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Baker is stepping down as President of NIU
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NIU007 Online
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Post: #21
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(05-31-2017 04:52 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  This does not look good. And, believing in consequences, I have to ask, what is the consequence to Baker. I don't think the actions described can be justified, and I am a strong opponent of paying for a wrong-doer's counsel! In my book, the Board should do something. Something swift and significant. Yet this seems to go totally under the radar?

I agree there should be significant consequences for something like this. It's the last thing the university needs.
06-01-2017 02:47 PM
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NIU75 Offline
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Post: #22
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-01-2017 01:42 PM)georgey3085 Wrote:  
(06-01-2017 10:02 AM)cagy cager Wrote:  
(06-01-2017 09:56 AM)HuskiesCHI27 Wrote:  If he doesn't get fired this university is done.

These kind of Chicken Little, "the sky is falling" pronouncements always crack me up. This great University has been around for 122 years--it ain't going nowhere and is nowhere near done.

I don't believe the university will be done, but he does need to go. This type of trash will see no donations come from me until cleaned up.
I am with you on this. Why should I kick in money when money is being used for Baker's buddy. And then Baker just gets his hand slap.
(This post was last modified: 06-01-2017 06:31 PM by NIU75.)
06-01-2017 06:31 PM
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uiniu57 Offline
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Post: #23
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
Perhaps athletics and other departments on campus wouldn't be worrying as much about belt-tightening and people like Brad Hoey wouldn't be given a notice of not being renewed if THE IDAHO SPUD didn't hire "at least five people as though they were part-time instructors and paid them more than $1 million combined over a roughly two-year period."

"The report details ... Baker attempted to hire his friend, Ron Walters, as a consultant.
During his time as a consultant, Walters received more than $463,000 in compensation, plus another $35,000 in inappropriate travel and lodging benefits, the report shows. In 2014, he was the third-highest-paid employee at NIU behind football coach Rod Carey and Baker, and he stayed free in the penthouse at the Holmes Student Center.

"Nancy Suttenfield was appointed to work at NIU as an affiliate from November 2013 through June 2014. Rather than an occasional part-time teacher, she acted as an interim chief financial officer, working full time but never teaching a class. Her appointment was extended three times, and she was paid more than $425,000 over 15 months, making her the fourth-highest-paid NIU employee in 2014.

Another gem courtesy of Baker's buddies: "was advised ... to hire Ken Wilson as an adviser, according to the report. .... Wilson took up residence at Grant Tower A in 2014 and lived there for about a year. A memo to Wilson dated June 2014 shows that several women filed an affirmative action complaint against him alleging inappropriate behavior that could be considered sexual harassment, according to a report by Edgar County Watchdogs.
Baker told investigators he did not know Wilson was hired using the affiliate employee classification until after he was hired, nor did he know that Wilson was living in an NIU dormitory without charge until early 2015."

Between the clowns in Springfield and our own Idaho Spud, it's hard to be a Huskie.
06-01-2017 06:33 PM
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Prince Crossing Offline
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Post: #24
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
I can't speak for the corporate sector, but in government and especially academia, it is commonplace for top administrators to bring a staff with them - either as consultants or employees. This practice is especially demoralizing to existing staff who've been told that there are no funds for raises, equipment, etc. 100 percent of the blame goes to the governing board which approves these hirings.

Much of this blame goes to the board of trustees.
06-01-2017 07:54 PM
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huskie1stdown Offline
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Post: #25
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-01-2017 06:33 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  Perhaps athletics and other departments on campus wouldn't be worrying as much about belt-tightening and people like Brad Hoey wouldn't be given a notice of not being renewed if THE IDAHO SPUD didn't hire "at least five people as though they were part-time instructors and paid them more than $1 million combined over a roughly two-year period."

"The report details ... Baker attempted to hire his friend, Ron Walters, as a consultant.
During his time as a consultant, Walters received more than $463,000 in compensation, plus another $35,000 in inappropriate travel and lodging benefits, the report shows. In 2014, he was the third-highest-paid employee at NIU behind football coach Rod Carey and Baker, and he stayed free in the penthouse at the Holmes Student Center.

"Nancy Suttenfield was appointed to work at NIU as an affiliate from November 2013 through June 2014. Rather than an occasional part-time teacher, she acted as an interim chief financial officer, working full time but never teaching a class. Her appointment was extended three times, and she was paid more than $425,000 over 15 months, making her the fourth-highest-paid NIU employee in 2014.

Another gem courtesy of Baker's buddies: "was advised ... to hire Ken Wilson as an adviser, according to the report. .... Wilson took up residence at Grant Tower A in 2014 and lived there for about a year. A memo to Wilson dated June 2014 shows that several women filed an affirmative action complaint against him alleging inappropriate behavior that could be considered sexual harassment, according to a report by Edgar County Watchdogs.
Baker told investigators he did not know Wilson was hired using the affiliate employee classification until after he was hired, nor did he know that Wilson was living in an NIU dormitory without charge until early 2015."

Between the clowns in Springfield and our own Idaho Spud, it's hard to be a Huskie.
+1000
I am on the verge of being done with NIU.
Things have to change!!!
06-01-2017 10:23 PM
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Dog Fan Offline
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Post: #26
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
This story was reported in today's The Chronicle of Higher Education. Not the kind of national publicity we want.
06-02-2017 12:42 PM
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HuskieFootball Addict Offline
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Post: #27
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
Oh come on - This is the way things are done all the time - especially in Illinois.
06-02-2017 01:27 PM
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DogTracks Offline
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Post: #28
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 01:27 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  Oh come on - This is the way things are done all the time - especially in Illinois.

