Alumni Council Seats 10 Unelected Members

[simons96]

(this is an abbreviated version of Deb Biedel's FB post)

Alumni Association Leadership adds 10 seats to Alumni Council with the following 10 appointees:

Wendy E. Braund - on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Darryl E. Bundrige – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Meeten V. Doshi – not on ballot.
Anand Ganjam - not on ballot.
Shawn M. Hinkle – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro – not on ballot.
Kerrilaine Clark Prunella – not on ballot.
Gregory J. Sam – not on ballot.
Roxanne C. Shiels – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
David W. Ulmer – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.

do your own research and draw your own conclusions . . . must be nice to lose an election and still win a seat (AHEM UPWARD STATE!)

 

[LafayetteBear]

Wow. More like Upward Yours.

 

[lionlurker]

This is why donations must end, once and for all, until the vermin are collected and disposed of.

 

[dwiz]

Penn state is really making it hard to like penn state.

 

[mbahses]

We have to blame ourselves for neglecting what these scoundrels were doing for decades. They care shit about Penn State and only for their personal enrichment, and that of family and friends. Now we have to pay hell to make things right.

 

[Fayette_LION]

(this is an abbreviated version of Deb Biedel's FB post)

Alumni Association Leadership adds 10 seats to Alumni Council with the following 10 appointees:

Wendy E. Braund - on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Darryl E. Bundrige – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Meeten V. Doshi – not on ballot.
Anand Ganjam - not on ballot.
Shawn M. Hinkle – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro – not on ballot.
Kerrilaine Clark Prunella – not on ballot.
Gregory J. Sam – not on ballot.
Roxanne C. Shiels – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
David W. Ulmer – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.

do your own research and draw your own conclusions . . . must be nice to lose an election and still win a seat (AHEM UPWARD STATE!)

Why have an election if you are going to install whoever you want anyway. Just more BS that makes PSU look bad.

 

[KC-KS-Lion]

What a misnomer 'Alumni Association' is.

These scoundrels are fearless.

I hope one of the 'ALUMNI-ELECTED' trustees or council members call them on it, just for the record, as it seems to have no effect on their behavior.

 

[BarryPSU]

Are there any legal means to challenge what was done?

 

[NittPicker]

What a misnomer 'Alumni Association' is.

These scoundrels are fearless.

I hope one of the 'ALUMNI-ELECTED' trustees or council members call them on it, just for the record, as it seems to have no effect on their behavior.

I agree the AA leadership are scoundrels but the following is the mission of the AA as cut and pasted from their website:

"The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service."

The real problem is that for decades we all assumed the AA was an organization which was organized to advocate for the alumni. Nowhere in their mission statement does it say they want to do that. Look at it point by point.
1) Connect alumni to the university - That was easy when there were no bumps in the road. The actions of the AA are now driving many alumni away from the university
2) Provide valued services to members - Like what? The Penn Stater? Thanks!!
3) Support the university's mission of teaching, research and service - That one says it all. They will support the university before supporting the alumni which is why so many of us are frustrated. If they need to appoint 10 new alumni council members to assist in siding with the university then that's what they'll do.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Penn state is really making it hard to like penn state.

F'in place is unrecognizable to me and I find myself rooting for its failure in many ways.

 

[BBrown]

Why have an election if you are going to install whoever you want anyway. Just more BS that makes PSU look bad.

I didn't realize we had ex-CIA agents familiar with Banana Republic Elections running the University. Ughhh.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

We have to blame ourselves for neglecting what these scoundrels were doing for decades. They care shit about Penn State and only for their personal enrichment, and that of family and friends. Now we have to pay hell to make things right.

Yeah, no.

I'm not taking the heat for unethical behavior on the part of somebody else. I'm not taking the blame for Sandusky either. This thinking is right out of the Peetz/Frazier handbook. They want to run the place like the Harper Valley PTA, they can do it without me.

 

[Pardlion]

(this is an abbreviated version of Deb Biedel's FB post)

Alumni Association Leadership adds 10 seats to Alumni Council with the following 10 appointees:

Wendy E. Braund - on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Darryl E. Bundrige – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Meeten V. Doshi – not on ballot.
Anand Ganjam - not on ballot.
Shawn M. Hinkle – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro – not on ballot.
Kerrilaine Clark Prunella – not on ballot.
Gregory J. Sam – not on ballot.
Roxanne C. Shiels – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
David W. Ulmer – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.

do your own research and draw your own conclusions . . . must be nice to lose an election and still win a seat (AHEM UPWARD STATE!)

