tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28063257632735706322024-02-20T16:40:31.495-06:00Muddy WilliamsonNews and views on John A. Logan College, Williamson and Jackson Counties and SIU CarbondaleWinston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-17438846099710885842019-07-25T17:49:00.000-05:002019-07-27T00:28:36.316-05:00STOP TALKING ABOUT THE SIGN!<span style="font-size: large;">After all this time, the infamous recording is out. It seems the guilty parties still want to pretend that the issue is a sign held up by a student. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have only had a chance to listen to a little of the recording, but it is sickening. The guilty will squeal that this should be over. It’s just starting. This is what happens when you get caught abusing your power. There is no statute of limitations on bullying.</span></span></span><br /></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-54764212736568774352019-07-21T20:20:00.001-05:002019-07-21T20:24:07.085-05:00RELEASE THE TAPE AND TRANSCRIPT<span style="font-size: large;">Well, we thought we were about done with this blog. Life goes on. The national scene is a dumpster fire and SIU is on the ropes. JALC was seeming like it was gaining some semblance of normalcy, real or imagined. And then the chicken came home to roost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Those who have followed this site, and those just with an interest in John A. Logan College, know that when the board went into executive session to vote on who would be laid off, three years ago, they were in there a long time. At the next Board meeting, we learned why: they had been discussing more than just the individuals to be laid off, which would be a legitimate use of an executive session. Student trustee, Brandi Husch, revealed that one of the Board members bullied her and whipped out a file regarding her past, unrelated to her career as a student or service on the Board. As she attempted to explain this to the public in open session, she was shut down by the then Board chair and the college attorney. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, the wheels of justice turn slowly, but the IL Attorney General has opined that the Board violated the Open Meetings Act. In fact 80% of the discussion was supposed to be public. The AG invited Logan to release the audio recording and transcript to the public. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Conveniently, the Board had voted to destroy the recording before the matter was settled and without consulting the AG's office. But, the AG had a copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Board members said they would vote on whether to release the audio file but, alas, it would be a moot point because they had already destroyed it. ...And then the other shoe dropped. On them. The AG gave them his copy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, Tuesday night, July 23, the Board will vote on whether to release the verbatim recording. They have scheduled the vote as item 6 on the meeting agenda. They have scheduled public comment as item 7. How convenient. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe they will vote to release the recording. That would be the decent, civic thing to do. On the other hand, not behaving like thugs would have been the decent, civic thing to do too. Tuesday's meeting is scheduled for 7pm, in the Administration Building Boardroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, and if you are a Board member and reading this, do the right thing. Release the damn thing!</span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-89069231733675652692018-01-31T11:03:00.000-06:002018-01-31T11:03:58.826-06:00NEPOTISM R US<span style="font-size: large;">The original sin of higher education, in southern Illinois, at least the one that inspired the creation of Muddy Williamson, was nepotism. We railed against its existence, as practiced, at John A. Logan College. However, Logan is not alone. Logan Board members and administrators were brazen, over the years, in their promotion of the careers of their children at school and tax payer expense. However, times have changed and some of that has abated; nepotism has given way to mere cronyism. However, at SIU, old fashioned nepotism is in full flame. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We, at Muddy Williamson, heard rumors, last year, of new SIU Chancellor Carlo Montemagno bringing on his daughter and son-in-law, she in University Communications and he in another department. Not knowing their names and not wanting to prematurely spook them, by calling University Communications or Human Resources, we held off. However, the </span><a href="https://dailyegyptian.com/77964/showcase/university-hires-chancellors-daughter-son-in-law/#.WnFHyPqSMhd.twitter" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Egyptian</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> got the scoop. And, congratulations to them for brave journalism and excellent reporting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bottom line is that as part of his own hire, Montemagno extracted a deal from SIU to create jobs for and hire his daughter and son in law. The usual process involves position requests from departments, vice chancellor level approval, job announcements, applications, search committees, interviews, a hiring decision by the department, review by Affirmative Action, a green light from Human Resources and then an offer to the candidate and negotiations between hiring department and candidate. Or, an alternative route is to have the President ask the department to "identify an opportunity" for you. Or, yet another is for your daddy to send an email to a department "introducing" you and inviting them to connect with you. That is an introduction in the sense that a shotgun wedding is by invitation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We won't recap the story. We'll let you </span><a href="https://dailyegyptian.com/77964/showcase/university-hires-chancellors-daughter-son-in-law/#.WnFHyPqSMhd.twitter" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">follow the link to the Daily Egyptian article</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. They deserve the read, the congratulations for the story and recognition of their bravery in publishing it. Special kudos should go to staff reporter Anna Spoerre, for a well written article. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-46340938182302101302017-12-08T13:40:00.000-06:002017-12-08T13:40:15.327-06:00JALC B.O.T. FOLLOWS ITS USUAL M.O.<span style="font-size: large;">On November 28, the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees voted to extend Ron House's contract through August 2019, with the option to extend it an additional year. His salary will be $173,587.00. There was only one 'no' vote, that of Becky Borgsmiller. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In October 2015, the Board estimated that they would have a permanent President in place, in nine months. That was 26 months ago. Apparently, with no national (or even local or regional) search, they've determined House is their man. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since bringing on House, the College has been reorganized and has run roughshod over faculty and the concept of tenure. The search process has come to be seen as, well, out of fashion. It will be interesting to observe, if a national search is conducted to permanently fill the position of vice president of instruction. Or, the rumors may be true and the Board may just be waiting for Acting VP Melanie Pecord to finish her Ph.d., so they can simply erase the word "acting". </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">....In other news: It's hard to ignore the events in the wider world, the last couple of weeks. We noticed the following quote. </span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"<em>I am pondering if this concept might ever make it to the southern
Illinois region: sexually inappropriate behavior in the workplace. It
reminds me of a certain community college vice-President, then different
college President, then vice-President again at original college. I
wonder if karma is ever going to get around to that disgusting loser? We
are seeing all these brave women come forward and report harassment,
abuse, and assault...what will it take for you to stand up for yourself,
or if you aren’t strong enough to do that, prevent it from happening to
someone else? I think it is time to wise up and woman up."</em></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">We'll just leave that right there. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-32185782812665262112017-07-31T12:54:00.000-05:002017-07-31T12:54:05.441-05:00RECALL OF NEARLY ALL REMAINING FACULTY<span style="font-size: large;">You wouldn't know it from the news coverage, but the JALC Board of Trustees approved the recall of nearly all the remaining faculty, who had been laid off, despite tenure, in March 2016. You had to </span><a href="http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20170726/john-a-logan-board-rehires-three-full-time-tenured-instructors" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">catch it in the <em>Marion Daily Republican</em></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> to read about it (or dig down in the <a href="https://www.jalc.edu/files/uploads/global/Web_Agenda_7-25-17.pdf" target="_blank">Board Agenda to item XII.A.2.b.(2)</a>); apparently the <em>Southern Illinoisan</em> has lost interest in the Board meetings. We say "nearly all" because JALC still can't seem to take into account that these are <em><u>people</u></em> they are affecting. Three instructors were called back, but Jane Beyler, a psychology professor, was not. How would you like to be the one left out in the cold?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that David Cochran, Nikki Borrenpohl and Cheryl Barrall are being called back to teach in the departments of History, English and Education, respectively. This is a switch for Barrall, who had been teaching developmental English until the lay offs. Cochran's return was advocated for, at a BOT meeting earlier this year, by revered and retired History professor Helen Nall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, it's good news... no, it is <em>great</em> news that these three will be teaching this fall, and that they are getting some semblance of their lives back. It's maddening that it took this long. There has never been a rhyme or reason, that the public could see, as to how the decisions were made as to who was to be laid off, in the first place, and who was to be recalled, and in what order. While, excepting Beyler, this appears to bring the matter to a close, it only brings the staff's lives back to a new order. Not all laid off staff were recalled. Some retired rather than fight the year and a half battle. Some lost out contractually. Some were laid off immediately prior to their tenure being finalized. Some, in frustration, left the teaching profession forever. None will view tenure as a guarantee of security anymore. Issues are still outstanding. So are lawsuits. If the layoffs were unjustified, for the reasons stated, will back pay be in order? With interest? What about retirement/pensions? Where does one stand with seniority, service years etc.? And what of Ms. Beyler? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Faculty are returning to a changed college. Their former departments no longer exist. Their former chairs have been overthrown. Their physical work spaces have probably been moved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But, this is a leap forward in the right direction. There are still more steps to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-86263979246296164622017-07-04T00:36:00.002-05:002017-07-04T00:36:34.459-05:00SOME GOOD, SOME BAD AND SOME UGLY<span style="font-size: large;">There's been a lot to think about lately, and we've taken a little break. Hopefully, our readers are having a good summer. Our institutions, for the most part, are not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Herrin City government is making strides toward transparency. Mayor Steve Fratinni says </span><a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35753098/herrin-leaders-get-rid-of-executive-sessions" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">the city council will no longer meet in executive session.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> All committees and council sessions will be open to the public. Those issues that have been discussed in closed sessions, due to privacy issues, such as personnel, will be handled at the departmental level. This might be a good model for the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees to follow. It would get the Board out of the hiring and firing of individual faculty, administrators and staff and would shine a light on <em>all</em> Board activity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of Logan, </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/jalc-to-rehire-three-tenured-faculty-members-for-fall-semester/article_8f00ed8d-c286-50fb-9490-98cac439cc9a.