Susan Martin controversy: Conversation about EMU's former Huron logo sparked 'a little miscommunication,' alumnus says
Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin speaks during the news conference to announce Rob Murphy as head basketball coach in April 2011. The Board of Regents has told Martin to control her drinking in public after an argument with an alumnus, Michael Ferens.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com file photo
At an annual event for Washington D.C.-area EMU alumni, Martin reportedly got into an argument involving alcohol - for which she was criticized in a May 17 letter sent to her from the Board of Regents.
In her written response to the Regents, Martin stated she had resolved the argument she had April 23 with Michael Ferens, a graduate of EMU and president of the Washington D.C. alumni chapter, via email.
Ferens told AnnArbor.com Tuesday the miscommunication stemmed from a “Huron issue.”
“I mis-phrased a name in the conversation and that’s all it really was,” Ferens said.
“It wasn’t loud, just targeted to me at the moment," he said.
"It wasn’t a moment of public embarrassment for an official at her level."
From 1929 to 1991, EMU's mascot was the Hurons. The university began investigating whether its Huron Indian logo was appropriate after the Michigan Department of Civil Rights issued a report in October 1988.
The Board of Regents voted to replace the Huron name and logo with the Eagles in 1991. The move was highly controversial among students and alumni at the time.
The alumni event was a two-hour party with hors d'oeuvres and libations with about 30 people at a venue in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Michael Ferens
From Facebook
“We sat down and had a glass of wine, but we didn’t have 15 glasses of wine,” Ferens said. “I did not witness any heavy drinking. I did not witness any spectacles.”
Ferens called the argument “a little miscommunication,” and confirmed that the issue had been resolved between Martin and himself.
“It was a moment of intensity in a conversation,” Ferens said. “I cannot speculate on her drinking.”
Though Ferens said he would not comment on the appropriateness of the Regents' response to the incident, he said he was “caught off-guard by this whole thing.”
Ferens, a Flint native, graduated from EMU in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in international business communications.
He moved east three years later, and now resides in Washington, D.C.
"I’m one of those sticks in the mud out there,” Ferens said of his love for the Huron mascot.
Ferens said he met Martin four years ago at an alumni event, and last year worked with Martin to raise money for EMU’s marching band uniforms.
“We’re fine and we’ve moved on,” Ferens said Tuesday in an interview with AnnArbor.com. “We have a good relationship.”
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
PE #1
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 2:03 a.m.
WHY does this matter?
discgolfgeek
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
Once a Huron, Always a Huron!
felicia bawolek
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
after reading the article... i thought to myself i just wasted 3 minutes of my life. so basically this article was a headline trying to make EMU look bad, and then the substance of the article was that two people who disagreed about something minor, and then agreed that it wasn't an issue. *rolls eyes
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Oh this dustup was about the once-famous "almost racist" EMU logo??!! Heck, I thought it was about something really weighty and significant -- like the importance of grass fires. LOL! Next week's headline: Snowball fight over city hall sculpture narrowly averted by drought and heat wave... and planet-scorching grass fires of course. ;-)
Peter Eckstein
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
It is hard for me to believe that grown people are still arguing over whether the university logo should be a Huron or an Eagle. Didn't anything more important happen to alums during their years at Eastern? Did any of them receive an education for which they were grateful and therefore willing to donate to their alma mater regardless of the school logo?
Michael Olsen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
My impression: Typical EMU amateur hour. If I were EMU's president, I would probably drink heavily too.
AAbob43
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
As for the mascot/logo thing: my firm was a large advertiser on WEMU, and hence a large EMU donor. I was invited to a dinner for donors at the new hotel out there. This was when the change from "Hurons:" to "Eagles" was being debated. At the reception, I met Chief Gros Louis, chief of the Huron Tribe. He had come to EMU to beg the Regents not to change the name. His Tribe's position was one of pride that EMU used the name. So, why the hell is EMU called the generic Eagles?
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
Thank you, thank you so much for your post. I have Native American friends (Cherokee and Lakota) and I never hear them talk about the "lack of respect" or "racism" involved with logos or anything but direct verbal insult or race-based mistreatment in certain areas (out West). They sometimes get tired of me using "Native Americans" and start calling themselves "indians" to set me straight. LOL! Of course it's obvious to anyone but an academic that, when we adopt a tribe as a sports mascot, it's because we recognize that tribe's toughness, prowess and their sense of social standards. It's a combination we'd do well to emulate.
Mike
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:07 p.m.
