Saturday, August 19, 2006
Anatomy of a Murder
A Wall Street Journal piece on Tom Monaghan confirms what Fumare and other blogs by Ave Maria School of Law alumni have been saying all along. There is no reason to move the school, the only reason the move is being considered is because it would be good for the fledgling town and university in Florida, the tactics being used by the administration of the school to deal with anyone who voices dissent about the move are less than Catholic, etc.
Monaghan is quoted as saying: "I'm in favor of the law school moving to Florida, and I think it would be a good thing for the university to have a law school on its campus." Hmmm. Best interest of the law school or of the university?
Attempts to unionize at the school were vigorously blocked:
When I ask if he sees a contradiction in trying to block such a move, even though unionization is supported by the Catholic Church, he says, "I think that [the church] hierarchy doesn't know as much about those things as they do about their theology."
And thus he disparages over 100 years of Catholic Social Teaching on the right of employees to unionize. This is the kind of thinking that leads women to stage fake ordinations and senators to claim that they are "good Catholics" while championing abortion and homosexual marriage. The "I know better than the Church, why don't they just stick to talking about God" approach.
Responding to a question about the protests by professors, students, and alumni the article states:
Mr. Monaghan takes all this in stride. In Ann Arbor, he played racquetball with some academics and determined they liked to "complain about the most meaningless things." And board members of his schools have rushed to agree with him, suggesting, as theologian Michael Novak did recently, that "if it weren't Monaghan, it would be dissatisfaction with whomever."
Apparently, the concerns about fiduciary duty, attaching the law school to a speculative deal in Florida, lack of faculty input (as required by the ABA) are all just "meaningless things".
The article ends: Still, Mr. Monaghan does not see much difference between this venture and his previous ones: Higher education is "90% like business." To deal with the 10% that is unique to higher education, he has enlisted the help of administrators and board members. "I've always believed in hiring people smarter than I am. I should be the dumbest one in the room." He's not.
Draw your own conclusions.
If you haven't been following this story, a timeline might be helpful(adapted from comments from thelawdog on Fumare):
In 2002-2003 word begins to circulate about a possible move to Florida to join Ave Maria University. Charles Rice expresses concerns that the Florida move is not in the best interests of the school.
December, 2004, An article is published in Naples that says the law school is moving Florida.
January 2005. Charles Rice writes a letters to the paper saying rumors the school is moving is not true.
Mid -2005, the Board Committee that renominates Board of Governors quickly votes "yes" on a number of governors, but refuses to act on Charles Rice's nomination.
September '05 the Board votes 12-2 in favor of term limits on Board Members. Rice is one of 4 to go in this. Note: Monaghan, who should also be affected by the term limits, remains a chair of the Board.
Dec. '05 - Rice states desire to become life governor as provided for in the bylaws.
Early '06,- Dobranksi claims that life governor position, as Rice is requesting it, is not how it was envisioned. Was only intended to be used as a way to get governors who were over the age limit to still serve rather than retire. Now with term limits, makes sense to do away with the position. Rice does not become Life Governor.
April '06 - votes of no confidence in Dobranski as Dean of the Law School are submitted to the Board by the Faculty and Alumni Association. The students submit a petition signed by more than 50% of the student body.
May '06 - Charles Rice sends a letter to Dobranski and Monaghan remarking on the no confidence votes and suggesting a solution to the turmoil which is damaging the school.
August 11, 2006 - Dobranski sends Rice a letter declining to continue his status as visting professor.
August 17, 2006 - Dobranski has Rice's office packed up and sent UPS Next Day Mail to Rice's home in Indiana.
Monaghan is quoted as saying: "I'm in favor of the law school moving to Florida, and I think it would be a good thing for the university to have a law school on its campus." Hmmm. Best interest of the law school or of the university?
Attempts to unionize at the school were vigorously blocked:
When I ask if he sees a contradiction in trying to block such a move, even though unionization is supported by the Catholic Church, he says, "I think that [the church] hierarchy doesn't know as much about those things as they do about their theology."
And thus he disparages over 100 years of Catholic Social Teaching on the right of employees to unionize. This is the kind of thinking that leads women to stage fake ordinations and senators to claim that they are "good Catholics" while championing abortion and homosexual marriage. The "I know better than the Church, why don't they just stick to talking about God" approach.
Responding to a question about the protests by professors, students, and alumni the article states:
Mr. Monaghan takes all this in stride. In Ann Arbor, he played racquetball with some academics and determined they liked to "complain about the most meaningless things." And board members of his schools have rushed to agree with him, suggesting, as theologian Michael Novak did recently, that "if it weren't Monaghan, it would be dissatisfaction with whomever."
Apparently, the concerns about fiduciary duty, attaching the law school to a speculative deal in Florida, lack of faculty input (as required by the ABA) are all just "meaningless things".
The article ends: Still, Mr. Monaghan does not see much difference between this venture and his previous ones: Higher education is "90% like business." To deal with the 10% that is unique to higher education, he has enlisted the help of administrators and board members. "I've always believed in hiring people smarter than I am. I should be the dumbest one in the room." He's not.
Draw your own conclusions.
If you haven't been following this story, a timeline might be helpful(adapted from comments from thelawdog on Fumare):
In 2002-2003 word begins to circulate about a possible move to Florida to join Ave Maria University. Charles Rice expresses concerns that the Florida move is not in the best interests of the school.
December, 2004, An article is published in Naples that says the law school is moving Florida.
January 2005. Charles Rice writes a letters to the paper saying rumors the school is moving is not true.
Mid -2005, the Board Committee that renominates Board of Governors quickly votes "yes" on a number of governors, but refuses to act on Charles Rice's nomination.
September '05 the Board votes 12-2 in favor of term limits on Board Members. Rice is one of 4 to go in this. Note: Monaghan, who should also be affected by the term limits, remains a chair of the Board.
Dec. '05 - Rice states desire to become life governor as provided for in the bylaws.
Early '06,- Dobranksi claims that life governor position, as Rice is requesting it, is not how it was envisioned. Was only intended to be used as a way to get governors who were over the age limit to still serve rather than retire. Now with term limits, makes sense to do away with the position. Rice does not become Life Governor.
April '06 - votes of no confidence in Dobranski as Dean of the Law School are submitted to the Board by the Faculty and Alumni Association. The students submit a petition signed by more than 50% of the student body.
May '06 - Charles Rice sends a letter to Dobranski and Monaghan remarking on the no confidence votes and suggesting a solution to the turmoil which is damaging the school.
August 11, 2006 - Dobranski sends Rice a letter declining to continue his status as visting professor.
August 17, 2006 - Dobranski has Rice's office packed up and sent UPS Next Day Mail to Rice's home in Indiana.
Labels: AMSOL