These unelected people had better at least be making significant personal contributions to the University.

 

[mbahses]

Yeah, no.

I'm not taking the heat for unethical behavior on the part of somebody else. I'm not taking the blame for Sandusky either. This thinking is right out of the Peetz/Frazier handbook. They want to run the place like the Harper Valley PTA, they can do it without me.

Hey, we allowed them to get away with it. For decades. Screwing Joe and the Football Team was the wake up call.

 

[Evan Ceg]

Its funny how an organization which claims to

I agree the AA leadership are scoundrels but the following is the mission of the AA as cut and pasted from their website:

"The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect alumni to the University and to each other, to provide valued services to members, and to support the University's mission of teaching, research, and service."

The real problem is that for decades we all assumed the AA was an organization which was organized to advocate for the alumni. Nowhere in their mission statement does it say they want to do that. Look at it point by point.
1) Connect alumni to the university - That was easy when there were no bumps in the road. The actions of the AA are now driving many alumni away from the university
2) Provide valued services to members - Like what? The Penn Stater? Thanks!!
3) Support the university's mission of teaching, research and service - That one says it all. They will support the university before supporting the alumni which is why so many of us are frustrated. If they need to appoint 10 new alumni council members to assist in siding with the university then that's what they'll do.

I'll reiterate: the Alumni Association is not an organ of University governance. This should be obvious by looking at the Alumni Council, even before the Scandal. The Alumni Association works for University leadership (i.e., Barron and Rod Kirsch) and ultimately on behalf of the University's development (fund raising) effort. If the University wasn't interested in raising money from alumni, it wouldn't have an Alumni Association. The Alumni Association cultivates prospective donors to the University. Same as elsewhere.

And, yes, the AA needs to get its act together on its by-laws.

I wonder if they're having trouble finding a replacement for Roger Williams who retires at the end of this month. The AA is large and powerful (http://www.collegemagazine.com/10-best-college-alumni-networks/), but given how angry and divided our alumni are, I suppose a lot of qualified candidates would decide to pass.

 

[mbahses]

No one who cares about Penn State is going to play Barron's, the BoT or the AA shit.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Hey, we allowed them to get away with it. For decades. Screwing Joe and the Football Team was the wake up call.

Really? And what do you propose should have been done about it?

I don't know about you but in between going to games I had a life to live and a job to go to and a family to support. I didn't have access to the inner workings of the friggin Penn State board of trustees or the stupid Alumni Association. When there's no outward indicator that these entities are staffed almost wholly with megalomaniacs, how would one go about changing that or convincing others that there is a problem?

 

[mbahses]

Really? And what do you propose should have been done about it?

I don't know about you but in between going to games I had a life to live and a job to go to and a family to support. I didn't have access to the inner workings of the friggin Penn State board of trustees or the stupid Alumni Association. When there's no outward indicator that these entities are staffed almost wholly with megalomaniacs, how would one go about changing that or convincing others that there is a problem?

We all have jobs, lives and families. We were asleep at the wheel, and allowed this to happen. No one was paying attention assuming all was well, when it wasn't. PS4RS jumped on it at first opportunity. The warning signs were there, no one opened their mouth.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

OK, well you wear it then. I'll pass.

 

[Keyser Soze 16801]

Elections matter.....except at Penn State

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Wonder if they're having trouble finding a replacement for Roger Williams who retires at the end of this month? The AA is large and powerful (http://www.collegemagazine.com/10-best-college-alumni-networks/), but given how angry and divided our alumni are, I suppose a lot of qualified candidates would decide to pass.

Reportedly, that's not the case. About a month ago, I heard the selection process was down to 3 finalist. I have not checked on things since then, so I'm not sure where the process is at this point.

The finalists were all quite talented.

 

[NittPicker]

We all have jobs, lives and families. We were asleep at the wheel, and allowed this to happen. No one was paying attention assuming all was well, when it wasn't. PS4RS jumped on it at first opportunity. The warning signs were there, no one opened their mouth.

Thanks Ken Frazier. You can take that "we" and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Don't project your guilt and apparent non-action onto the rest of us.

 

[lionlurker]

Unfortunately, this kind of crap isn't even surprising anymore. In fact, it's expected.

As Victor said, the sad thing is that some of us now are rooting for PSU to continue to F up, which is a damned shame.

