolved by an authority other than myself. 
 Note that The Southern uses the word, "personnel" and that WSIL reports the wording as "personal".  If WSIL is correct, that invites speculation as to who has personal issues.  What type are they?  Are they related to the financial issues?  The Southern's quote sounds more like there was merely a human resource problem.

On the other hand, Morthland's PR person says the resignation is on Poshard; that he has health reasons.  This is disturbing because someone is not telling the truth, or at least not the whole truth. 

18 comments:

  1. When I heard Poshard's prepared statement, I thought, this isn't good for Morthland College. He could have just resigned...but he decided to throw the college under the bus on his way out. It will be interesting to see if the college is truly viable, or being president was just too big of a job for a man who earns four/five public pensions.

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  2. Have you ever heard of the adage, "when you point a finger, there are three pointing back at you?" You imply in your writing, "these statements lead one to two very different conclusions. Perhaps financial instability or malfeasance." What a leap of faith you take in that statement and your musings throughout your entire article and added comment. It must be nice to maintain your corner on the market of self righteousness and propriety. When you point to another's shortcomings or flaws, you are only defining yourself as judgemental and intolerant. The whole article, as well as the comment read as such. Gandhi said, "be the change." That change does not start by pointing your finger at others but paying close attention to those three pointed back at you.

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  3. I've heard things at the college, or with Dr. Morthland, aren't on the up and up. This could be a symptom.

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  4. "People who spread rumors are like walking infections. The infectious words from their mouths spread like a disease from person to person." Why must you keep on doing this!?

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    1. No rumors. Poshard resigns stating financial & personal issues with the college that he wasn't made aware of when he signed on. Morthland college issues a statement saying Poshard resigns for "health reasons". One day later Morthland college issues a statement admitting to financial problems. It's pretty unbelievable that they would issue a false report to try and cover up the financial problems the school is having, only to admit it the next day & think no one should question the integrity & honesty of this "Christian" school.

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  5. It appears confirmed that the school is in financial trouble. Morthland PR should issue an apology

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  6. Why do you care so much about what they do and that they need to provide an explanation?!? They are a PRIVATE college and therefore owe no explanation to the general public.

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    1. They owe no explanation to the tax payers????

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    2. To my understanding they are a privately funded christian college compared to SIU which is a PUBLICLY funded university. SIU owes the taxpayers explanations because our tax money does go to them. Our tax money does not go to Morthland because they are private. They may need to supply their donors with an explanation but not the general public.

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    3. OK, but the college's statement about ending their athletic programs says its because of "delays in receipt of government funding," so I guess its sort of the publics business.

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  7. Owes IRS over $700,000 & hasn't paid his contractor $80,000. This comes out right after he publicly claims the college is financially sound. I thought Christians were honest people. I guess I was wrong.

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  8. Is this some kind of joke? Now Morthland is offering free tuition for returning students in the midst of this financial crisis.

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  9. http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/john-a-logan-s-new-bot-chairman-talks-shop/article_281da132-8a91-5b3e-b1e5-9e2f53907ff7.html
    The ego is enormous, the track record scarce, and there isn't a community college in the state where the board chair talks flippantly about leading a campus. It can only be hoped that the accrediting agency saw it the same way.

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    1. This discussion is about Morthland College, not John A. Logan

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  10. It can be about both, Sherriff!

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    1. People typically start a new discussion when they want to discuss a new topic. They don't start a new topic on a thread about something entirely different.

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  11. You just got an "F" in spelling!

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