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">three laid off faculty have recently been recalled for the coming Fall term</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">: Molly Alter, in Art; Dave Evans in English and Jennifer Watkins in Math. That leaves a handful still hanging out to dry. Board Chair </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/john-a-logan-s-new-bot-chairman-talks-shop/article_281da132-8a91-5b3e-b1e5-9e2f53907ff7.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Bill Kilquist</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and President </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/jalc-to-rehire-three-tenured-faculty-members-for-fall-semester/article_8f00ed8d-c286-50fb-9490-98cac439cc9a.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ron House</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> said they want to bring all of the remaining people back, but, that is what they have always said. Hopefully, the General Assembly will pass a budget, the governor will sign it, the State will cut loose with some education funding and Logan's administration will keep their promise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In our last post, we noted that Logan Board member Glenn Poshard had resigned his new position as President of Morthland College. His stated reason was that Morthland had financial problems he had not been informed about prior to his hire. Morthland attempted to dispute that but recent events show they are struggling financially. The college has eliminated its athletic program. That's problematic, considering that </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/westfrankfort/morthland-college-to-eliminate-athletic-program/article_dc94805b-0d19-5de2-8fd1-8a17eb6fc10b.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">90% of their students are athletes</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Their solution, for a financially strapped institution, is interesting. They are waiving </span><a href="http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35500951/college-offers-free-tuition-to-all-students-in-west-frankfort-il" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">100% of tuition and fees for all returning students</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, through the students' individual graduation dates. This is being paid for through a scholarship fund totaling $320,000, according to Executive Vice President Emily Hayes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over at SIU, President <a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/dunn-to-serve-as-siuc-s-acting-chancellor-until-july/article_8c6be3fb-1e27-5434-b7ec-85742b561c13.html#tncms-source=infinity-scroll-summary-siderail-latest" target="_blank">Randy Dunn will once again do double duty as Acting Chancellor of the Carbondale campus</a>. The SIU Board of Trustees have gotten deeply involved in the search, insisting on two more candidates in the finalist pool and directly interviewing the candidates. Given the sluggish search and the state of higher education in Illinois, only two finalists are willing to take the job: Brad Colwell, who has been serving as interim chancellor and Carlo Montemagno, of the University of Alberta. Colwell's contract as interim chancellor expired June 30 and the Board will not make a hiring decision between Montemagno and him until their July 13 meeting. Until then, Dunn fills in again. No word on what happens if they fail to pick a candidate. This is not out of the realm of possibility. They have come full circle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">SIU Interim Provost Susan Ford retired last Friday. She had held the position since the removal of John Nicklow from the position, in 2014. </span><a href="http://dailyegyptian.com/70032/news/interim-provost-ford-retire-friday/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ford said she didn't want people to think she was retiring "because of the university ‘being in trouble.’”</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> One has to think the chaos regarding the chancellor search was a factor. She's seen this movie before. </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/siu-chancellor-search-suspended/article_044f35bd-d6dc-50b9-b6b1-e953a7f363a2.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2015, she was one of two chancellor candidates left standing. Oregon State Provost Sabah Randhawa then withdrew and the Board announced that they were suspending the search because their "preferred candidate" had withdrawn.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Ford continued on as interim provost for two more years, until last week. Provost duties are now being</span><a href="http://dailyegyptian.com/70032/news/interim-provost-ford-retire-friday/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> jointly handled by associate provosts Lizette Chevalier and David Dillala.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we type this, in the Illinois General Assembly, the House of Representatives has apparently voted to raise taxes and sent a budget bill to the Senate. The Governor has announced he will veto it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Congress's only accomplishment so far has been to abolish protections for consumers against the schemes of bankers. The President spends his time playing with his phone and watching cable television. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's ugly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-3208508982295674512017-05-03T21:17:00.001-05:002017-05-03T21:17:12.178-05:00SOMEBODY HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO<span style="font-size: large;">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 <em><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/poshard-resigns-as-president-of-morthland-college/article_9ab535e7-acf3-5ebb-ae72-5f0e98e5c5e9.html" target="_blank">Southern Illinoisan</a></em> reports there are two different versions of his reason for resignation. Poshard released a statement that read,</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“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.”</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">A spokeman for Morthand College said Poshard <a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/poshard-resigns-as-president-of-morthland-college/article_9ab535e7-acf3-5ebb-ae72-5f0e98e5c5e9.html" target="_blank">gave them another reason.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">“He resigned for health reasons, that is what he told us,” </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">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. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The quote differs from the <em>Southern</em>'s site to that of <a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35335228/poshard-steps-down-as-morthland-college-president" target="_blank">WSIL</a>. <em>The Southern</em> reports, "... issues — both personnel and financial ". <a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35335228/poshard-steps-down-as-morthland-college-president" target="_blank">WSIL</a> reports the quote as, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Note that <em>The Southern</em> uses the word, "<a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/poshard-resigns-as-president-of-morthland-college/article_9ab535e7-acf3-5ebb-ae72-5f0e98e5c5e9.html" target="_blank">personnel</a>" and that WSIL reports the wording as "<a href="http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35335228/poshard-steps-down-as-morthland-college-president" target="_blank">personal</a>". 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, Morthland's PR person says the resignation is on Poshard; that he has <a href="http://a%20spokeman%20for%20morthand%20college%20said%20poshard%20gave%20them%20another%20reason./" target="_blank">health reasons</a>. This is disturbing because someone is not telling the truth, or at least not the whole truth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-48922827358592720562017-04-25T21:45:00.000-05:002017-04-25T21:47:12.502-05:00MEET THE NEW BOSS...<span style="font-size: large;">Longtime JALC Board member, and chair, Don Brewer took the occasion of his last Board meeting to defend the Board's actions last year regarding faculty and staff layoffs, criticized attendees who may have given a little too much truth to the Higher Learning Commission visit team and claimed that enrollment is hunky dory. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Newly elected members Becky Borgsmiller and Mandy Little were seated and temporary presiding officer Ron House called on Glenn Poshard to report on the nominating committee. Apparently, the outgoing Board does the nominating and the new one votes. Seems like the new Board, including the new members, would nominate officers, but... The nominees, for chair, were Ray Hancock and Bill Kilquist. It quickly became clear what the new voting blocs will be. Voting for Hancock were Hancock, Borgsmiller and Little. Electing Bill Kilquist were Rendleman, Kilquist, Poshard and Graff. The news of the night was that Graff and Poshard have clearly thrown their lot in with the Old Guard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This became apparent during the regular meeting, that followed the organizational meeting, when Borgsmiller questioned the way so much business is conducted in small committees, away from the public eye. Poshard didn't see the lack of transparency as an issue. </span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">The change, it had to come<br />We knew it all along<br />We were liberated from the fold, that's all<br />And the world looks just the same<br />And history ain't changed<br />'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war...</span></em></div>
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<em></em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">...Then I'll get on my knees and pray<br />We don't get fooled again</span></em></div>
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<em></em><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Meet the new boss<br />Same as the old boss</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PETER TOWNSHEND</span></div>
<div class="b_footnote" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">© Spirit Music Group</span></div>
Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-83214750221117161552017-04-24T09:50:00.001-05:002017-04-24T09:50:31.004-05:00LOGAN BOT SEATS NEW MEMBERS TOMORROW NIGHT<span style="font-size: large;">The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees has two meetings, tomorrow night. The first, at 6:30, will seat the two newly elected Board members, Mandy Little and Becky Borgsmiller. There will then be an election of Board officers. The second meeting, the regular monthly meeting, will begin at 7pm. Both are open to the public and both have public comment periods on the agenda.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This will be an opportunity for current, retired and laid off faculty and staff, as well as students and community members to see their new board representatives sworn in (at the 6:30 meeting) and for those new Board members to see what interest the Logan community takes in the governance of their college (the 7pm meeting). </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-18278533585046828152017-04-04T20:45:00.001-05:002017-04-04T22:23:05.563-05:00ELECTION NIGHT!UPDATE at 10:15pm<br />
<br />
Franklin County has one holdout precinct. We guestimate about 261 votes, or one percent of the total district vote. This thing is over. Congratulations to the two new John A. Logan College Board members! The new trustees will be Mandy Little and Becky Borgsmiller. We are hopeful that they will usher in a new era of transparency, integrity and good will at the College. Good night all!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup span="2" width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="60"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">percent in</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2810"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,810</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1219"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,219</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1599"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,599</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1247"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,247</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2798"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,798</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1549"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,549</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2027"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,027</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1362"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,362</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="386"><span style="color: #ff9900;">386</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="862"><span style="color: #ff9900;">862</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="849"><span style="color: #ff9900;">849</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="251"><span style="color: #ff9900;">251</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.9"><span style="color: #ff9900;">90.