Sources tell me it's all but over for Watts. The Faculty Senate voted two-thirds majority for "no confidence," and the other one-third voted for "censure." No one voted for simple "reprimand." One source added, "I'd be surprised if many minds change."
Also, not sure if this has been reported, but the Faculty Senate is actually voting next week. Watts knows he's done. He'll probably allude to during the graduation ceremony.
The sooner they act, the better. Watts is a lame duck who is totally incapable of leading at this point.
"Low" Watts does not have a friend on campus.
(12-13-2014 08:49 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote: [ -> ]Also, not sure if this has been reported, but the Faculty Senate is actually voting next week.
This is new information to the board, as far as I am aware. What day specifically?
If so, this is a big deal.
I hope this is true, but the senators that I have heard from seemed pretty dedicated to their mid January timeline. Maybe some impetus caused them to realize the importance of getting this done soon.
Perhaps they moved up the timeline after getting wise to Ray's spies and PR flunkies.
Hopefully they are trying to help is keep out conference USA affiliation. I don't know how long it will take to find a new president though.
Knowing how Watts and the BOT work, when our next UAB president comes in they need to have their office swept for bugs.
This appears highly unlikely. Most school liaisons have not heard back from their faculty yet; many faculty will have already left town for the holiday break and nine-month faculty are not on campus thanks to their screwage. The January vote looks to be still on.
Watts appears to intend to fight, and is lobbying hard for more votes. He was not shut out in this recent vote, and our presence in Cudworth Hall was crucial (Tyler's commentary on counseling appears to have really resonated).
This is not the time for complacency. Much work remains before we rid ourselves of this troublesome neurologist and move on to our next target(s).
(12-13-2014 08:49 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote: [ -> ]Sources tell me it's all but over for Watts. The Faculty Senate voted two-thirds majority for "no confidence," and the other one-third voted for "censure." No one voted for simple "reprimand." One source added, "I'd be surprised if many minds change."
So was the vote exactly 2/3rds to 1/3? Meaning all Watts has to do to avoid the vote of no confidence is to flip one faculty senator to his side?
Sources also said that Watts wouldn't be at graduation. I'm starting to question a certain person's "sources"
The sources might have been correct at the time, and the plan changed. Or the telephone effect could have turned "will not participate in graduation ceremony" (true) to "will not attend graduation ceremony" (false).
(12-13-2014 12:06 PM)thebernreuter Wrote: [ -> ]The sources might have been correct at the time, and the plan changed. Or the telephone effect could have turned "will not participate in graduation ceremony" (true) to "will not attend graduation ceremony" (false).
Well, I can almost guarantee that the sources are wrong about the Senate vote.
That is what I was wondering - what is the source on the senate vote for next week?
Dr. Messina needs to make his speech available to the public so it can printed on al.com.
I wouldn't be so hasty to disregard information from the sources when Dr. Watts is intentionally being obtuse. Why make any confirmations when he doesn't have to? PR firm or not, all he has to do is just say one thing and flip on it at the last moment to stifle or outright diffuse a lot of situations. I would not be surprised if the only people that knew his real itinerary was him and his security detail.
Appointing the provost to speak and shake hands in his stead isn't a good look. He hasn't addressed any of the important questions in the aftermath of his decision. The only support he has received is from trolls, a former president that abused the power of the office, and the ill informed. Any member of the faculty senate that is listening to sweet promises and trying to ride this thing out has to remember the man that made promises and commitments to a football coach. Anyone that is sitting on the fence needs to remember the man that basically said you can't rely on promises.
I won't question any sources on the Watt's situation. He changes his mind constantly. I fully believe he was prepared to not come to graduation but decided to make a last minute appearance.
Look at the Alumni House visit. He was going to go, but the word got out that he was going and they changed it to having the NAS people come to Admin.
He's running scared of the students surrounding him again, and he's juking and jiving to avoid that. He's also going to say he's going to do one thing, letting preparations be made, and then changing to frustrate us.
(12-13-2014 11:53 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote: [ -> ]Sources also said that Watts wouldn't be at graduation. I'm starting to question a certain person's "sources"
That's fair, I guess. Pretty sure the timeline of the days events will shake out to reveal there was a change in plans.