Weren't there only three names on the ballot ? What else would one expect.. The BOT is run like a third world dictatorship.
Yes, there were only 3 on the ballot. I've not yet seen a release on the total number of ballots submitted by alums. Last year there were 29,791 ballots submitted.
Many aren't aware, but the Michigan State Universities regents are voted for by the general voting populace.
You may be correct, though that's been discussed quite a few times on this board, especially when the BOT was going through their governance reform joke of a process last year. With the Commonwealth paying far less of PSU's budget today than they did historically, I doubt that most alums would want to see alumni-elected seats replaced by PA-elected seats.
Ours is run like a secret society. An alumni representative can't get elected without the approval of the PS4RS. How is this not corrupt ?
I disagree with this, or at least with what I interpret you as stating. If you're stating that the full BOT is run like a secret society, I would concur. If you're stating that the election process of the alumni-elected trustees is run like a secret society, I would disagree.
PS4RS certainly has become a force in the election of alumni-elected trustees. Does one have to be endorsed by them to win? I don't think so. 3 years ago, PS4RS endorsed Lubrano, Doran, and Connolly (I think; not certain of the name). Lubrano, Adam T, and McCombie were elected. The following year, PS4RS greatly improved their organization. In addition, SuePa and family backed the PS4RS slate, as did Franco. As a result, Doran, Oldsey, and Brown were elected -- all endorsed by PS4RS. Last year PS4RS put up a slate, and Upward State put up a slate. SuePa did not endorse the PS4RS candidates, though I believe Franco did (going from memory here; not 100% sure what Franco did). Pope, Jubelirer, and Lord won, and all 3 were endorsed by PS4RS. (Interesting note, one of the new at-large trustees that was elected by the BOT today was Matthew Schuyler. He was on Upward State's slate last year.) This year, PS4RS changed their process. Before the nomination process even started, they announced that they were endorsing McCombie and Lubrano, and would evaluate (but not put to a vote before their membership) applicants for their 3rd endorsement. I believe 13 candidates submitted applications for a PS4RS endorsement. Rob Tribeck won the endorsement, and all of the others that had submitted applications pulled out of the election, and thus were not on the ballot sent to the alums. (FWIW, Tribeck had also indicated that he would not run if he did not get the PS4RS endorsement, though that was not a condition that PS4RS imposed on any of the applicants for their endorsement.)
It will be interesting to see what happens next year. Oldsey, Doran, and Brown have been treated like crap by the power bloc. Only time will tell if they want to stick around to continue the fight. If they do, I'm not certain that PS4RS would endorse all 3. It's possible -- I'm just speculating, as I've never discussed this with any member of their leadership team. Regardless, I think that elections will return to contests with about 6 candidates.
Another interesting note from today's BOT meeting. Vice Chair Kathleen Casey tendered her resignation effective June 30. As such, this was her last meeting. She's a Governor-appointed trustee, and I've felt since Tom Wolf was elected this past November that there was no way he would nominate Casey for a 2nd term (with absolutely no inside info on that; just my analysis).
Traditionally, the Vice Chair became the Chair. That hasn't happened with the last 3 Vice Chairs, as Deviney didn't win a 2nd term as an alumni-elected trustee when she was Vice Chair, then Silvis was pushed out of Vice Chair by Masser (though he remained a trustee), and now Casey is resigning effective the last day of her term.