University presidents have staff manipulate hiring rules to circumvent procurement laws and give friends half a million in consulting work all the time?
06-02-2017 03:38 PM
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jjj Offline
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Post: #29
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/
(This post was last modified: 06-02-2017 06:40 PM by jjj.)
06-02-2017 06:37 PM
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DogPoundNorth Offline
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Post: #30
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 06:37 PM)jjj Wrote:  Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/

He needs to go
06-02-2017 06:41 PM
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Dog Fan Offline
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Post: #31
Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 06:41 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  
(06-02-2017 06:37 PM)jjj Wrote:  Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/

He needs to go


Agreed. If he is not let go and the board "sweeps it under the rug", what does this say to other employees who are fired for lesser infractions?
06-02-2017 06:49 PM
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bikechuck Offline
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Post: #32
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
This is so sad, I do hope that President Baker moves on now and that NIU finds an inspired leader that can begin restoring our reputation. This does nothing for our image and will hurt enrollment that is already declining.
06-02-2017 09:16 PM
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NJTB Offline
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Post: #33
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
Makes President Peters look better all the time.

The Suntimes makes a valid point. I also doubt the BOT will do anything. To be sure, Baker has wasted a good amount of money. But with the state unable to find an actual budget with two hands and a flashlight, I doubt they want to spend NIU's limited resources on public legal battle with Baker or pay him to go away.

Next meeting is June 15 @ Altgeld Hall:
https://calendar.niu.edu/MasterCalendar/...tTA4T1CoRE

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06-03-2017 08:44 AM
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uiniu57 Offline
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Post: #34
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 06:41 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  
(06-02-2017 06:37 PM)jjj Wrote:  Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/

He needs to go

While you're 100% right, the sad reality is what's going to happen will be just as disturbing. Either......
1) NIU will have to ride out the remaining year on his contract which means everyone suffers and very little gets accomplished.
2) Baker decides to fight and more university money is wasted on legal fees until a separation agreement (that has to remain confidential) is worked out, which has him exit with even more money in his pocket.
3) best case scenario, Baker fools some other school and moves on before his contract officially runs out. In that case, he packs up his belongings and the money he made off NIU and rides away still "disputing" aspects of the investigation.
Excuse my arrogant attitude, but nothing about Idaho academically or financially was on a par with Northern Illinois University, its location, positives or negatives, etc., nor was their FCS Kibbie Dome athletic program equivalent to the Huskies, the Spud should never have been hired.
Here's hoping the next selection is someone who understands this area plus the strengths and true potential of NIU.
06-04-2017 11:30 AM
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huskie1stdown Offline
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Post: #35
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
There has to be an "NIU" guy out there somewhere.
06-04-2017 03:59 PM
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UnknownScout Offline
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Post: #36
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-04-2017 03:59 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  There has to be an "NIU" guy out there somewhere.

That guy/gal needs to grow attendance, raise admission standards, and work with DeKalb to build a community. I would like to see athletics as a cornerstone of course, but at this point, we need to get more students enrolled.
06-04-2017 09:39 PM
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NIU05 Offline
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Post: #37
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 03:38 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  
(06-02-2017 01:27 PM)HuskieFootball Addict Wrote:  Oh come on - This is the way things are done all the time - especially in Illinois.

University presidents have staff manipulate hiring rules to circumvent procurement laws and give friends half a million in consulting work all the time?

Maybe the story is just an indication NIU is going to get " squeezed" out relative to other state schhols with funding.
06-04-2017 10:06 PM
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Post: #38
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-02-2017 06:37 PM)jjj Wrote:  Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/

In today's Sun-Times print edition.
06-05-2017 12:27 PM
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chihuskie Offline
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Post: #39
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
(06-04-2017 11:30 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  
(06-02-2017 06:41 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  
(06-02-2017 06:37 PM)jjj Wrote:  Chicago Sun Times Article/Opinion

http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/niu-...-overlook/

He needs to go

While you're 100% right, the sad reality is what's going to happen will be just as disturbing. Either......
1) NIU will have to ride out the remaining year on his contract which means everyone suffers and very little gets accomplished.
2) Baker decides to fight and more university money is wasted on legal fees until a separation agreement (that has to remain confidential) is worked out, which has him exit with even more money in his pocket.
3) best case scenario, Baker fools some other school and moves on before his contract officially runs out. In that case, he packs up his belongings and the money he made off NIU and rides away still "disputing" aspects of the investigation.
Excuse my arrogant attitude, but nothing about Idaho academically or financially was on a par with Northern Illinois University, its location, positives or negatives, etc., nor was their FCS Kibbie Dome athletic program equivalent to the Huskies, the Spud should never have been hired.
Here's hoping the next selection is someone who understands this area plus the strengths and true potential of NIU.
HAve to agree.
As for legal fees-- I donate my services. Let's see his contract. I can't imagine it says we will pay you, even if you break all rules. If it does, someone else should be fired.
06-05-2017 06:31 PM
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Post: #40
RE: Pres. Baker is a disgrace
A letter to the editor in today's Sun-Times:

NIU President Acted for the Greater Good

It's amazing how some people defend breaking the law and circumventing policies and rules.
06-06-2017 01:25 PM
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