If people are too sensitive to deal with a mascot, they're too sensitive to receive my donations to EMU. My money has pictures of old guys on it that depending on which historian you speak to did bad things................
a2citizen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Are they old white guys?
Dr. I. Emsayin
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:07 p.m.
Why didn't someone fire Winston Churchill and a few other international leaders who consume alcohol. I guess they don't have to drive their own cars, although I do recall a few presidents ago there was some talk of a drinking problem...
15crown00
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.
regents are regents--Political Creatures and we all know how that breed acts. I was a Huron when i graduated and i still am.An Eagle?I don't think so EVER!!!
pseudo
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:48 a.m.
http://www.emich.edu/regents/ Someone else will have to do the digging on how they became regents and what their political stake is and what their business/professional ties are.
pseudo
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:43 a.m.
I am not sure what is going on with this but there two things I do know: this board of regents (and the previous ones) have been terrible at their actual jobs: two terrible presidential picks; complete oversight failure on the that "fund raising event space" cum president's house; and at least one covered up murder. All indicative of political insider games and the poor decision-making that results from them. and...They got lucky when Susan Martin applied for the job. They got lucky again when she accepted. Her performance has been nothing short of fantastic. Cleaning up detritus of previous presidents. Healing some of the damage done by regents earlier decisions and actions. Straightening out the mess that was EMU's administrative function. Holding the line of tuition and costs. This kind of hatchet-job coming from this board is similar to their behavior in the past. So, this alumnus can only conclude that its a game of some sort again. A game so poorly handled that even if there is a nugget of truth to what is being bandied about, its lost in the lack of credibly this board has and the behavior it is currently demonstrating. Quit being stupid in public would ya!
Davidian
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
As an EMU alum, I am a little disturbed by something I suspect is happening. I have read these articles every single day for years, and I'm very familiar with all of the people that comment in this community. When these articles came to light, several unfamiliar users appeared on the scene. Anything remotely critical of her was voted down, and there are dozens of votes up for anything positive. Seems rather convenient if you ask me. Does anyone have this type of devotion outside of totalitarian states? I'm not saying that she's good or bad,. or that this is even a huge deal. However, she has had two very visible alcohol related incidents that were serious enough that the public knows about them. That's a red flag any way you want to cut it. And to say otherwise is just blind lackey faith.
Middle America
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
There have been articles like this every single day for years?
Rimshot
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.
The commenters who you don't recognize are people who feel strongly enough to weigh in for the first (and perhaps only) time on an internet message board. There's a strong possibility that they're people who know the president, who have worked with her, and who respect her and her accomplishments, and are appalled at the uninformed rush to judgement by all the keyboard warriors who live their lives out on these boards.
Wake Up A2
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 10:08 a.m.
Being a double EMU Grad..... Once a Huron, Always a Huron. Not a dime will ever flow again to EMU from me. After several calls a year, they get the same response....... Wes Studi said it best, " In my Heart I am HURON!" As for the drunk, can her......
Wake Up A2
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
Well why would you want to defame the president and say what is really goning one here..... She is now going to rehab..... She has a problem..... Wake Up.
David Paris
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 7 p.m.
Wake Up A2 says: "As for the drunk, can her..." Mr Ferens says: "We sat down and had a glass of wine, but we didn't have 15 glasses of wine," Ferens said. "I did not witness any heavy drinking. I did not witness any spectacles." Let's stick with the facts... or change your username!
Wake Up A2
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
I am not proud of what it has become. I take it you never were on a varsity sport team there and knows what it feels like to have the AD come down and say you have to remove that tattoo before you can play again. You can build a stadium that will never be filled and "Greek" town..... but you can't fund half the programs that bring in talent and money to the school..... Nope, not proud at all.
Rimshot
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.
Wes said "in my Heart I am a Huron", but he didn't say "I won't give to the school." It's infantile to become so wrapped up in a ridiculous marketing fiction that you won't support the students who are trying to better themselves at the University, most of whom don't participate in branded sports and most of whom don't really care what cartoon figure you slap on the banners and sweatshirts in the bookstore.
Middle America
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:07 a.m.
You care so much about a mascot that you refuse to donate to a university you are proud to have attended? Doesn't that sound a bit ridiculous?
cook1888
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 8:39 a.m.
Powerful people having a few drinks and a heated discussion - this is news or worthy of a reprimand? The stifling of this is scarier and should be bigger news than any comments made by them (her).
Robert Coon
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 5:48 a.m.
