(06-16-2014 10:14 AM)TripleA Wrote: (06-16-2014 09:15 AM)tigergreen Wrote: The other one regarding how Rudd was actually selected was a more interesting & important story, imo.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...udd-to-of/
Agree. Shows that Rudd had unprecedented support from all quarters. Even reprints 24 pages of emails between the main players, during the hiring process.
The emails were more interesting than the article itself to me, and in my opinion tell a story that's more important than "business leaders wanted Rudd."
It appears to me that Guy Bailey was offered the job first by TBR, regardless of the opinions given (perhaps in spite of them?), and then when he had already accepted the presidency at another school, they moved on to Rudd.
For what it's worth, according to the rumor mill, the woman at Arkansas (Sharon Gaber) was also offered, but there was an issue regarding her contract buyout. So if (mind you, a BIG if) that's true, that would have made Rudd the 3rd choice.
As far as University support goes, that's much ado about nothing. They're all the higher-ups who would like to keep their $200-300k a year positions once new leadership came in, since most university presidents bring in their own people. One of the people who expressed support for Rudd got an appointment to a judgeship during Brad Martin's tenure as president. Take that for what it's worth as well.
The emails from Gary Shorb, who was CEO of Methodist until last month, imply that he wasn't necessarily on board with Rudd at first, since Morgan's response to Shorb, the governor, and a couple of others is that his email voicing support for Rudd was a completely different tone from prior conversations.
The most interesting part to me is that Shorb's email expressing the change of heart even went as far as to imply that if the TBR didn't pick Rudd, that the U of M would start looking further into developing their own independent board, which prompted further discussion between Shorb & Morgan, with Morgan filling in the governor as conversations occurred.
It looks like John Morgan had already reached out to Guy Bailey that same day about the position, sending him the benefits summary,etc.
If the rumor mill is to be believed (again, take it with a grain of salt), then the TBR might have reached out to the woman at Arkansas after that.
THEN, 2 days later the press release drafts are sent out regarding Rudd's selection (at the very least after Bailey turned it down).
I think these emails raise more questions than answers...
1. Was the TBR trying to select someone who would be a leader with less local business backing to keep the U of M "in its place?"
2. Or, is the larger issue about how much power one person has over the U of M, and how that will affect our future when the governor is no longer a buddy.
Perhaps once Haslam is out, the U of M will push harder for an independent board - hopefully that will be the case.
/
2 stories re new Pres...GA, do you think you were more wrong about RC or Guy Bailey?
