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All Three Finalists to Be President of The Evergreen State College Withdraw From Process (WA)
The Chronicle ^ | 5/7/2021 | Rolf Boone

Posted on 05/08/2021 11:09:41 AM PDT by llevrok

A year-long process to find the next president of The Evergreen State College came to a shocking conclusion Wednesday when the college’s Board of Trustees emerged from a three-hour meeting and announced that the three finalists for the job had withdrawn their names from consideration.

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Karen Fraser said all three finalists — Michael Dumont, Catherine Kodat and Lee Lambert — withdrew following recent interviews with faculty, students, staff and alumni.

“We’re still in a state of surprise and disappointment,” she said. “This is where we are at the moment.”

The Olympian wasn’t privy to all the community interviews, but did observe a three-hour virtual gathering with alumni and others, which appeared to be a cordial exchange of questions and answers with the finalists.

The finalists were:

• Michael Dumont, a recently retired Navy vice admiral and lawyer with experience as a prosecutor and national security leader. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Maine, a law degree from Suffolk University Law School and master’s degrees in national security studies from the U.S. Army War College and the National War College.

• Catherine Kodat, provost and dean of faculty at Lawrence University in Wisconsin, and a former journalist turned academic scholar who has served as faculty, department chair, and dean at several liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. She earned an undergraduate degree in English at the University of Baltimore, and her graduate degrees at Boston University.

• Lee Lambert, chancellor of Tucson’s Pima Community College system, is a former president of Shoreline Community College and an Army veteran. He earned his undergraduate degree from Evergreen and a law degree from Seattle University, and went on to serve as special assistant to the president for civil rights and legal affairs at Evergreen.

rustee Ed Zuckerman defended the process the college undertook to find a president, but also said, “We have some learning to do as a community as to why they withdrew.”

“The process is not at issue from my standpoint,” he said.

Trustee David Nicandri said the common conceit about the college is that its biggest challenge is in recruitment and retention, but he also cited a “deeper set of problems” facing the college, which he did not identify.

“A forthcoming interim president or interim administrator or permanent appointment must engage constructively and continuously with the campus community with one primary objective in mind — that we engage in the ideal model of shared governance in a collegial and constructive manner,” he said.

On that note, Nicandri made a motion before the board to identify a process that can bring forward an interim president or interim administrative structure by July 1, while the board continues to look for a president. His motion was approved by the board.

Current president George Bridges, who announced more than a year ago a plan to return to teaching, leaves the job of president at the end of June.

Zuckerman said the board received a tremendous amount of input from the community about the presidential search process, and that there were “strong opinions that have to be dealt with in a positive manner.”

Zuckerman made a motion before the board as well, saying that since there will not be a president-elect working with the current president, the board will be the entity to fill any future vacancies among the ranks of senior vice presidents. The board agreed to that as well.

“The board is ready to roll up its sleeves to do what needs to be done until we get a president,” he said.

Trustee Miguel Perez-Gibson echoed Fraser’s remarks.

“We surprised and shocked a lot of people today and believe me, we feel your surprise and shock,” he said.

The Board of Trustees was set to meet again at 11 a.m. Friday.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: academia; catherinekodat; college; davidnicandri; education; edzuckerman; evergreen; evergreencollege; evergreenstate; georgebridges; karenfraser; leelambert; michaeldumont; miguelperezgibson; notabouteducation; notarealcollege; pc; rolfboone; washington; woke; wokeness
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Enrollment continues to drop like a lead balloon. Funding has been reduced. Seeking a president who supports "shared governance" ?? The inmates appear to still be in charge of the jail. Hmmm. That might be a key factor
1 posted on 05/08/2021 11:09:41 AM PDT by llevrok
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To: llevrok

A whole lot of words that tell you nothing!


2 posted on 05/08/2021 11:13:13 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: llevrok

One of the sorriest most liberal schools in America. It’s no wonder they cannot find A president.

Liberals are evil and stupid. But even they have their limits. Who would want to be the president of that college?


3 posted on 05/08/2021 11:17:15 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Actual FR Quote: “I ain’t getting no Covid Vaccine. I’d rather get Covid and DIE before I get a jab.)
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To: llevrok

The key takeaway is the people in charge of the college do not think anything they are currently doing is wrong.


4 posted on 05/08/2021 11:18:17 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: llevrok

“We would like to hire you as our new college president. Please be aware that within a year of your hiring, we will be firing you — as well as pursuing public humiliation of you for reasons of either racism or sexual misconduct. Are you interested in the job?”