Before this non-issue I strongly disliked EMU. I continue to strongly dislike EMU.
Jim H
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 5:15 a.m.
Sounds like it is time for a series about the EMU regents. Who they are, what are their business connections to EMU, their attendance records, etc. Susan Martin seems to have done a lot of good things for EMU. As an '85 alum, I would vote for an emu logo.
Pagefield
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.
As a Chippewa (CMU) I lost respect for EMU. Bring back the Hurons.
Rimshot
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
Anyone who would withhold money from their school because of a logo change is someone who would never contribute anyway, and is just looking for an excuse to be cheap. It's not Hurons or Eagles in those classrooms, it's students, who are counting on the alumni to help them.
Polecat
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
As an alum, I agree. Everytime EMU calls for money, I tell them to stick it until they bring back the Hurons.
Colby
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:33 a.m.
Conspiracy Theory: 1. Regents begin turning the entire university over to the Provost (merging enrollment mgt and student affairs with academic affairs) after her very short tenure at EMU. 2. Regents leak "issues" with Martin to Free Press. 3. Pressure generated by the negative press forces Martin to step down. 4. Regents can turn the rest of the operation over to Provost by appointing her interim president, then making her permanent without a national search, despite her limited experience. 5. Honeymoon with Schatzel lasts about two years. 6. Rinse. Repeat.
microtini
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:45 a.m.
I wonder how much attention this would've garnered if the EMU president were a man. Just sayin'...
northside
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
Great question, microtini.
a2citizen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
Or a football coach.
Ralph
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:26 a.m.
Give Wilbanks a chance and he'll fire her. I'm betting she's gone by Christmas. Too bad, Sue Martin has been a good President - certainly not one of the good ole boys. If you followed the last presidential search at EMU, Sue Martin was the best choice.
Neal Elyakin
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
To annarbor.com: Enough already! Close the comments and pull the stories; nothing to see here, people; move along, move along.
a2citizen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.
Lead the way, please. Let us know when you get to where ever it is you are going.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
FOUR (4) identical articles on the same subject? Geez, AA.com. Nice to see you count on Ypsi and EMU grads for click-thrus, even more suppor than you get form AA, it seems.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
I wish I had a dollar for each time I had heard someone wish out loud that the Michigan constitution could be emended such that we could _ELECT_ the EMU Regents.
Lovaduck
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.
This is so unclear that I still don't know what happened. It sounds like someone accused someone else of being drunk in an interchange, but I still can't be sure. What, I'm sorry to say, a poorly written story.
Goofus
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:12 a.m.
I think sometimes the EMU board of regents is constantly just re-enacting the end of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" with regards to their treatment of their Presidents....
Will Warner
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
Friends, Hurons, countymen, lend me your ears....
Will Warner
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:52 p.m.
Some commenters here are suggesting that the Regents are dissatisfied with Pres. Martin and are trying to build a case for getting rid of her. I have no idea whether that is true. But having served on many boards of directors I know that the typical director is extremely impressed with the gravity of his own fiduciary responsibility, extremely risk-averse, extremely concerned that he not make a mistake, that he not be subject to blame for anything, that his butt is always covered.
CanDam
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:32 a.m.
Typical board members show up to meetings more than once every two years. This board has a track record of being risk-aversive, as well as meeting-aversive.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.
Typical boards have a mechanism in place for removing them at any point in time.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
Today the NTSB released the findings of their report on Enbridge. http://tinyurl.com/cs3pst4 "The chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board this morning said Enbridge Energy Partners knew about the defect that led to a massive oil spill in south-central Michigan five years before it occurred but failed to do anything about it." It's the largest spill in the mid-west and it was close to Ann Arbor. Enbridge knew of the defect 5 years before it happened! So, what does the news talk about? Does it talk about the findings from the NTSB? No. It concentrates on someone who had a bit too much to drink one night. Priorities 'environmental' Ann Arbor. Priorities.
CincoDeMayo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
Arrgh. I wish AnnArbor.com would bring back workable links. But I got it. THanks again.
