Feb 2007
Developments
Mon, Feb26, 2007 - Category: Miscellaneous
Two weeks ago, Ave Maria School of Law and AMU
officials held press conferences to announce the
closure of AMSL in Ann Arbor, and the subsequent
opening of another law school in Ave Maria Town, Tom
Monaghan's south Florida real estate venture.
Monaghan's action, interpreted by many fence-sitters
as "premature", did much to galvanize opposition to
his governance.
This post summarizes several Ave Maria developments since then:
+ Update: AMU Chair Resignation
+ News stories from other media
+ "The Root of the Problem"
+ Update: The Hypocrisy of SizeMore...
This post summarizes several Ave Maria developments since then:
+ Update: AMU Chair Resignation
+ News stories from other media
+ "The Root of the Problem"
+ Update: The Hypocrisy of SizeMore...
Former Journal Editor Rips AMSL
Fri, Feb23, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
"It is thus with a heavy heart that I must tell you
in all charity that the invitation to participate in
AMSL's transition is among the coldest indignities I
have yet endured in my life. "
"Those in power quite obviously view this as a community of convenience, and I will not stand for it. The Board of Governors saw fit to bow to Mr. Monaghan's will in this endeavor and spurn the input and assistance of the school's main constituencies--faculty, alumni, and students--at every turn."More...
"Those in power quite obviously view this as a community of convenience, and I will not stand for it. The Board of Governors saw fit to bow to Mr. Monaghan's will in this endeavor and spurn the input and assistance of the school's main constituencies--faculty, alumni, and students--at every turn."More...
Another AMU Chair Resigns
Fri, Feb23, 2007 - Category: University
Ave Maria University has a short history of existence
but a long history of faculty resignations. Included
in that list are the chairmen from The Department of
Economics and The Department of Philosophy. Now, add
to that list the Chairman of the Department of Sacred
Music, who just resigned over a dispute with
administration.
UPDATE, 3/4 - here
More...
UPDATE, 3/4 - here
More...
Law School Faculty Organize
Thu, Feb22, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
"The Association of Ave Maria Faculty" is now
organized and asking for support of their academic
community in Ann Arbor. (click "More..." for full
statement & contact information)More...
Call the Media, *Then* Vote
Thu, Feb22, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
Any doubt as to whether Ave Maria School of Law is
run by Tom Monaghan's sole-proprietor "do-then-ask"
model can be put to rest. The timeline leading-up to
Tuesday's press conference in Naples reveals much.
Feb. 17 - Saturday - Board holds emergency meeting; vote taken after supposedly "fair" and "candid discussion", including option to not close
Feb. 18 - Sunday (Lord's Day)
Feb. 19 - Monday (President's Day)
Feb. 20 - Tuesday - morning announcement in Ann Arbor; statements released; afternoon press conference in Naples
Tuesday was incredibly well orchestrated despite not having any business days between the vote and the media blitz. Monaghan employees and consultants were flown-in from around the country. Even the Alumni Association President, a Detroit lawyer who surely had to rearrange his schedule, appeared in Ann Arbor and Florida. A prepared statement from the Governor of Florida was read. Representatives from Florida were flown to Ann Arbor to sell Ave Maria Town. To organize for Tuesday morning's flurry, it must have taken weeks of coordination prior to the Board's Saturday meeting. You don't ask a Governor for a statement unless it is in the bag. The announcement was even timed with a 48-hour sale of homes in the Ave Maria Town development! So much for the Board of Governor's thoughtful prudent deliberation as a group.
As Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a member of AMU's Board of Regents, recently said "I think Tom is inclined to say, 'This is my business. It's called Ave Maria University, and they're working for me. And that has some very powerful built-in tensions." (New Yorker Magazine, Feb. 2007)
UPDATE, 2/22/07 - Accreditation Jeopardized - "Call the Media, Then Tell the ABA" may not pan-out for Tom Monaghan. At this time, the Ann Arbor law school is fully accredited by the nation's accrediting body for law schools, The American Bar Association (ABA). However, ABA accreditation standard #105 states that, to maintain accreditation, the ABA must approve any "major change" in a school before that change is enacted. In 2006, Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, Michigan) lost in a suit filed against the ABA; the ABA cited Cooley for violating Standard #105 when the school opened a new campus and tweeked enrollment without prior ABA approval. How could the AMSL Board of Governors vote to close the school and move to Florida without first securing ABA approval? How will this disregard for accreditation standards be viewed by the ABA when evaluating the Florida entity for accreditation?
UPDATE, 3/8/07 - Call the Printer, *Then* Vote - It took only two weeks to put this brochure together, complete with a quote from Robert Bork? Right.