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="661"><span style="color: #ff9900;">661</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="378"><span style="color: #ff9900;">378</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="476"><span style="color: #ff9900;">476</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="377"><span style="color: #ff9900;">377</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randolph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="51"><span style="color: #ff9900;">51</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="28"><span style="color: #ff9900;">28</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="6706"><span style="color: #ff9900;">6,706</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4049"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,049</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4992"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,992</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3265"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,265</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.993506493506493"><span style="color: #ff9900;">99.35%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup span="2" width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="60"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="6706"><span style="color: #ff9900;">6,706</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.352724594992636"><span style="color: #ff9900;">35.3%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4049"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,049</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.212970755312434"><span style="color: #ff9900;">21.3%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4992"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,992</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.262571007784557"><span style="color: #ff9900;">26.3%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3265"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,265</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.171733641910372"><span style="color: #ff9900;">17.2%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
UPDATE at 9:54m<br />
<br />
With only 2% of the vote outstanding, about 496 votes, Becky Borgsmiller and Mandy Little have insurmountable leads, in our unofficial tally. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup span="2" width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="60"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="6479"><span style="color: #ff9900;">6,479</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.350481445418154"><span style="color: #ff9900;">35.05%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3993"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,993</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.216001298279779"><span style="color: #ff9900;">21.60%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4835"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,835</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.261549280536622"><span style="color: #ff9900;">26.15%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3179"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,179</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.171967975765444"><span style="color: #ff9900;">17.20%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Two Jackson and one Franklin County precincts are still to be counted. <br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
UPDATE at 9:27pm<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="42"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">percent in</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2583"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,583</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1163"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,163</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1442"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,442</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1161"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,161</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.964285714285714"><span style="color: #ff9900;">96.43%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2798"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,798</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1549"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,549</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2027"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,027</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1362"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,362</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="386"><span style="color: #ff9900;">386</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="862"><span style="color: #ff9900;">862</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="849"><span style="color: #ff9900;">849</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="251"><span style="color: #ff9900;">251</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.9"><span style="color: #ff9900;">90.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="661"><span style="color: #ff9900;">661</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="378"><span style="color: #ff9900;">378</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="476"><span style="color: #ff9900;">476</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="377"><span style="color: #ff9900;">377</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randloph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="51"><span style="color: #ff9900;">51</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="28"><span style="color: #ff9900;">28</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="6479"><span style="color: #ff9900;">6,479</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3993"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,993</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4835"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,835</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3179"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,179</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.980519480519481"><span style="color: #ff9900;">98.05%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
UPDATE at 9:17pm<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="42"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">percent in</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="958"><span style="color: #ff9900;">958</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1183"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,183</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="973"><span style="color: #ff9900;">973</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.821428571428571"><span style="color: #ff9900;">82.14%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2798"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,798</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1549"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,549</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2027"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,027</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1362"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,362</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="386"><span style="color: #ff9900;">386</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="862"><span style="color: #ff9900;">862</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="849"><span style="color: #ff9900;">849</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="251"><span style="color: #ff9900;">251</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.9"><span style="color: #ff9900;">90.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="302"><span style="color: #ff9900;">302</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="180"><span style="color: #ff9900;">180</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="211"><span style="color: #ff9900;">211</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.68421052631579"><span style="color: #ff9900;">68.42%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randloph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="51"><span style="color: #ff9900;">51</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="28"><span style="color: #ff9900;">28</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="5725"><span style="color: #ff9900;">5,725</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3590"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,590</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="4311"><span style="color: #ff9900;">4,311</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2802"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,802</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.88961038961039"><span style="color: #ff9900;">88.96%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
UPDATE at 9:04pm: <br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="42"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">percent in</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="958"><span style="color: #ff9900;">958</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1183"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,183</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="973"><span style="color: #ff9900;">973</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.821428571428571"><span style="color: #ff9900;">82.14%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2798"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,798</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1549"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,549</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2027"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,027</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1362"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,362</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="133"><span style="color: #ff9900;">133</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="309"><span style="color: #ff9900;">309</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="324"><span style="color: #ff9900;">324</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="85"><span style="color: #ff9900;">85</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.3"><span style="color: #ff9900;">30.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="302"><span style="color: #ff9900;">302</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="180"><span style="color: #ff9900;">180</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="211"><span style="color: #ff9900;">211</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.68421052631579"><span style="color: #ff9900;">68.42%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randloph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="51"><span style="color: #ff9900;">51</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="41"><span style="color: #ff9900;">41</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="28"><span style="color: #ff9900;">28</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="1"><span style="color: #ff9900;">100.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="5472"><span style="color: #ff9900;">5,472</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3037"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,037</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="3786"><span style="color: #ff9900;">3,786</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2636"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,636</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.850649350649351"><span style="color: #ff9900;">85.06%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
As we've done in the past, we will attempt to live blog election results. These are a combination of tabulations from news sites, such as WSIL and the Southern Illinoisan and the various county websites, in the district. Polls closed at 7pm. Results are now coming in. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="42"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="124"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">total vote so far</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="512"><span style="color: #ff9900;">512</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="225"><span style="color: #ff9900;">225</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="214"><span style="color: #ff9900;">214</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="215"><span style="color: #ff9900;">215</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="1166"><span style="color: #ff9900;">1,166</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="133"><span style="color: #ff9900;">133</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="309"><span style="color: #ff9900;">309</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="324"><span style="color: #ff9900;">324</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="85"><span style="color: #ff9900;">85</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="851"><span style="color: #ff9900;">851</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="302"><span style="color: #ff9900;">302</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="180"><span style="color: #ff9900;">180</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="211"><span style="color: #ff9900;">211</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="881"><span style="color: #ff9900;">881</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randloph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="947"><span style="color: #ff9900;">947</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="714"><span style="color: #ff9900;">714</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="749"><span style="color: #ff9900;">749</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="488"><span style="color: #ff9900;">488</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="2898"><span style="color: #ff9900;">2,898</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellspacing="0">