CincoDeMayo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
Thanks!
kmgeb2000
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
@CincoDeMayo: Sure, the documents are available online at the state at http://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/ Search by case for U-16937, then I would direct you to select Document #2 for an explanation and graphic of the project. You can also go directly with this link to the above referenced PDF file: http://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/docs/16937/0002.pdf Basically goes from White Oak Township northwest of Stockbridge to Freedom Township. Here is the link to a brief Mlive story about the release that suggests "nothing to see hear", only half a million gallons of gasoline released: http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/experts_no_danger_to_wells_fro.html
CincoDeMayo
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
@kmgeb2000 Can you direct us - perhaps to a link - of where these pipelines are located? It would be very much appreciated.
kmgeb2000
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
@Kai - In addition, Embridge is adding an additional pipeline that runs does through Washtenaw County. This is a second pipeline directly adjacent to the one replaced recently. These new line come from a terminal in White Oak Township, Ingham Co. the had an over 500,000 gallon gasoline release AFTER the Embridge pipeline failure. This event was not reported extensively, and in taking with regulators did not set off the flurry of notifications that happened with the Embridge failure. If reported it would have been charactorized also as one of the largest in North America behind the Embridge release, yet practically nothing. A farmer smelled the gas in the ditches - can you say human canary?. The termianl/pipeline system did not alert anyone for some time that 500,000 gallons of product was missing. Sounds like worthy reporting material vs. a discussion over a glass of wine about a logo. By the way the mascot was a Emu, which looked like a duck - hense students yelling "Kill the Duck" at football games. The logo was the proud silhouette of a native american. As you can surmise, the name change is still an issue with alumni. Go Hurons!
northside
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
Excellent point, Kai.
a2citizen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:31 a.m.
Kai a2com is a local information source and EMU is a couple miles away. The oil spill was 75 miles away. There are a couple similarities in the two stories: According to the NTSB, enbridge officials knew about the pipeline defect five years ago. Guess what, the EMU board knew about martin's alcohol issues at least four years ago. It appears nobody in either story will lose their job.
Kai Petainen
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:53 p.m.
Perhaps a bit off topic, but my point relates to this story. There are 4 articles on this topic, and I can guarantee you.... that the other local news (and yes, the Enbridge spill was close enough to be local).... is far more important than this news. They'll have to replace parts of the pipeline, and that pipeline runs near Ann Arbor.
DNB
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
You're very wise, Kai. Priorities...Not only that, but they need to do it in four articles. More hits, more $$'s for Booth/MLive.
EMU Insider
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:26 p.m.
I found her response to the Regents (which is really essentially to the taxpayers of the State of Michigan) to be quite distasteful, disrespectful and inappropriate. "I lead a very intense and high visible life." "I have a very demanding schedule with regular public appearances and speaking engagements." "I live in a public house that employees enter regularly and I often have guests stay with us overnight." SO WHAT? YOU'RE THE PRESIDENT AND MAKE $300,000+ -- she also received a $7,500 bonus last year. What does ANY of this have to do with her "bad behavior," which she herself called "un-presidential." She needs to be fired immediately -- no ifs, ands or buts about it.
Michigan Man
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 2:25 a.m.
Insider - I agree. Weak letter of response to the Board. Poorly written, errors and no remorse or insight into her poor behavior. How did this woman ever score this job?
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:47 a.m.
Anything this Board is against has to be a pretty good idea in actuality. Not that there are not good Regents @ EMU, but they don't feel that they can challenge the problematic ones for some reason. Why they feel that way, I just cannot see, but I've heard them say it, and for them their feelings are valid of course.
so much nonsense
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.
I totally agree, leezee. I totally agree.
leezee
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:36 p.m.
She's making the point that if she was a drop-dead drunk, people would notice it. The fact is, she is not, but regents are desperate to make her look bad so they can give her the boot.
leezee
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:23 p.m.
I read the letter. This is clearly an excuse to get rid of the president. They mention other incidents they have discussed with her, but do not describe them. They mention concerns about "potential" future inappropriateness. They try to make it seem as though she is unbalanced. The letter is a joke and the reason for the reprimand is ridiculous. I'll say it again - the regents should be ashamed if themselves. If you want to get rid of her, at least do it for the reasons that are truly bothering you.
Jay baxter
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
Sue Martin is the best thing that has happened to Eastern since John Porter .Jay Baxter
Dudley
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
I attended EMU as a Huron and would like to change the name back. This current group of Regents are spineless and seem to be trying to get rid of the president...
redwingshero
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
For the same reason that students at University of North Dakota scream 'home of the Sioux!' at the end of the national anthem. It's a source of pride and respect. A overly PC world cannot appreciate that. Same reason why CMU are now the 'Chipps', which is utterly dumb.
johnnya2
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
Why do you want the name back? In what way does that change anything about your education? This is the silliest most overblown thing I have heard. If we named a team the Detroit Junglebunnies because it used to be acceptable would you cling to that for "tradition". Get over it, it is over 20 years ago
SEC Fan
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.