UPDATE, 3/9/07 - Call the Video Producer, *Then* Vote - add to that, promotional videos
Feb. 17 - Saturday - Board holds emergency meeting; vote taken after supposedly "fair" and "candid discussion", including option to not close
Feb. 18 - Sunday (Lord's Day)
Feb. 19 - Monday (President's Day)
Feb. 20 - Tuesday - morning announcement in Ann Arbor; statements released; afternoon press conference in Naples
Tuesday was incredibly well orchestrated despite not having any business days between the vote and the media blitz. Monaghan employees and consultants were flown-in from around the country. Even the Alumni Association President, a Detroit lawyer who surely had to rearrange his schedule, appeared in Ann Arbor and Florida. A prepared statement from the Governor of Florida was read. Representatives from Florida were flown to Ann Arbor to sell Ave Maria Town. To organize for Tuesday morning's flurry, it must have taken weeks of coordination prior to the Board's Saturday meeting. You don't ask a Governor for a statement unless it is in the bag. The announcement was even timed with a 48-hour sale of homes in the Ave Maria Town development! So much for the Board of Governor's thoughtful prudent deliberation as a group.
As Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a member of AMU's Board of Regents, recently said "I think Tom is inclined to say, 'This is my business. It's called Ave Maria University, and they're working for me. And that has some very powerful built-in tensions." (New Yorker Magazine, Feb. 2007)
UPDATE, 2/22/07 - Accreditation Jeopardized - "Call the Media, Then Tell the ABA" may not pan-out for Tom Monaghan. At this time, the Ann Arbor law school is fully accredited by the nation's accrediting body for law schools, The American Bar Association (ABA). However, ABA accreditation standard #105 states that, to maintain accreditation, the ABA must approve any "major change" in a school before that change is enacted. In 2006, Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, Michigan) lost in a suit filed against the ABA; the ABA cited Cooley for violating Standard #105 when the school opened a new campus and tweeked enrollment without prior ABA approval. How could the AMSL Board of Governors vote to close the school and move to Florida without first securing ABA approval? How will this disregard for accreditation standards be viewed by the ABA when evaluating the Florida entity for accreditation?
UPDATE, 3/8/07 - Call the Printer, *Then* Vote - It took only two weeks to put this brochure together, complete with a quote from Robert Bork? Right.
UPDATE, 3/9/07 - Call the Video Producer, *Then* Vote - add to that, promotional videos
AMSL Railroads/Misrepresents Alumni
Thu, Feb22, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
In a strong statement yesterday, the Ave Maria School
of Law's Alumni Association Board of Directors says
that school administrators refused to allow the
Association to communicate official business with its
alumni constituency. Earlier, the Alumni Board
drafted a statement condemning the closure of the
school and the manner in which the decision was
handled. The Alumni Board also claimed yesterday that
AMSL administration sent an unauthorized message to
alumni purporting to be from the Alumni Board. "...
this tends to confirm our earlier-stated reservations
about governance of the school" [click 'More..."
below to read the statement]More...
"Fact Finding" Not An "Investigation"?
Tue, Feb20, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
[emphasis added; comments in brackets]
Feb. 20, 2007 - Naples Daily News
"Dobranski [AMSL Dean] said the school of law isn’t under investigation."
Dec. 15, 2006 - memo from Dobranski to "The Law School Community"
"Since many facts are in dispute, the ABA has understandably decided to send a "Fact Finder" to the law school to gather additional information regarding these disputed matters."
[Not under investigation? Contacts at the American Bar Association have declined comment.]
***UPDATE, 2/21 - MORE CONTRADICTIONS***
Feb. 21, 2007 - Chronicle of Higher Education
"Bernard Dobranski, the law school’s president and dean, said in an interview that its Board of Governors had decided on the move after five years of discussing its options."
[discussing the option for 5 years]
Sept. 9, 2004 - Dobranski memo to the American Bar Association
"the only decision made to this point" by the board was its September 2003 decision "to not move to the Florida campus."
"the decision of the board was not to relocate. It was not a complete and final rejection of a possible move, but one which concluded that at that time, and for the immediate future, such a move would not be appropriate. ... No discussion is planned for the foreseeable future."
[So, you were not "discussing" the move in 2004, 3 years ago?]
Jan. 30, 2006 - Naples News - Headline: "Ave Maria law not planning move to Collier campus"
" "There are currently no plans to move to Naples," said Dobranski, the school's dean. "But with that said, we will have to seriously consider it, and we will more likely be doing that sooner, rather than later." "
[will have to? will be doing? So, you were not yet considering the move in 2006, one year ago?]
Feb. 20, 2007 - Naples Daily News
"Dobranski [AMSL Dean] said the school of law isn’t under investigation."