5 posted on 05/08/2021 11:20:32 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("I see you did something -- why you so racist?")
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To: llevrok

No wonder the candidates dropped out. They all realized they were trying to become president of one of the biggest s**t-hole colleges in the entire nation.

They really oughta just shut the thing down before they turn out more people like Rachael Corrie, aka ‘St. Pancake’.


6 posted on 05/08/2021 11:20:50 AM PDT by hoagy62 (DTCM&OTTH)
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To: SoConPubbie

The candidates came into the process and found out that the inmates were running the asylum. Got smart and ran


7 posted on 05/08/2021 11:21:24 AM PDT by rstrahan
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To: llevrok

In related news, White Star Line can’t find anyone who wants to be captain of the Titanic.


8 posted on 05/08/2021 11:22:00 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("And once in a night I dreamed you were there; I canceled my flight from going nowhere.")
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To: llevrok

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Karen Fraser said all three finalists ...

—————————————————————

I think I see the problem right here.


9 posted on 05/08/2021 11:24:09 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Actual FR Quote: “I ain’t getting no Covid Vaccine. I’d rather get Covid and DIE before I get a jab.)
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To: llevrok
Institutional death by political correctness.
10 posted on 05/08/2021 11:24:28 AM PDT by Salman (It's not a "slippery slope" if it was part of the program all along. )
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To: ClearCase_guy

Yep, that’s where we are today.

Considering the likelihood of being fired and publicly humiliated, I would want to negotiate a contract with a nice hefty golden parachute/severance package.

And I wonder about the pay and benefits of the job. I’ve heard many college presidents make in the neighborhood of a half million dollars a year.

I also wonder if whatever jobs these people currently have, the pay and benefits are good, and just come with so many fewer headaches that they decided to withdraw from consideration?


11 posted on 05/08/2021 11:26:53 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Responsibility2nd

“I think I see the problem right here.”

It’s possible that they didn’t realize they’d have to work for a ‘Karen’ until just now...hence they immediately extradited themselves.


12 posted on 05/08/2021 11:28:24 AM PDT by BobL (TheDonald.win is now Patriots.win)
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To: llevrok

Job opening for Captain of the Titanic. No experience required.


13 posted on 05/08/2021 11:31:27 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("Poor kids are just as bright, just as talented, as white kids." - Joe Biden Aug 8, 2019)
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To: llevrok

Crap left wing loon college with massively declining student body. Just pick someone out of the phonebook. Eventually, you’ll find someone stupid enough to take your offer.


14 posted on 05/08/2021 11:31:49 AM PDT by chuckee
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To: llevrok
Hot potato of a job that is.
Need someone like a Biden who would be a puppet for the Marxist student body.
15 posted on 05/08/2021 11:35:13 AM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
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To: llevrok

“We have some learning to do as a community as to why they withdrew.”

Simple answer, they’ve taken their liberal beliefs too far.


16 posted on 05/08/2021 11:37:52 AM PDT by bgill
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To: llevrok

Trustee David Nicandri said the common conceit about the college is that its biggest challenge is in recruitment and retention, but he also cited a “deeper set of problems” facing the college, which he did not identify.

No one wants to address the woke dumpster fire in the room.


17 posted on 05/08/2021 11:42:09 AM PDT by Flick Lives (“Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives.”)
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To: llevrok

2 of the 3 are Veterans, so that probably immediately “disqualified” them.


18 posted on 05/08/2021 11:44:57 AM PDT by Kenny Bania (Ovaltine? Why not call it Roundtine?)
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To: llevrok

A forthcoming interim president or interim administrator or permanent appointment must engage constructively and continuously with the campus community with one primary objective in mind — that we engage in the ideal model of shared governance in a collegial and constructive manner,” he said.

************************************************************

........translated into English, this means you will “share” your authority with every student and every teacher and make an effort to find common ground before doing a damn thing...

But, if something goes wrong, ALL BLAME IS ON YOU !!!


19 posted on 05/08/2021 11:48:44 AM PDT by Cen-Tejas
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To: llevrok

On the plus side, I highly recommend the Bret Weinstein Darkhorse Youtube channel / podcast. Bret Weinstein was the prof at Evergreen who was drummed out of the school for refusing to bow down to their absurd wokeness.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5N_uAqApEUIlg32QzkPlg


20 posted on 05/08/2021 11:49:13 AM PDT by Flick Lives (“Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives.”)
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