Jonathan Carone wrote: ↑February 6th, 2021, 5:22 pm
JK37 wrote: ↑February 6th, 2021, 4:25 pm
The search may be going badly, especially relative to the emotional expectations of many here. It may just be going slowly. If so, I’m ok with that.
An update on that process would be nice.
Reads to me like others have said, there was a need to establish that as Acting President, he has the full authority of the position, and it’s also permissible to refer to him just as President or CEO.
If your only complaint is that he was a part of a group that enabled poor behavior by another who is no longer here and never will be again - I just don’t think that DQ’s him from a short-term stopgap role. Heads need to roll? Sure, and the biggest one already did.
Some of you are ready to storm the gates with pitchforks and burn JP at the stake. But your disappointment in the process is directly correlated with your expectations at its outset. That’s on you, not JP or anyone else. It certainly explains the emotionalism, which I just don’t get.
His insistence of not only funding Falkirk, but actively supporting its mission while also trying to promote himself in political circles is another one of my issues.
I know what the people and professors of Liberty did for my walk with Jesus. I also recognize there are other centrist teenagers who are passively following Jesus who could have their world turned upside down in positive ways by our school.
But because of the political influence Prevo and those of his ilk on the board insist we must have, instead of focusing first on Jesus, second on academics, and third on politics, those kids like me no longer feel welcomed or as if they can exist at Liberty.
So yeah, call me a bit emotional about it. I think Jesus and training champions for Christ is a good thing to get emotional about.
I haven’t caught on to him doing all that in the first paragraph. If so, that’s concerning. But I wouldn’t fault him for not immediately disbanding the Falkirk either. I’m for a name change, and a redirection of purpose. And, I believe the University should maintain influence for Christ in all arenas including political, walking the fine line between it being about extending influence for Christ as opposed to self. I think walking in and breaking it up from the get-go or too early could be throwing the baby out with the bath water.
If he’s a stopgap, whatever his title because I couldn’t care less about titles, it would make sense to not make major changes. And if he’s less a stop gap and more long-term, rapid major change would be void of fully informed perspective. Just because he’s been on the board doesn’t mean he’s had active, intimate knowledge of all the goings-on. The forensic financial investigation is still ongoing. I wouldn’t want or expect an update on that until it is complete. An update on the presidential search would be nice, and is reasonable to expect. And if JP was in fact the culmination of that search process, the release was weak. If he’s the guy, it will be much more celebratory. That’s why the release reads to me as temporary.
So since he’s still temporary, even though maybe not as temporary as some hoped, let them take their time to find the next, then let the new guy make the changes to Falkirk and whatever else.
I can see how some would hope the board members would each choose themselves to step down. I’d have respect for such a move unto itself. The issue is there is no apparatus for replacement. These moments are weird for all private institutions of higher ed.
Sly, I wouldn’t discredit your concerns on that basis. I think they are valid.
Stokes - well said