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="95"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="42"></colgroup>
<colgroup span="2" width="48"></colgroup>
<colgroup width="85"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Borgsmiller</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Ellis</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Little</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Orrill</span></b></td>
<td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">percent in</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Jackson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="512"><span style="color: #ff9900;">512</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="225"><span style="color: #ff9900;">225</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="214"><span style="color: #ff9900;">214</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="215"><span style="color: #ff9900;">215</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.175438596491228"><span style="color: #ff9900;">17.54%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Williamson</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Franklin</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="133"><span style="color: #ff9900;">133</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="309"><span style="color: #ff9900;">309</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="324"><span style="color: #ff9900;">324</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="85"><span style="color: #ff9900;">85</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.3"><span style="color: #ff9900;">30.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Perry</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="302"><span style="color: #ff9900;">302</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="180"><span style="color: #ff9900;">180</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="211"><span style="color: #ff9900;">211</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="188"><span style="color: #ff9900;">188</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.68421052631579"><span style="color: #ff9900;">68.42%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;">Randloph</span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0"><span style="color: #ff9900;">0.00%</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" height="18"><b><span style="color: #ff9900;"><br /></span></b></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="947"><span style="color: #ff9900;">947</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="714"><span style="color: #ff9900;">714</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="749"><span style="color: #ff9900;">749</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;#,##0" sdval="488"><span style="color: #ff9900;">488</span></td>
<td align="right" sdnum="1033;0;0.00%" sdval="0.146067415730337"><span style="color: #ff9900;">14.61%</span></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-64826768384987863052017-03-29T21:01:00.001-05:002017-03-29T21:25:59.226-05:00AMNESIA<span style="font-size: large;">The John A. Logan College Board of Trustees met last night. To observe the meeting, or to read the <em>Southern Illinoisan</em> article about it, you would think few, if any, in the Logan community have a sense of history. Last night was the last meeting for student trustee Christina Lipe. It was one year ago that then student trustee Brandi Husch, at <em>her</em> last board meeting, exposed the Board as cowards and sneaks</span><span style="font-size: large;">. As readers may recall, Ms. Husch was cut off by Board chair Don Brewer when reading </span><span style="font-size: large;">her farewell statement</span><span style="font-size: large;">. In that statement, she attempted to charge that </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/full-text-of-brandi-husch-s-march-statement/article_8992c4ad-264f-58ea-be28-a0a74f6d7877.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">a Board member, in closed session, had attempted to intimidate her</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> with a dossier of incidents in her pre-student life. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The video</span><span style="font-size: large;">, if you've forgotten or not seen it, is </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hn3g641IyE" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. It has been viewed over 9,600 times on various platforms. No mention of the incident, or Ms. Husch, was made last night. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Absent were Board members Bill Kilquist and Jake Rendleman. Absent also was any sense of outrage on the part of the unions, given that the massacre of staff took place just 12 months ago. The representatives of the full time faculty, part time faculty and operational staff all seemed to fall all over themselves making nice with the Board. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Southern Illinoisan apparently had a reporter present as <a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/john-a-logan-college-board-approves-measure-to-sell-bonds/article_72be5cde-1ab5-59bf-8282-43dde625492b.html" target="_blank">they reported on a (single) item from the meeting, the bond issue</a>. No article appeared after the previous meeting, when former history professor <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dO5woTNM0" target="_blank">Helen Nall made a plea for the reinstatement of history professor David Cochran</a>. That meeting also saw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yoo1twX-zOM" target="_blank">former psychology professor Gary Caldwell</a> read a letter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdOgb02OJBU" target="_blank">from 13 retired faculty expressing their lack of confidence in President Ron House and the Board of Trustees</a>. It was met with silence from the region's major news sources. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, Mr. Caldwell spoke again. He asked several questions regarding the upcoming Higher Learning Commission visit. Among them: Will there be an opportunity for the public, faculty and students to address the visiting HLC team? Caldwell finally managed to extract a 'yes'. Will the date, time and place be posted, in adequate time? This answer was fuzzy. Vice President Melanie Pecord repeatedly said, "It's on Announce. ...It will be on Announce." Announce is apparently a listserv for faculty and staff, a wholly inadequate means of communicating with students or the public. The consensus, eventually, was that it will be on the Board website. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Caldwell also took the opportunity to point out that Shawnee College is advertising for two full time history professors. He found it ironic that such a small school could hire two, while John A. Logan has no full time history teachers. Chairman Brewer's response was that he found it ironic that Shawnee, with 80% part time faculty, could afford to hire full time teachers. He ignored any reference to the College, for which he is Board chair, and the fact that his school now has zero full time history teachers. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We will close with a quote from the school's <a href="http://jalc.edu/news/2017/03/29/colleges-area-recruitment-numbers-continue-to-climb" target="_blank">press release.</a> It assumes you have no access to a newspaper or the internet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">Brewer noted that last year was a difficult time with layoffs within the College, but, he said, most community colleges in Illinois had to layoff more employees than JALC did because of the state’s budget statement. “No one wants layoffs, but when there is no other choice, you want those layoffs to be as limited as possible,” Brewer said. “We survived very well compared to other colleges.”</span> </blockquote>
Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-25311541844595928482017-03-21T22:08:00.000-05:002017-03-21T22:08:35.885-05:00FOR THOSE HAVING DIFFICULTY LEAVING COMMENTS<span style="font-size: large;">A reader has pointed out that many may be unable to post comments, at least when using Safari. We've done a little research at several websites and it turns out this Safari/Blogger issue has been a problem for years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We've tested four browsers tonight: Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mobile Safari. We tried Firefox, IE and Chrome all on a PC. One can successfully post comments, in Blogger, from each of these. Our understanding is that mobile device users, using a browser other than Safari and/or accessing our blog from a website rather than mobile app should not have problems. However, we were as unsuccessful as anyone else, when using Safari on a mobile Apple device. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With further research, and some more testing, </span><a href="https://support.google.com/blogger/forum/AAAAY7oIW-wp8uLNjlPlqw?hl=en" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">we discovered a solution</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, though you won't like it (we don't either!). </span><span style="font-size: large;">We don't understand the technical issue, so we won't attempt to explain it. Here's what you can do on your iPhone or iPad: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Go to </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Settings</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Safari</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Privacy & Security</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Block Cookies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Change the setting to <u>Never</u></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of you probably have 'Block Cookies' set to "<u>From third parties and advertisers</u>". Blocking third party cookies prevents the script from running that allows the comment to post (as near as we understand). Changing the setting to "Never" will allow you to post comments to Blogger. Assuming you won't be constantly posting comments to this blog, or others, you can then set Safari back to blocking cookies from third parties and advertisers. Told you you wouldn't like the solution!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-98279180015235632017-03-19T21:54:00.000-05:002017-03-19T21:54:07.758-05:00WHEN CAN WE SEE THEM?<span style="font-size: large;">Bluntly, where are the Spring numbers? Enrollment counts are called "tenth day numbers" for a reason. The snapshot is taken at the tenth day of classes. Tomorrow starts the ninth week of the term, at John A. Logan College. How hard is this?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As you may remember, <a href="http://muddywilliamson.blogspot.com/2017/01/smoke-and-mirrors-or-apples-and-oranges.html" target="_blank">Muddy Williamson took the College to task for their claims of increased enrollment and their methods of comparison after they released Fall 2016 numbers</a>. Maybe they realize their Spring 2017 report will make no more sense. Maybe enrollment will not be the improvement they claimed would result from the reorganization. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, that reminds us! Let's talk about the layoffs and the fact that administration hasn't brought all needed full time faculty back. In searching the JALC website, looking for the Spring 2017 enrollment count, we stumbled across a <a href="https://www.jalc.edu/news/2017/02/09/jalcs-quiz-team-headed-for-national-tournament" target="_blank">press release regarding the Quiz Bowl team</a>. The team went to nationals! It is coached by Sociology assistant professor Tom Chandler. Mr. Chandler was one of the full time faculty the current BOT booted out, last March. Fortunately, Chandler was one of those called back. This is an example of the good teaching, and service, the students, College and district get when excellent faculty are recalled. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recall 'em all! ...And release those numbers. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-42711484516057707672017-03-18T10:45:00.000-05:002017-03-18T10:46:00.940-05:00AND IF YOU WANT MORE OF THE SAME<span style="font-size: large;">The Old Guard has shown its hand. