Posted on 03/07/2005 8:52:49 PM PST by ajolympian2004
Full text of CU President Hoffman's letter of resignation sent to the CU Board of Regents Monday March 7, 2005.
To the Board of Regents:
I have spoken many times about my view of principled leadership. It has become clear to me that, amid the serious matters the University of Colorado now confronts, my role as the leader of the University has become an issue. It appears to me it is in the University's best interest that I remove the issue of my future from the debate so that nothing inhibits CU's ability to successfully create the bright future it so deserves.
Therefore, I intend to resign my position as President of the University of Colorado effective June 30, 2005 or whenever the Board names a successor.
This decision enables me to continue to be an advocate for quality public higher education in the State of Colorado and to work even more closely with the Board to resolve the very serious budget matters currently before the state legislature, to resolve the Ward Churchill matter, and to attend to the pending Title IX trial. It further enables us to oversee the first full year of the reforms we implemented regarding the Athletics Department, football recruiting and our alcohol and sexual conduct programs. It also provides time for the Regents and the University to make as orderly and seamless a leadership transition as possible.
I do not take this step lightly or hastily. I love CU. I have given it my heart and soul these past five years. I deeply appreciate the enormous support and assistance I have received from the students, faculty, administrators, legislature and the larger CU community.
The controversies we have confronted in the past year have helped clarify a set of values and principles I think are vitally important for the University's future. They are values and principles I personally hold dear. They include: o Respect for the individual; o Protection of free speech and academic freedom; o Fiscal, academic, and behavioral responsibility and accountability; o Acting in the best interest of the University, no matter what the pressures; o Maintenance of an elected Board of Regents to provide a buffer against the abuse of power; o Creation of a vibrant, well-supported public higher education system, because public education is one of the most important sources of upward mobility in our society, providing opportunity for young people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.
To that end, the larger CU agenda is quite clear, and I urge the Regents and my successors to continue to pursue it vigorously. It requires ensuring the financial health of the University; creating and maintaining an environment that is welcoming, tolerant and supportive of all students; stimulating learning, academic excellence and increasing the number of areas in which CU is a true academic leader; maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior; and rebuilding CU's reputation as the outstanding university that it is.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve as President of the University of Colorado. We have accomplished great things, the controversies of the past year notwithstanding. Among them are the creation of the Coleman Institute and the molecular biotechnology initiative, the rapid growth of the Fitzsimons campus, gaining enterprise status for CU and all of higher education, consolidation of the Denver and Health Sciences campuses, strengthening the future of the Colorado Springs campus, and creating one of the most productive technology transfer programs in the country. During that time, two faculty members have won Nobel Prizes, four have been awarded MacArthur Genius Awards, and annual research productivity has increased by $100 million.
Of these achievements we should all be proud.
I thank you deeply for your past support, and wish CU nothing but the best and brightest future.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hoffman
Click here for all 9 News video coverage of Hoffman's resignation and related stories
Also:
News 4 Colorado's coverage here:
http://news4colorado.com/topstories/local_story_066120509.html
Did you hear any of that?
On our local talk radio station KHOW that was mentioned, but not in much detail.
Reaction to University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman's announcement that she is resigning by June 30:
________
"The quality of Betsy Hoffman's character is clear; today she put the interest of the university before that of her own. Betsy Hoffman has served the University of Colorado ably during her nearly five-year tenure, and her vision, strong will and steady hand will be missed. All of the CU family owes President Hoffman a deep debt of gratitude. However, it has become clear to many in the CU family that our university — one of the most distinguished in the nation — has suffered greatly from a series of controversies that seem to be growing, not abating. ... On Monday, President Hoffman realized the future of CU is far more important than any single individual." — Board of Regents Chairman Jerry Rutledge in a statement.
________
"It was with regret that I learned of President Hoffman's decision to step down. I have truly enjoyed working with her over the past five years. She has provided crucial leadership at a time when the university faces enormous challenges. Through it all, President Hoffman has acted in the best interests of the university. Even now, as she announces her decision to step down, her primary concern is what's best for the university. We will miss her energy, her ideals and her commitment to ensuring the future of the University of Colorado." — CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano.