 

[mbahses]

Thanks Ken Frazier. You can take that "we" and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. Don't project your guilt and apparent non-action onto the rest of us.

I have nothing but contempt for Frazier and the BoT, but to deny we allowed this to happen is a bunch of crap. If I'm "Frazier" then you must be Peetz and can't comprehend what you read.

 

[bjf1984]

(this is an abbreviated version of Deb Biedel's FB post)

Alumni Association Leadership adds 10 seats to Alumni Council with the following 10 appointees:

Wendy E. Braund - on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Darryl E. Bundrige – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Meeten V. Doshi – not on ballot.
Anand Ganjam - not on ballot.
Shawn M. Hinkle – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro – not on ballot.
Kerrilaine Clark Prunella – not on ballot.
Gregory J. Sam – not on ballot.
Roxanne C. Shiels – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
David W. Ulmer – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.

do your own research and draw your own conclusions . . . must be nice to lose an election and still win a seat (AHEM UPWARD STATE!)

The entire process is flat out WRONG.....no doubt about that. The idea that for some reason the actual - you know - MEMBERS of the Alumni Association wouldn't just elect their council to - you know - REPRESENT THEM, is ludicrous on its face. It is not the "fault" of any of these individuals that the PSUAA "leadership" has mandated these changes.

That said, I think everyone knew these additional appointed positions were going to be used (for the most part) to further the purposes of the University administration. A lot of these appointees....I don't know much about....but, while I oppose the presence of ANY of the appointee positions (in principal), I do think a couple of the folks who were appointed are "good people" (maybe a bit naïve in some respects, but well-intentioned people none the less).

On the other hand, a few of them make you want to puke......none more so than Anand Ganjam. I don't know how many people are aware.....but AG is the slimy little puke that "served" as the University Park Undergraduate Student president. Anyone who has followed "Student Government" at Penn State knows what a tool he is.
If ever there was a better example of a boot-licking, slimy, vacuous, sycophant......I don't know if I 've seen one. I know he is young......but I'd bet a dollar to a dime he will spend every day from now until his last as an empty-suit toady. He should just carry his shine box around with him. EXACTLY the type of person the Scoundrels LOVE!

Seeing folks like this get appointed, influences one to view ALL of the appointees in a much lesser light.....which is a shame.
.

 

[mbahses]

The entire process is flat out WRONG.....no doubt about that. The idea that for some reason the actual - you know - MEMBERS of the Alumni Association wouldn't just elect their council to - you know - REPRESENT THEM, is ludicrous on its face. It is not the "fault" of any of these individuals that the PSUAA "leadership" has mandated these changes.

That said, I think everyone knew these additional appointed positions were going to be used (for the most part) to further the purposes of the University administration. A lot of these appointees....I don't know much about....but, while I oppose the presence of ANY of the appointee positions (in principal), I do think a couple of the folks who were appointed are "good people" (maybe a bit naïve in some respects, but well-intentioned people none the less).

On the other hand, a few of them make you want to puke......none more so than Anand Ganjam. I don't know how many people are aware.....but AG is the slimy little puke that "served" as the University Park Undergraduate Student president. Anyone who has followed "Student Government" at Penn State knows what a tool he is.
If ever there was a better example of a boot-licking, slimy, vacuous, sycophant......I don't know if I 've seen one. I know he is young......but I'd bet a dollar to a dime he will spend every day from now until his last as an empty-suit toady. He should just carry his shine box around with him. EXACTLY the type of person the Scoundrels LOVE!

Seeing folks like this get appointed, influences one to view ALL of the appointees in a much lesser light.....which is a shame.
.

That's PC Ganjam. And he has company.

 

[fairgambit]

Our entire University, from the President and BOT to the Alumni Association, is in the hands of the power elite. There are many here, and elsewhere, who continue to fight the good fight against them. While I support their efforts as best I can, I believe it is a lost cause. Short of legislative action, which is a long shot, or legal action, which is always a crap shoot, there is little that can be done. As I have said before, at some point I will walk away from it all and never look back. That point gets closer every day. If I had any sense it would have happened by now. Penn State means less to me than it ever did. The warm, happy feelings of my college days are but a distant memory. At one time my life was much better with Penn State in it. Now, I fear, it is better with Penn State out of it.