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, John A. Logan College Board of Trustees member, Jake Rendleman, has a <a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/mailbag/voice-of-the-reader-jalc-board-of-trustee-election/article_b7be1b6c-a766-5b60-9307-24c70963ff0b.html" target="_blank">letter published in yesterday's <i>Southern Illinoisan. </i></a>Rendleman endorses Orrill, Ellis and Poshard. This tells us all we need to know: the old guard thinks they can "work" with these three. That means the good old boys club thinks these three will be most in line with their anti-reform, union busting, faculty firing ways. If they are endorsing those three, it confirms our belief that Becky Borgsmiller and Mandy Little are the best two candidates, of the five. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-20968496503605032072017-03-13T21:35:00.000-05:002017-03-14T02:06:16.467-05:00BOT CANDIDATE FORUM 2017<span style="font-size: large;">The League of Women Voters sponsored a candidate forum for candidates standing for election to the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees, Tuesday evening, March 7, in the Conference Center, on the college campus. There are three vacancies. Vying for two of the seats are Becky Borgsmiller, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mandy Little, William Orrill and Bob Ellis. Glenn Poshard, who was appointed to temporarily fill the late Bill Alstadt's position, is running unopposed for the third seat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There has been scant news coverage of the forum and there appeared to be scant attendance by current faculty of the college. The <em>Marion Daily Republican</em> and the <em>DuQuoin Evening Call </em>each </span><a href="http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20170308/candidates-forum-held-for-jalc-board" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">ran a story by Chandra Green</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, but the Southern Illinoisan and the TV stations all ignored it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Absent, also, was candidate William Orrill. </span><a href="http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20170308/candidates-forum-held-for-jalc-board" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Green reported he had a "prior commitment".</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> That's not good. The forum was at 5:30, so it's doubtful it was a doctor's appointment. Rumor is that it was work related. If so, that could be a recurring problem. If the voters are to elect him, his time must be ours. How will he guarantee attendance at Board meetings? What about committee meetings? Will he be available to meet with students during regular hours? Bosses cannot legally ask some personal questions of job candidates, such as those directly related to family status etc. However, they may state the job requirements, time commitments, hours of business and then ask, "is there any reason you cannot fulfill the duties as described?"; "is there any reason you cannot work the times and days described". Right now Mr. Orrill is a blank slate to most of us in the community college district. Tuesday night was the one opportunity for the public to see the candidates, hear them and compare them to each other. He was a no show. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Candidate forums in the last couple of elections have provided some sparks, some tension and some entertainment. This one offered none of the above, with only four candidates attending and only three of those running for the same seats. There was little disagreement, no animosity and little humor. On the other hand it was civil and candidate answers were usually concise, perhaps a testament to the no nonsense demeanor of moderator Dr. Mary Pohlman of the League of Women Voters. We say usually, because Dr. Poshard ran long, even after the "red card" was held up a couple of times. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Full time faculty</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One thread ran through the evening's discussion and that was full time faculty vs. part time. The College has been replacing full time faculty with part timers. The general consensus was that this is bad and must not happen again. Mandy Little offered that faculty need to be invested in the college and that while part time faculty would be OK for "specialty classes", there was a need for full timers to teach required courses. Glenn Poshard wandered on this issue, saying, "I'm on the finance committee. I have access to the governor. I'm in contact... " and wound up essentially saying, 'there's no money'. Becky Borgsmiller said, regarding the full time faculty (or lack thereof) issue, that "there are HLC guidelines" and that the college must work with faculty on creative ideas to solve budget problems. As an example, she mentioned, but stressed she was not advocating for, larger class sizes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">How to cut the budget</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What strategies should the college use if further budget cuts are required? Raise tuition? Cut MAP funding? Cut sports programs? Cut funding for the Historical Village? Cut administrative positions? Cut faculty? Poshard said no to tuition hike, keep MAP, would not replace full time with part time, that he knew little about the Historical Village's finances and no to cutting sports. He said he would use his experience at SIU. " We cut travel. Attempted furloughs... " </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said the Board needs reliable data to make decisions. They must be creative; state funding is not coming back. She pointed out that dual credit students do not pay and bring no revenue to the college. Logan does, however, claim their credit hours and these students appear in the headcount. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ellis strongly stated that tenured faculty are the backbone of education. He would "never" raise tuition and would not replace full time faculty with part timers. Then he kind of got lost trying to not insult part timers. Little would cut some unnamed areas of the college not making money. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What ideas to enhance experience and increase retention?</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said the answer is simple. "Have good full time faculty. Give students a good classroom teacher and they will remember that teacher. They won't remember board members or even the college president, but they will remember a good teacher."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ellis good naturedly acknowledged that Borgsmiller's answer was a hard one to follow and that he wished he could have given it. Then he diverted into saying he'd recruit "not the little guys with the crew cuts and sweaters, but the old retired people". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Little said that, "Becky described my experience" as a student. Faculty made her experience and it's why she and others spread the word about Logan. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poshard said there is a need to track students and fund remedial programs. There needs to be early intervention and that the "most at risk are developmental students".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What to do to work with and interact with SIU?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ellis said that SIU was coming out to Logan for the first time in 50 years. Mandy Little pointed out that there had been a 2 + 2 program with SIU for many years, and explained how it worked for seamless transition. Poshard pointed out that SIU has had an office, at Logan, for several years. He thought SIU should be encouraged to offer research programs at Logan. Borgsmiller also thought Logan should work toward student's seamless transition when tranferring, but pointed out that Logan should not be tied exclusively to SIU. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Should JALC continue to support athletics? Should they fund scholarships for out of district athletes?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Little said sports has to be looked at. She pointed out that when Logan gives a scholarship to an out of district athlete, the student's room and board must also be paid. She was for recruiting local athletes. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poshard was rah rah for sports, but didn't speak to the out of district issue. He did say that Logan should promote intramural sports and that sports was no different than other extra curricular activities. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said the priority has to be academic programs. Athletics is a cost that may not be supportable at this time. Ellis said it is necessary for recruitment and was absolutely opposed to eliminating athletics. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">How is the CHEC building a benefit to the far flung residents of the district?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poshard said Marion has the Hub and Carbondale has the SIU Recreation Center. If the CHEC only serves locals, that's OK. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said the CHEC has a positive impact on so many, especially the elderly. She could say nothing negative about it. Ellis said it was finally getting viable and was a source of pride. Little suggested discounts for those who live far away. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Former President Mike Drieth was paid a $290,000.00 contract buyout. Was he forced out?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said it was a firing. The troubles started when he was pushed. Ellis said he had no direct knowledge of the matter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Little said all three students involved in the hiring process were for hiring Mike Drieth. "Was he forced to leave? Absolutely!" It was a huge loss for the college. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poshard said, "I don't have the knowledge. Don't agree with severance pay for voluntary departure. I don't know what happened there." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What do they think?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bob Ellis thinks faculty and staff should be sent out into the community to solicit ideas and advice. Mandy Little believes it is not the Board's job to meddle in day to day operations or reorganization. The current Board has created fear in the faculty. It has lowered student morale by their treatment of their teachers. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Poshard said he had seen no intimidation in the three months he has been on the Board. He pointed out many community service projects Logan helps with and took the opportunity to tie himself to the college and promote the Poshard Foundation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Borgsmiller said the biggest issue at Logan is instability. The huge RIF hurt the school. She said the reorganization was a failure. The number one priority is stability. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What to think of them?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was a well behaved bunch who seemed to have no animosity toward each other. For the most part, they stuck to the questions they were asked and two of them seemed like they would bring needed change to the Board. Glenn Poshard is running unopposed for the seat that was held by the late Bill Alstat, prior to Poshard's appointment. We will focus on the race for the other two seats.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bob Ellis describes himself as a journalist, master editor, writer, former mayor of West Frankfort. He said he got into the race because "many have said JALC could use your expertise". He thought West Frankfort should be represented. Mr. Ellis seems like a conscientious candidate, but his expertise is not in higher education. This was apparent in his answers throughout the night. This isn't a good fit. The current situation calls for new Board members who are familiar with higher education, have an intimate knowledge of John A. Logan and a clear understanding of the events that have take place there in the last couple years. Anyone else is going to have the wool pulled over their eyes by the dark forces of nepotism, retribution and "reorganization". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mandy Little says she wants to serve because she remembers what it's like to be a student and wants to bring that perspective. She is concerned that this board has not offered respect to the student trustee. She also remembers what it's like to be one of those. While we were not impressed with Ms. Little the last time she ran for the Board, things (and she) have changed. Then, she seemed enthralled to the older board members, with whom she'd served while a student. It was hard, then, to picture her saying 'no' to power. <em>This a different candidate.</em> She gets it. She knows how the place works, knows what's happened and is calling B.S. The firing of Mike Drieth obviously was a shock. Her sense of outrage was evident, when the candidates discussed whether he was pushed or jumped. Hers was the voice of someone who's been betrayed, knows it and is now clear eyed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Becky Borgsmiller says she has 40 years' association with the College and wants to bring that experience to bear. Her focus is on needed stability. She points out she has many years banking experience, a couple decades experience working at Logan and previously served a stint on the Board. She says, "I feel an obligation to serve, given the situation."