http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/mi.../70717572/

Wow.

(03-31-2015 11:12 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/mi.../70717572/

Wow.

In my view, this is a sad day for Eastern Michigan University. I think that Susan Martin has provided great progress for Eastern in spite of some obvious obstructions from some regents. I doubt that her successor can be as positive an influence on the Eastern's direction. I believe that the governor will appoint a successor and pray that that person will be is effective as Susan Martin has been. All we can do is wait and see. At this point I am disappointed and not very encouraged about the future of EMU.

(03-31-2015 11:29 AM)Huron 61 Wrote:  

(03-31-2015 11:12 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/mi.../70717572/

Wow.

In my view, this is a sad day for Eastern Michigan University. I think that Susan Martin has provided great progress for Eastern in spite of some obvious obstructions from some regents. I doubt that her successor can be as positive an influence on the Eastern's direction. I believe that the governor will appoint a successor and pray that that person will be is effective as Susan Martin has been. All we can do is wait and see. At this point I am disappointed and not very encouraged about the future of EMU.

Agreed 100%. She was very well liked among the student body. Always said hi when I walked past her either at the student center or at athletic events, and she made time to stop by the student section during games. Hopefully the next president is as big of a proponent for athletics as she was.

Dear Friends,
This is why Eastern needs to have popularly elected boards, not appointees by the governor's office, which are just shills for the people that appointed them. As a whole this is one of the worst Board of Regent's we've had in a long time. They just want to hire another shill that will support their positions. I'm sick to death about this. I'd like to take a flame thrower to that board.

(03-31-2015 11:36 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
This is why Eastern needs to have popularly elected boards, not appointees by the governor's office, which are just shills for the people that appointed them. As a whole this is one of the worst Board of Regent's we've had in a long time. They just want to hire another shill that will support their positions. I'm sick to death about this. I'd like to take a flame thrower to that board.

agree

Indeed a sad, sad day for EMU.

EMU and Susan Martin were a great fit.

They complimented each other very, very well.

I swore in disbelief when I got the email. President Martin has been EMU's best president in decades. A better, or at least as good, president is unlikely.

Earlier I said that I believed that the governor would appoint a successor to Susan Martin. I was wrong. Unfortunately, it seems that the board of regents make the appointment. All is not well if we have to depend on them.

A few boostet confided in me that she was being too childish when visiting the student section then they remembered who they were takling to.

(03-31-2015 07:49 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  A few boostet confided in me that she was being too childish when visiting the student section then they remembered who they were takling to.

Childish for showing an interest in games and getting in touch with the students? That's weak. It's a shame the boosters thought that. I'd much rather have an involved president than one who sits up in an ivory tower.

(03-31-2015 07:49 PM)emussuperfan Wrote:  A few boostet confided in me that she was being too childish when visiting the student section then they remembered who they were takling to.

Good one, Super!

I did not realize how well she was doing. But seems like she got a lot done. In particular, I was impressed how it seem she was holding tuition down, yet still completing some big investment projects. Also, the improvement in the incoming student credentials.

Good job, Dr. Martin!! And Best wishes to you!

Can someone explain to me what is so bad about the board? I am not that familiar with such things.

I am truly saddened by this. I wrote an open letter to Martin's Facebook page last year, thanking her for all that she had done for the university during my four years here. She personally commented on it, as she always does when students contact her, and refused to solely accept the praise. She insisted that 'many other people were equally responsible' for making my experience all that it was. And of course, that is true, but I really admired that she personally wrote back to remind me of that face.

During the WMU game in 2013, I was talking with Martin during halftime, and (unprompted) she began recalling the goal-line stand on 4th down from the 2011 game. We agreed that it was one of our proudest moments within Rynearson Stadium. I'll never forget having shared that with her.

As others have said, we'll be lucky to find someone half as good for the university as Martin was. The Regents have their work cut out for them.

You wonder about the timing of these types of things the whys and whens? I too appreciate all Dr Martin did and will miss her leadership. We made progress under her direction.

One thing I think should be mentioned: She was at EMU what 8 years?

Being a university president usually isn't a 'lifetime' job. It is a high stress job and I believe tenures aren't really long - say 10 - 20 years.

I'd guess - 5 to 10 years is fairly common.

Dear rayEMU,
Two incidents come to mind. First when she had an argument with an alumnus a few years ago, it was a cocktail party, and she had a drink or two I'm sure. The regents heard about the argument and immediately concluded President Martin was drunk, and forced her into a rehab program, even though she insisted that she did not need rehab. Why can't presidents disagree with alumni?
Last or one of the last Board of Regents meetings, President Martin proposed that Eastern drop its support for the EAA. Mostly because Eastern was getting a bad rap for its support, and many school districts were boycotting Eastern's student teachers. The board refused, and continued its support of Governor Snyder's EAA. This is where you get shills when you have appointees from a governor, instead of popularly elected board members.
I'm sure President Martin just got tired of having to fight with this present board over these, and I'm sure other issues.

(04-01-2015 08:09 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear rayEMU,
Two incidents come to mind. First when she had an argument with an alumnus a few years ago, it was a cocktail party, and she had a drink or two I'm sure. The regents heard about the argument and immediately concluded President Martin was drunk, and forced her into a rehab program, even though she insisted that she did not need rehab. Why can't presidents disagree with alumni?
Last or one of the last Board of Regents meetings, President Martin proposed that Eastern drop its support for the EAA. Mostly because Eastern was getting a bad rap for its support, and many school districts were boycotting Eastern's student teachers. The board refused, and continued its support of Governor Snyder's EAA. This is where you get shills when you have appointees from a governor, instead of popularly elected board members.
I'm sure President Martin just got tired of having to fight with this present board over these, and I'm sure other issues.

Notice that two of the board members who generally agreed with President Martin also stepped down this year. I am hopeful but not optimistic on how this will play out.

(04-01-2015 07:19 AM)emu79 Wrote:  You wonder about the timing of these types of things the whys and whens? I too appreciate all Dr Martin did and will miss her leadership. We made progress under her direction.

I'm thinking the timing is weird too...I can't help but wonder if there is a UAB football-like scenario underway that she couldn't stop. She loves EMU football and I know she wouldn't stand for it...

Bob, that is a new level of ridiculous even for you. One of the problems with being a constant pessimist is that it starts to cloud rationale thought. Let me be clear, I know two of the BOR and have spoken to them numerous times about the football program; there is no interest in killing the football program, they have stated time and time again that they will keep spending money to find a winner. They would consider it a giant embarrassment to lose the program and that it will ultimately hurt the reputation of the University. They also believe that if and when EMU produces a winner it will be a great story in college football. You might want to up your meds a little bit, honestly reading this forum everyday has become depressing with all the doom and gloom. I'm sick of hearing about peoples resume with EMU football; we get it they have been bad for a long time, they are still bad, hopefully one day they won't be bad. But guess what, the negativity doesn't help, constantly crying doesn't help. Its another beautiful spring day, get outside breathe the fresh air, take a stroll and try for one day to not be a whiny baby.