 

[Evan Ceg]

Our entire University, from the President and BOT to the Alumni Association, is in the hands of the power elite. There are many here, and elsewhere, who continue to fight the good fight against them. While I support their efforts as best I can, I believe it is a lost cause. Short of legislative action, which is a long shot, or legal action, which is always a crap shoot, there is little that can be done. As I have said before, at some point I will walk away from it all and never look back. That point gets closer every day. If I had any sense it would have happened by now. Penn State means less to me than it ever did. The warm, happy feelings of my college days are but a distant memory. At one time my life was much better with Penn State in it. Now, I fear, it is better with Penn State out of it.

I would just note, fairgambit, that the type of people who were running the University when you were a student are the same type of people who are running the University today. There has always been a power elite on the BoT. The difference is that when you were a student there was no apparent need to look under the covers at the BoT. What kind of people do you think serve on boards at other universities?

 

[lionlurker]

The fact that the truth was hidden for many years does not make it any less revolting now.

 

[fairgambit]

I would just note, fairgambit, that the type of people who were running the University when you were a student are the same type of people who are running the University today. There has always been a power elite on the BoT. The difference is that when you were a student there was no apparent need to look under the covers at the BoT. What kind of people do you think serve on boards at other universities?

You're right of course, and I don't necessarily have a problem with the power elite, if they exercise that power for the benefit of the greater good and not for their own nefarious purposes.

 

[bjf1984]

I would just note, fairgambit, that the type of people who were running the University when you were a student are the same type of people who are running the University today. There has always been a power elite on the BoT. The difference is that when you were a student there was no apparent need to look under the covers at the BoT. What kind of people do you think serve on boards at other universities?

A bit over-simplistic. I do not expect that it is the norm to have ex-cons and frauds controlling $1 billion of capital project funds.

Are there often "unscrupulous" folks....looking to get a slice for themselves.....seated on Boards such as the PSU BOT? Yes.
Are there ANY Boards that......both by structure and by specific make-up.....are as utterly corrupt and shamelessly hypocritical as this one? I doubt it.

Pretending that the level of corruption we see here at PSU is the "norm" does us all a disservice.....and assists those Scoundrels who have whored out the University. IMHO

 

[step.eng69]

(this is an abbreviated version of Deb Biedel's FB post)

Alumni Association Leadership adds 10 seats to Alumni Council with the following 10 appointees:

Wendy E. Braund - on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Darryl E. Bundrige – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Meeten V. Doshi – not on ballot.
Anand Ganjam - not on ballot.
Shawn M. Hinkle – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro – not on ballot.
Kerrilaine Clark Prunella – not on ballot.
Gregory J. Sam – not on ballot.
Roxanne C. Shiels – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.
David W. Ulmer – on 2015 ballot. Not elected.

do your own research and draw your own conclusions . . . must be nice to lose an election and still win a seat (AHEM UPWARD STATE!)

Thanks Mr. Simons
Remember.....According to the new concept @ good Old State...it's better to GIVE than receive

 

[Cruising Route 66]

I'll reiterate: the Alumni Association is not an organ of University governance. This should be obvious by looking at the Alumni Council, even before the Scandal. The Alumni Association works for University leadership (i.e., Barron and Rod Kirsch) and ultimately on behalf of the University's development (fund raising) effort. If the University wasn't interested in raising money from alumni, it wouldn't have an Alumni Association. The Alumni Association cultivates prospective donors to the University. Same as elsewhere.

And, yes, the AA needs to get its act together on its by-laws.

I wonder if they're having trouble finding a replacement for Roger Williams who retires at the end of this month. he AA is large and powerful (http://www.collegemagazine.com/10-best-college-alumni-networks/), but given how angry and divided our alumni are, I suppose a lot of qualified candidates would decide to pass. You'd be surprised how a package of $250K /yr in salary and benefits can overcome obstacles.

 

[Cruising Route 66]

You're right of course, and I don't necessarily have a problem with the power elite, if they exercise that power for the benefit of the greater good and not for their own nefarious purposes.

Specifically, what nefarious purposes are those?

 

[mbahses]

Specifically, what nefarious purposes are those?

You know what they are, Turgis.

 

[bjf1984]

Specifically, what nefarious purposes are those?

 

[Cruising Route 66]

z

 

[Cruising Route 66]

You know what they are, Turgis.

I don't know so please enlighten me. crickets

 

[Cruising Route 66]

Hey, Hop Sing, you're wanted back in the kitchen. Ben and the boys want lunch.

 

[bjf1984]

Hey, Hop Sing, you're wanted back in the kitchen. Ben and the boys want lunch.