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mr. Orrill is the job candidate who couldn't come to the interview. This employer (the voting public) has a deadline to hire. The election cannot be delayed and their will be no more League forums for these candidates. Voters can't base decisions on yard signs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Based on the one opportunity the public has had to view these candidates, it's clear to us that the two open seats should be filled by the two candidates who will most assuredly be agents for change, have institutional experience and love the College. Those two candidates are Mandy Little and Becky Borgsmiller. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-26329757766668386702017-03-13T00:28:00.002-05:002017-03-13T00:32:39.477-05:00EMERITUS FACULTY STATEMENT TO JALC BOT<span style="font-size: large;">Former John A. Logan College psychology professor Gary Caldwell made a statement and read a letter to the Logan Board of Trustees, at the last Board meeting. The letter was signed by 13 retired faculty members and expressed their lack of confidence in President Ron House and in some Board members. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yoo1twX-zOM" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Video of Professor Caldwell's statement can be found here.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-35664569871958190732017-03-09T22:17:00.000-06:002017-03-09T22:17:38.625-06:00CELEBRITY AND ANNONIMITY<span style="font-size: large;">Before we dig into the candidacies for the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees, let's devote a couple more short posts to the last Board meeting. As we pointed out yesterday, former professors Gary Caldwell and Helen Nall each spoke during the public comment period. To read the news release, on the College web site, you would think they merely seconded the stated concerns of Board members Glenn Poshard and Ray Hancock that state finances are a mess and adversely affect the College. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While acknowledging that Ms. Nall "</span><a href="http://jalc.edu/news/2017/03/02/poshard-speaks-out-about-states-budget-crisis" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">spoke out about the layoff of a full-time history instructor</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> " and that she said, “</span><a href="http://jalc.edu/news/2017/03/02/poshard-speaks-out-about-states-budget-crisis" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">This breaks my heart</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">”, the release focuses on Poshard, who the article headlines and who is mentioned six times. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A Muddy Williamson reader has provided a link to </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dO5woTNM0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">video of Helen Nall's comments to the Board</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. They are powerful, they are specific, they are damning. And, they name, and make the case for the reinstatement of the full time history instructor: Dr. David Cochran. The video is </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dO5woTNM0" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What Poshard said is trued, but it's nothing different than what every citizen of Illinois is saying around the kitchen table. What the retired professors spoke to was specific to John A. Logan College. We will post a link to video of Professor Gary Caldwell's statement as soon as we get it. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-25595102330276780472017-03-08T00:21:00.000-06:002017-03-08T00:21:01.391-06:00A YEAR DOWN A HARD ROAD<span style="font-size: large;">We will post about the JALC candidate forum in the next couple days. In the meantime, it should be noted that it is March 7. A year has gone by since the firings at the College. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Larry Peterson has gone. His reorganization is still in place. Those who gained promotions remain in place. Interim president Ron House has become President House. Those who lost chairmanships, or offices, remain without. Those who lost jobs fall into two categories, the lost and the traumatized. Some are both.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some faculty and staff took retirement. They lost their plans for the future; Logan lost them for good. Some faculty were called back. They have jobs, but not security. Who, once granted tenure, and then fired, would feel secure after being called back? It's the stability of a the yo-yo. (Yes, we said 'fired'. We, here at Muddy Williamson do not use the term Reduction In Force, or RIF. It's too much a safe and antiseptic euphemism, like "enhanced interrogation" rather than "torture")</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And then there are those faculty who were fired and not called back. The college limps along with three full time English teachers and zero full time History teachers. This issue was highlighted at the most recent Board meeting by presentations from two retired faculty members. Former Psychology professor Gary Caldwell read a letter, signed by 13 former Logan professors and department chairs, </span><a href="http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/article/20170301/news/170309966/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">expressing a lack of confidence in the Board and current President. Former History professor Helen Nall decried the lack of any full time History teachers</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. There is video of both speeches floating around Facebook. If whoever shot the video would post it to YouTube, and let us know in the Comments section, we'd be happy to post the link. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And now MW will go to bed and dream about new JALC Board members. </span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-77381613042888348082017-03-07T17:02:00.001-06:002017-03-07T17:02:41.503-06:00PAY ATTENTION! JALC BOARD ELECTION IS COMING!<span style="font-size: large;">The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidate forum for candidates for the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees. The event is </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">tonight, Tuesday, March 7, in the </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Carterville Room</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">F118 Conference Center </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">John A. Logan College</span></li>
</ul>
Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-56307595966694098502017-01-16T01:34:00.001-06:002017-01-16T01:34:10.454-06:00SMOKE AND MIRRORS? OR APPLES AND ORANGES?<span style="font-size: large;">As we watch the cold mist out our windows, this MLK weekend, lets review a few things that happened in 2016 at our favorite subject, John A. Logan College. The big events were</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">the firing of 55 employees</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">the promise to bring them back</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">the failure to do so</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">the Larry Peterson reorganization plan that was to revitalize enrollment</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The focus of this post will be the difficulty of determining the success, or lack thereof, of the last point. At the March 2016 BOT meeting, the layoffs occurred, including of tenured faculty. No explanation has ever been given of the criteria used to identify who was to be terminated. Then Interim President Ron House stated that this was only a budgetary measure and that the intention was to bring these people back. Months have gone by. His interim status has changed to permanent. Some, who have allowed themselves to acquiesce to the new regime, have been promoted to vice presidencies and deanships. The new regime includes meeker faculty (grateful to have been called back or no longer trusting their tenure) and part time teachers attempting to fill the shoes of long time staff who are putting houses on the market, seeking jobs out of state, starting over in their 50s and those leaving higher education all together. ...Sorry! We will return to this subject many times. It's just important to remind ourselves as the new year starts, that everything is not OK for everybody. ...On to today's subject: enrollment counts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the next month, JALC will be reporting Spring 2017 enrollment. Before that happens, let's review </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/fall-enrollment-remains-invariable-for-john-a-logan-college/article_be4c878a-2263-5534-b8a8-46e519dcef30.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">the gibberish that was given the Southern Illinoisan on September 11, 2016, regarding this Fall's enrollment</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Seriously. Follow the </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/fall-enrollment-remains-invariable-for-john-a-logan-college/article_be4c878a-2263-5534-b8a8-46e519dcef30.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">link</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> to see what was </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/fall-enrollment-remains-invariable-for-john-a-logan-college/article_be4c878a-2263-5534-b8a8-46e519dcef30.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">provided to the Southern</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. The press, public and governing boards are always interested in one thing, each term. Is enrollment up or down? The only way to determine this is to compare a given term to the same term of the preceding year or years. Comparisons must be exact. Apples to apples. Inexact, or changing, methods, lead to errors, mistrust and accusations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Director of Institutional Research, Eric Pulley, reported to the Board of Trustees, August 30, that Fall 2016 enrollment was up 16.3% (552 students) over Fall 2015. This includes, for Fall 2016, 3,948 credit seeking students. For Fall 2015, it includes 3,921 credit seeking students minus a made up number of 784 plus a made up number of 259, for a total of 3,396. The 3,396 was subtracted from 3,948 to come up with a supposed increase of 552 (or 16.3%). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Confused? You should be. This is an attempt to compare apples to oranges.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">JALC apparently did not conduct a purge Fall 2015. However, to arrive at these numbers, they claim to have taken an average percentage of registrations that are usually purged, arrived at a number (759) and subtracted it from the original 3,921. They then added back an estimated number of people they thought would have re-registered if they'd been registered in the first place, got purged and then decided they really wanted to come. This number was 259. So, 3921 - 784 + 259 = 3396. This is the number they subtracted from 3,948 to get their 552 student increase. ...The problem is two fold. First, they literally made up numbers for Fall 2015 and, second, they failed to subtract real people from the Fall 2016 count that they subtracted by guestimate from the Fall 2015 count. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This makes a difference two ways. The lower 2015 numbers appear to be, the better 2016 enrollment will look. Failing to subtract the purged 2016 students inflates the 2016 number and, again, makes Fall 2016 enrollment look better. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This may not be nefarious, but it also fails to give the Board, ICCB, the press or the public an accurate picture of the College's enrollment. Changing procedures makes comparisons difficult. Deciding not to conduct a traditional procedure, such as the purge, will make longitudinal studies impossible. The institution should accurately report the results, take the one time PR hit that the lower numbers would cause and move on. Headcounts should be made at the same time, in the same manner, each year, comparing like terms (fall to fall; and spring to spring, not fall to spring). Some of the confusion may be due to unfamiliarity with new reporting tools. The term 'Higher Reach students' is used in both the information given to <em>the Southern</em>, and in the </span><a href="https://www.jalc.edu/files/uploads/global/MIN_8-30-2016_Regular_Meeting.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">report given to the BOT on August 30</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. This seems not to be a class of students, but, we suspect, Jenzebar student information system vocabulary. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let's review the numbers and then compare apples to apples and see what we get. We've made a chart, below. Using Mr. Pulley's numbers to subtract the non-credit courses from each year, we agree with his counts of credit seeking students enrolled in advance of the purge (3948 - 3921 = 27, an increase of 0.7%). Then we diverge.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>The Southern</em> quotes Matt Berry, of the Illinois Community College Board as saying, " The fall enrollment reporting will include everyone who is enrolled in credit bearing courses... If a CPR course leads to a certification and provides college credit, the student would be counted in fall numbers. If the purge occurred before data was reported, but within the reporting time frame and the student was no longer enrolled due to the purge they would not be counted in the enrollment numbers as they are no longer enrolled at the college." We interpret this to mean that if a student was enrolled Fall 2015, at the time of the count, they should be included. If there was no purge that year, they were enrolled and should be counted. Conversely, we interpret it to mean if students were purged, as 249 were in Fall 2016, they may not be included. For Fall 2016, 3,948 were registered. Those students minus the 249 purged leaves 3,699 enrolled for Fall 2016. That 3699 - 3921 registered for Fall 2015 is -222, a loss of 5.7% from the previous year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If we use the guestimates for Fall 2015, giving us the 3,396 number, we must subtract the purge for Fall 2016. Again, that's 3,699. The difference, 3699 - 3396 = 303, an increase of 8.9% over Fall 2015. Respectable, but not the 16.3% increase. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, there it is. They are down 222, or up 303, but they are not up 552. That, even by their methods, would be apples and oranges. </span><br />