All. Read the letter from the regents. They reference several incidents for issuing the reprimand...not just this one.
Goober
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.
My, my, my! I hope I never get into a position where a website like AA.com runs article, after article about my business dealings, reporting events and facts conflicting prior reports. The Enquirer would be jealous over this series of reports. Tabloid trash!!!!
a2citizen
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 3:03 a.m.
Nice volley, Paula.
Paula Gardner
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 11:40 p.m.
We won't - as long you don't represent the public or do something that puts you in the public realm. But if it does happen, we'll also try to talk to people involved. Just like we did with these stories.
Terry Star21
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:54 p.m.
It appears that the 'Huron Logo' and name, so popular and important for pre-1991 graduates still lights a fire in the Administration because of continued Alumni support. It would appear some of those initial problems after the name change, including ignoring the Alumni issues along with the current Huron Indian Chief supporting the Huron name to stay, hurt EMU with thousands of dollars of cut off donations. After all these years, there apparently are Huron Restoration chapters all over America, some that still frequent EMU sporting events and wear their 'Huron' proud, with banners to match. Already a thorn to that Administration, don't add alcohol (like gas to a fire).
DNB
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
You've got that right! My EMU student has worked at the EMU Foundation's phone center, and they receive a lot of feedback about the name change. Many EMU Alumni refuse to donate because of the name change. Lots of interesting dialogue about that. BTW, the students who have worked at the phone center lost their jobs this past April; EMU has decided to outsource this fund-raising...Thanks Board of Regents for that. IMO, I think this whole incident has been blown out of proportion. These articles are nothing more than a modern day witch hunt...Shame on you, A2.com!
Cash
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
We do not know about the other incidents referred to in the letter from the board. So we really can't decide based on this issue. Bets it was witnessed by others at this party. Unusual to see a university president argue with an alumnus....I'm sure it got the attention of others who "observed" things at the event.
whatsupwithMI
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
But the alum involved says the way the conversation is being wielded is not correct, nor an appropriate summary....
djacks24
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
This whole debacle has made me lose more respect (if that's even possible?) for the board of Regents than I did for President Martin. Furthermore, they are the ones that voted to change EMUs mascot to the Eagles.
CanDam
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 4:22 a.m.
I'm surprised enough of the Board showed up to a meeting to write a full letter.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:38 p.m.
People who live in glass houses probably shouldn't.
Morris Thorpe
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:16 p.m.
I chuckled at the thought of my drunken arguments being published. "Mr. Thorpe apologized for what partygoers characterized as a rambling and incoherent contention that Steven Spielberg's legacy will not match Quentin Tarantino's."
Bonsai
Wed, Jul 11, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
You're fired!
Will Warner
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
Absolutely too funny, Morris. Humor and ridicule -- most effective.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
nicely played ;)
Olive
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
Sounds like the regents have made a big something out of nothing. They should be ashamed of themselves for dragging Martin's name through the mud and insinuating she has a drinking problem.
so much nonsense
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
I have said this on many of the other articles about this story. I just do not understand the Board's over reaction. Sure sounds to me like the Board is using a little incident to "UVA" the President out of her job. The alumnus who she argued with thought it was minor and over in minute. How does that justify such a strong disciplinary letter in her personnel file? How does that justify public humiliation by leaking the story to the press? Something is not right. It sounds like the beginning of a "UVA" sort of story where members of the board are trying to push her out using anything they can get their hands on. Sad because she is the best President EMU has had in quite along time.
so much nonsense
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
I did read the letter. The tone and the harshness of the letter is exactly why I think the board is gunning for the President with no or little cause. Even if there were some kind of prior incidents, how can this small incident that even the alumnus says was no big deal, ultimately make the board write this letter for her personnel file. This was the incident that broke the camel's back? Really? oh please.
SEC Fan
Tue, Jul 10, 2012 : 10:18 p.m.
i would ask that you READ the letter. It references several incidents...not just this one. Also, she is apparently trying to downplay the impact alcohol had on this incident. Yet, Mr. Ferens is very vague about that fact and has not yet said whether he felt she was "drunk". He talks "around" the issue. In my opinion, this would make it even worse! Is she saying this all occurred while sober? really? well, then your judgement really is questionable. This sets an extremely poor example for EMU students. The "real" world does not tolerate this.