________
"I see it as part of an agenda for a political viewpoint to assert absolute state control over the university. It's been public that the intent is to review every instructor, all content, every core course to vet it for adherence to a political line. She has been resistant to that idea, has been working to defend the principle of academic integrity in the face of almost stonewall opposition to the idea that quite a range of viewpoints are deserving of articulation." — ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill.
________
"I'm heartbroken that this is what she's decided to do because I do think she is a fabulous university president and I think the circumstances in all of the crises over the last 14 months, they're not about Betsy, they're about the university. Since her name started to become very focal and people were calling on her to resign, I think she realized the best thing for the university would be to remove herself from the equation." — Former Regent Maureen Johnson Ediger, who served from 1997 to 2003.
________
"Even with this resignation we need to continue a strong commitment of supporting higher education in Colorado. I call upon all my legislative colleagues and elected officials to pursue funding for our colleges and universities." — State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Golden.
Yeah I agree and read the reaction from Ward Churchill above. He must carry around a Thesaurus in order that he might sound intelligent.
I suspct that Churchill had someone write that for him.
Here are the audio links from an interview with Churchill friend and follower Glen Spagnuolo on the Caplis and Silverman show from last Thursday March 3rd. Glen views police officers as legitimate targets. Dan Caplis whose father is a 30 year veteran of the Chicago police force loses it at the end of the interview.
(Windows media player)
http://www.startcolorado.com/iac/KHOW-AM/spagnuolo.wma (8 minutes, 19 seconds)
http://www.startcolorado.com/iac/KHOW-AM/spagnuolo-2.wma (28 minutes, 50 seconds)
In many of Churchill speeches across the country he consistently advocates violence against the men and women of law enforcement, especially the FBI and the local police force wherever he is speaking at that time.
Do you know what chin-printing is?
Hoffman says:
"I have spoken many times about my view of principled leadership"
Remember this?
DENVER -- The University of Colorado president was criticized Tuesday for refusing to condemn a vulgar anatomical reference allegedly used to describe a female football player who says she was raped by a teammate.
Colorado president Elizabeth Hoffman made the statement in a deposition for lawsuits filed by three women who allege they were sexually assaulted by football players and recruits who went to a party at one of the women's apartments in 2001, KUSA-TV reported Monday.
KUSA said it had obtained a partial transcript of the deposition that was scheduled to be released Tuesday.
During Hoffman's deposition, one woman's attorney said the derogatory term had been used by a Colorado football player against former placekicker Katie Hnida. The attorney asked Hoffman if she thought the term was "a filthy and vile word."
Hoffman replied that it was a "swear word" and that its meaning depended on the circumstances in which it was used, the station reported.
When asked if it could ever be used in a polite context, Hoffman replied, "Yes, I've actually heard it used as a term of endearment."
No, this is the first I've ever heard of this...
Yes, I remember that, and wondered what color the sky is on her planet. And then I read this from her resignation letter: "I love CU. I have given it my heart and soul these past five years." It might have helped if she'd given it a little brainpower or maybe even shown some strength. "Heart and soul" doesn't get rid of rapist football players or blisters like Ward Churchill.
What was this polite vulgarity that can be used as a term of endearment to women. I am not familiar with the story...
Principled leadership would have been quite useful to President Hoffman in this situation.
Unfortunately, having a view of it, or, better yet, speaking of having a view of it, really isn't an adequate substitute
c-word... rhymes with 'punt'...
Yep, that's my favorite "term of endearment"! LOL.
Here at work this morning on the overnight shift we were discussing just that. We came up with the idea of having Ward Churchill throw out the first pitch on opening day for the Colorado Rockies. That way this controversey would spill over into the sports world and be the subject of sports talk show all across the country. Just what all the people here at Free Republic who enjoy hearing about Churchill everyday day, all the time want to hear I'm sure. ;)
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