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</span><table border="0" cellspacing="0"><colgroup width="419"></colgroup><colgroup width="85"></colgroup><colgroup width="67"></colgroup><colgroup width="85"></colgroup><colgroup width="67"></colgroup><colgroup span="4" width="85"></colgroup><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>Fall 2015</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>Fall 2016</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>diff.</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>% diff.</strong></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Credit and non credit enrollment</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="4313"><span style="font-size: large;">4313</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="4406"><span style="font-size: large;">4406</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="93"><span style="font-size: large;">93</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.0215627173661025"><span style="font-size: large;">2.2%</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Non credit (Continuing Ed and Center for Business and Industry</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="392"><span style="font-size: large;">392</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="458"><span style="font-size: large;">458</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="66"><span style="font-size: large;">66</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.168367346938775"><span style="font-size: large;">16.8%</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>Headcount of enrolled credit seeking students prior to purge</strong></span></td><td align="left"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3921"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3921</strong></span></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3948"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3948</strong></span></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="27"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>27</strong></span></td><td align="center"><span style="color: #e69138;"><br /></span></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.00688599846977812"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>0.7%</strong></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Number of students purged</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="0"><span style="font-size: large;">0</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="249"><span style="font-size: large;">249</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="249"><span style="font-size: large;">249</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>Actual headcount, after purge</strong></span></td><td align="left"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3921"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3921</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3699"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3699</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="-222"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>-222</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="-0.0566182096403979"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>-5.7%</strong></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Guestimated FL 15 purge</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="784"><span style="font-size: large;">784</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="249"><span style="font-size: large;">249</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="-535"><span style="font-size: large;">-535</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="-0.682397959183674"><span style="font-size: large;">-68.2%</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Headcount, after guestimated '15 purge</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3137"><span style="font-size: large;">3137</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3699"><span style="font-size: large;">3699</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="562"><span style="font-size: large;">562</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.179152056104558"><span style="font-size: large;">17.9%</span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="font-size: large;">Guestimated returned after purge</span></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="259"><span style="font-size: large;">259</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="0"><span style="font-size: large;">0</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="-259"><span style="font-size: large;">-259</span></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="-1"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><br /></td><td align="left"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center"><br /></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" height="17"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>Headcount, after guestimated '15 purge plus returnees</strong></span></td><td align="left"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3396"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3396</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="3699"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>3699</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;" sdval="303"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>303</strong></span></td><td align="center"><strong><br /><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></strong></td><td align="center" sdnum="1033;0;0.0%" sdval="0.0892226148409894"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><strong>8.9%</strong></span></td></tr>
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</span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-89608990011090777302016-12-08T00:41:00.002-06:002016-12-08T18:05:56.657-06:00HERE WE GO AGAIN<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s December… Are YOUR Board Election Petitions Filed?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So
many of you have been checking in lately we guess it’s time to ramp MW back up.
We stayed out of all the shenanigans last spring, since our original goal was
to share info about trustees and candidates prior to the last BOT election. So
THAT went well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here
we are, with three seats open. Will this election be a game-changer, or bring
more of the same? As much as we hope for a breath of fresh air, we predict same
old same old.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nothing better (more influential, high-profile, or interesting) has come
along for Mr. Poshard, so we predict he will run for the seat he was appointed
to. Trustee R. Hancock was overheard saying to a variety of people that the
board “had to” choose Mr. Poshard, since he helped them pass various bond
schemes when he was a legislator. We can’t figure out why he wants to get down
in the mud with this crew, but the allure of public office seems irresistible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr.
Brewer was overheard last spring saying 40 years was enough and that he was not
going to run again. If only. Where else could he experience the sanctity of the
closed session? (NOTE: the person who posted the video of his ridiculous
statement has been fired, after the administration pulled off some clever
maneuvering to dismantle the union which protected her.) But really, does
anyone think he wouldn’t have just as much influence as a private citizen (they
are hiding Mr. Peterson somewhere, but his blueprint is still being followed
despite mounting evidence that his absurd plan for saving the college from
itself is a complete disaster)? So who cares, really?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And
Ms. Hancock. Like Ms. Graff, pretending to support the beleaguered teachers,
but in the end voting lockstep with the evil cabal of Mr. Brewer, Mr.
Rendleman, Mr. Kilquist, and her bro-in-law (and father of JAL administrator) Mr.
Hancock. So again, who cares, really? Except her nephew?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you
know someone who is running? Please post! Tell us where to send money!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-564504590572357362016-04-28T20:58:00.000-05:002016-04-28T20:58:54.943-05:00BLINDLY STUMBLING TOWARD THE FUTURE<span style="font-size: large;">What will John A. Logan College look like in the future? This summer? This Fall? Two years from now? Having fired (we at Muddy Williamson are not constrained by terms like RIF, layoffs, converted contracts; if you're unemployed, you've been fired) 55 people, most of them faculty, how does the school carry on? Many of those fired were tenured professors. If the make up of the faculty is to be so radically changed, will this be the same school? Some of those dismissed were renowned for their teaching, student leadership and scholarly authorship. Rumor, and the attitude of the administration, indicate that quantity and specifics of the individuals selected for dismissal was of a purpose. That purpose was to work their way through some with less seniority in order to get to some the administration would prefer disappear. Rumor has it that at least one board member has been bragging that they got rid of some "bad apples". If true, <a href="http://jalc.edu/files/uploads/global/min_3_2_16_sm_700.pdf" target="_blank">the stated reason</a> for the firings was a lie. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/jalc-leaders-confused-by-appointment-of-house/article_9ffcdcac-aa80-5245-a451-a4d82d621570.html" target="_blank">Interim President Ron House</a> has said that it is their intention to call back as many of the 55 as possible. Thirteen people were called back Tuesday night. The reporting is garbled. WPSD TV-6 apparently had a different reporter on hand, as did the Southern Illinoisan, who sent their Perry and Franklin counties reporter. Putting it kindly, the Southern's article, in this morning's paper, was gibberish. However, assuming that at least the quotes are accurate, or close, Interim Vice President of Administration Larry Peterson, </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/john-a-logan-board-recalls-several-employees-affected-by-the/article_d3de31f3-857d-541c-a34a-4590f7182797.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">crows about the reorganization</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, put in place after the ouster of former President Mike Drieth, but says nothing about the massive faculty layoff. Of those brought back, few were faculty. Of those staff mentioned in the article, some were to fill newly created positions. Nothing brings on the ire of taxpayers and legislators like growing administration at a time of budget constraints. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Peterson refers to </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/local/education/john-a-logan-board-recalls-several-employees-affected-by-the/article_d3de31f3-857d-541c-a34a-4590f7182797.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">checks and balances</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, with an astounding lack of self awareness. Everyone at the school acknowledges that he is the de facto president, with Ron House a figurehead. Given the top down, good old boy, nature of the administration of John A. Logan, checks and balances are a joke. The institution is currently run by Don Brewer, Bill Kilquist, Larry Peterson and Jake Rendleman, reporting lines be damned. