Why is the University of Missouri throwing money away?
Thursday, August 02, 2007
What exactly is the University of Missouri paying Baker & Associates for? Baker & Associates apparently has a contract to search for a new UM System President, but they really haven't done much. They picked a guy from the New England area who turned down the job for a private sector job in Florida. You mean to tell me that no one got a feeling that the guy would do that? Baker and Associates should have been fired if they didn't smell that one coming. And if they did smell it coming, why did they pursue him?
Now, they apparently approached Sara Martinez Tucker about being a candidate for the job. Ms. Tucker was just confirmed for the U.S. under secretary of education in Dec. 2006. It was a cold shot in the dark thinking she would want to jump ship already. And why would you want someone who would jump ship that soon after going through confirmation.
Plus, Sara Martinez Tucker already has made a questionable decision in her short term as under secretary of education. Nelnet, a student loan firm, was found to have overbilled the federal government by $278 million. Sara Martinez Tucker ruled that Nelnet wouldn't have to pay back the $278 million. Nelnet made a $50,000 contribution to the Hispanic Scholarship fund while Tucker was at the helm.
This is another reason why Norm Stewart should be the next UM System President.
Labels: UM