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Interim President House says </span><a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/31825092/some-john-a-logan-staff-to-return-after-layoff" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">there is no timeline to recall faculty</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> but that there is a two year window, during which it can take place. Two years is a long time not to know where the mortgage payment is coming from, what to do about health insurance or whether to enroll the children in school the next term. It's also a long time for a college to have it's core faculty gone. While there are reports that most of the recalls were in the biological sciences, not so much for social sciences (none) </span><a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/31823952/stopgap-funding-helps-schools-not-laid-off-faculty" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">or English</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (none). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Course staffing aside, who will run the college in two years? If memory serves, the Logan </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/voice-of-the-southern/voice-of-the-southern-southern-illinois-person-of-the-year/article_8bd8d49b-4be2-5cd6-ac8e-102ee1bbaf3c.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Board said a permanent president would be in place in nine months</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. The clock started ticking in October. That would mean July. How will they get quality candidates to apply? To come to Illinois? To dive into the chaos that is now Logan? To work for a micromanaging board? In the wake of the mysterious firing of Mike Drieth? Larry Peterson is also an interim and supposedly done in December. Board chairman Don Brewer's term will expire next year. Who will inherit the shell they have made of the College and what form will that shell take?</span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-1476187148015478192016-04-22T22:06:00.000-05:002016-04-22T22:06:20.172-05:00BUSINESS AS USUAL<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
Well, <a href="http://jalc.edu/files/uploads/global/agenda_4_26_16.pdf" target="_blank">the agenda is out for the next board meeting</a> and there are MORE administrative positions being created and bestowed upon those who didn’t apply for them. This has happened repeatedly, and yet NO ONE SEEMS UPSET. Why are the teachers and staff not rioting in the streets??!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Jobs filled so far with NO search: President, Vice President for Administration, Dean, Associate Dean of Admissions, Director of Cirriculum (sic—that means the college didn’t spell it right on their website, but no worries, they have a HIGHLY QUALIFIED person in charge of “cirriculum” with YEARS of experience in that area, if by “years” you mean “zero years”), Director of Advisement (same number of years of experience in advisement) and now Director of Term Faculty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, they (whoever “they” are) take someone out of Continuing Ed (which doesn’t seem to have suffered any budget cuts, unlike almost every other cash-strapped school in the state), and drop her in as the person who signs off on new part-time teachers. Hmmm. Part-time President House said the college will replace full-time teachers with part-time ones who are JUST AS QUALIFIED, and the person who will determine that was given a job she didn’t even have to apply for!! Nothing fishy about THAT!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Another fishy item on that <a href="http://jalc.edu/files/uploads/global/agenda_4_26_16.pdf" target="_blank">agenda</a> is the “closed session minutes” one, most likely related to <a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/31571901/former-student-trustee-claims-bullying-by-board" target="_blank">the complaint filed</a> by Everyone’s Favorite Student Trustee. <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=84&" target="_blank">The Open Meetings Act</a> is pretty clear that those minutes have to be kept for months, so they can’t be voting to destroy them like they do pretty regularly. What are they up to? Right, business as usual…</span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-27439460505745571012016-04-06T23:40:00.001-05:002016-04-06T23:42:31.453-05:00TRANSPARENCY, SECRECY AND SNOOPING<span style="font-size: large;">The ongoing controversy over the actions that the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees took, behind closed doors, March 3, continues. This Sunday, the Southern Illinoisan </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/voice-of-the-southern/voice-of-the-southern-guts-representation-sanctity-and-zero-tolerance/article_6f9c4439-d5a0-5c6e-ae82-774ab148001e.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">mocked the Board's claim of the "sanctity"</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> of the executive session, pointing out that if students were to behave as Ms. Husch claims the Board did, the students would be in violation of the student conduct code. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">According to Ms. Husch, another Board member said, </span><a href="http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/voice-of-the-southern/voice-of-the-southern-guts-representation-sanctity-and-zero-tolerance/article_6f9c4439-d5a0-5c6e-ae82-774ab148001e.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">“You want to talk about poor decisions? Well, here’s the poor decisions of Brandi,” as the Board member presented a folder with evidence of past mistakes Husch had allegedly made.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> What was in that folder? More importantly, where did the information come from? If it was academic, and part of her record, accessing the information was a violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. If it was of a medical nature, it would be a HIPPA violation. If it was of a criminal nature (no matter how small an offense) how would a Board member obtain such information? Some arrests and convictions are public records and can be obtained by anyone on the Internet. Some police reports can be obtained via FOIA. However, if they were obtained outside standard protocol required of any citizen, then that brings up some questions. Were they obtained by calling friends within law enforcement? If so, and if this violated any laws protecting a citizen's records, the violators must be exposed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Would any current Board members have the opportunity to do such a thing? Who could it be?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Lets, for the sake of argument, assume two things. One, that Husch is telling the truth and, two, that the information in the folder was obtained legally. Revisit the description of the action in that room. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"this same board member then produced a folder that documented some...past personal mistakes."</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This public body spends tax dollars. It employees hundreds of people. A folder was produced for the purposes of intimidating a fellow Board member. Husch was a student trustee; her vote was merely advisory. If they would do that to her, what might they do to other Board members? Has this happened in the past? Has it influenced votes? Has the use of folders with incriminating information been used outside of Board meetings? Have members received visits at, or phone calls to, home? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe this was the first time. Even so, can the message be lost on other Board members? Get in line, or we'll embarrass you. If this kind of intimidation has taken place, what about other kinds? Has the employment of family members been threatened? Has the employment of Board members been threatened through the political connections of the dominant Board members? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is serious stuff and the citizens, tax payers and voters of the John A. Logan Community College District need to pay attention. Oddly, as serious as this is, the Chairman's and the legal counsel's reactions have been laughable. The word "sanctity" will become lore in southern Illinois. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Patrick Hewson, the College's legal mouthpiece,</span><a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/31571901/former-student-trustee-claims-bullying-by-board" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> told WPSD-TV that "When things are discussed in executive session, things can get heated". </span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Well, yes, sometimes when people get excited they raise their voice. But, do they spontaneously produce a folder of documents? </span><a href="http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/31571901/former-student-trustee-claims-bullying-by-board" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Hewson, in his full statement</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> said that the Board relies on Roberts Rules of Order, and it is this, not the law that should silence Husch. Really? Roberts Rules of Order prevents the transparency of a public body? Roberts Rules of Order isn't taken that seriously in an 8th grade student counsel. Hewson says members have an obligation to remain mum, just not a legal obligation. But, isn't that the only kind a lawyer is paid to opine upon?</span></div>
Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2806325763273570632.post-83973750585016060602016-03-27T23:27:00.002-05:002016-03-27T23:30:54.333-05:00WHAT SHAMEFUL THING DID THEY DO?<span style="font-size: large;">Public bodies are allowed to go into executive session for a limited amount of reasons, usually to discuss personnel issues. This is to protect the personnel being considered for hiring, promotion or dismissal, not to protect the politicians from embarrassment. The recent controversy surrounding student trustee Brandi Husch leads one to believe that the John A. Logan Board of Trustees exceeded the limits of what they may do in executive session. Ironically, they are now attempting to use that very shroud of executive session secrecy to protect themselves from ridicule, or even a description of their actions while in executive session. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As members of the public we would assume that there is a sense of decorum and seriousness that these elected officials keep during executive session. This expectation would certainly apply to the session in question. The Board was discussing the dismissal of 55 loyal employees. That's all they were supposed to be discussing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ms. Husch claims she became the subject of their discussion. That is off limits. She is an elected official. Secrecy and the "sanctity" of the session does not apply to discussion of her. Even the Board's own attorney unintentionally admitted as much. When asked if, when discussion veered away from the topics on the agenda, there was a "legal obligation" to refrain from revealing the content of discussion, he responded that there was "an obligation". Well, he's the lawyer, but we can all see that, beyond his spin, his real answer was 'no'.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://%22when%20things%20are%20discussed%20in%20an%20executive%20session,%20things%20can%20get%20heated,%22/" target="_blank">He responded to Ms. Husch's accusations, on WPSD-TV Channel 6</a><a href="http://%22when%20things%20are%20discussed%20in%20an%20executive%20session,%20things%20can%20get%20heated,%22/" target="_blank">, by saying, "When things are discussed in an executive session, things can get heated,"</a> Perhaps. But the "executive session" exception to the Open Meetings Act wasn't designed to hide heated discussion. It is to protect employees and potential employees, who are under discussion. Those who were supposed to be under discussion, March 2 were the 55 employees whose livelihoods were at risk. If the discussion strayed off into one of Ms. Husch, then it was not she, but Chairman Brewer and the remaining members of the Board who were in violation. And maybe not of the "sanctity" of the executive session, but perhaps in violation of the Open Meetings Act itself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All of this leaves unanswered questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">What exactly happened in that room March 2?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">What Board members bullied and shamed the student trustee?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Did Chairman Brewer fail to act to stop this activity?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Did other members attempt to stop it?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">If not, why not? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bullying and shaming sound an awful lot like intimidation and extortion. Is the Board's legal counsel saying that such "heated discussion" can take place, behind closed doors, that may affect hiring and firing of staff and the votes of Board members?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Winston Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01885476561721629861noreply@blogger.com16