Dec. 15, 2006 - memo from Dobranski to "The Law School Community"
"Since many facts are in dispute, the ABA has understandably decided to send a "Fact Finder" to the law school to gather additional information regarding these disputed matters."
[Not under investigation? Contacts at the American Bar Association have declined comment.]
***UPDATE, 2/21 - MORE CONTRADICTIONS***
Feb. 21, 2007 - Chronicle of Higher Education
"Bernard Dobranski, the law school’s president and dean, said in an interview that its Board of Governors had decided on the move after five years of discussing its options."
[discussing the option for 5 years]
Sept. 9, 2004 - Dobranski memo to the American Bar Association
"the only decision made to this point" by the board was its September 2003 decision "to not move to the Florida campus."
"the decision of the board was not to relocate. It was not a complete and final rejection of a possible move, but one which concluded that at that time, and for the immediate future, such a move would not be appropriate. ... No discussion is planned for the foreseeable future."
[So, you were not "discussing" the move in 2004, 3 years ago?]
Jan. 30, 2006 - Naples News - Headline: "Ave Maria law not planning move to Collier campus"
" "There are currently no plans to move to Naples," said Dobranski, the school's dean. "But with that said, we will have to seriously consider it, and we will more likely be doing that sooner, rather than later." "
[will have to? will be doing? So, you were not yet considering the move in 2006, one year ago?]
LAW SCHOOL CLOSING!
Tue, Feb20, 2007 - Category: School of
Law
A stunning announcement was made this morning in Ann
Arbor by Dean Bernard Dobranski. The school is
closing and "relocating" to Florida. One faculty
already resigned. The Dean could not field questions
in Ann Arbor due to a 2:30pm Naples press conference.
What a shameful mess.
story developing...
UPDATE 2/20, noon - resignation letter of AMSL Associate Profesor Kevin Lee
UPDATE 2/20, 12:15pm - letter from Dean to AMSL students; 10am (click "more" below)
UPDATE 2/20, 12:30pm - AMSL Student Bar Association President J.D. Tripoli tells Board of Governors "It saddens me to inform you that rather than build, enhance, or comfort a community, you chose to meticulously tear one down. We deserved better."
UPDATE 2/20, 2:15pm - Monaghan statement to AMSL "community"
UPDATE 2/20, 4:15pm - AMSL Alumni Association Board of Directors issues statement condemning school Board of Governors (PDF here)
More...
story developing...
UPDATE 2/20, noon - resignation letter of AMSL Associate Profesor Kevin Lee
UPDATE 2/20, 12:15pm - letter from Dean to AMSL students; 10am (click "more" below)
UPDATE 2/20, 12:30pm - AMSL Student Bar Association President J.D. Tripoli tells Board of Governors "It saddens me to inform you that rather than build, enhance, or comfort a community, you chose to meticulously tear one down. We deserved better."
UPDATE 2/20, 2:15pm - Monaghan statement to AMSL "community"
UPDATE 2/20, 4:15pm - AMSL Alumni Association Board of Directors issues statement condemning school Board of Governors (PDF here)
More...
Catholic Social Teaching
Fri, Feb02, 2007 - Category: Foundation
"AMU does not behave like a Catholic employer. "
- former AMU Chairman of the Department of Economics (Dec. 2005)More...
- former AMU Chairman of the Department of Economics (Dec. 2005)More...
The Hypocrisy of Size
Fri, Feb02, 2007 - Category: Town
Funded by billionaire Tom Monaghan, AMU writer Joseph
Pearce's new book ("Small is Still Beautiful") is
either a brilliant spoof on conservative Catholic
thought, or ironic to the point of being
hypocritical. The University being built by money
from Domino's global fast food franchise - and
located in a new south Florida super-development
recently named "the nation's largest construction
site" - has put forth a writer to "warn of impending
calamity if rampant consumerism, technological
dynamism, and economic expansionism" continue. Huh?
UPDATE, 2/22 - The response to this post has been stunningly positive and appreciative. Businessman Mark Egger tells AveWatch "I made a contract proposal three years ago to manage the college bookstore at AMU, but instead they selected the world's largest college bookstore contractor [Follett]. I guess a small Catholic family-run business just didn't fit with their plans." Other important points were submitted:
+ [visitor quote] "You can't tell Wal-Mart and Walgreens that they can't sell contraceptives, but a Catholic pharmacist could be found who would operate under Catholic teaching and would not sell contraceptive. But this is not Monaghan's way of doing things. For him, big is beautiful."
+ Several visitors stated that Dominos franchises, under Monaghan's tenure, would hire manager trainees with the verbal promise that they'd eventually become managers. The trainees worked long hours for low wages. Just prior to the end of their trainee period, they were fired.More...
UPDATE, 2/22 - The response to this post has been stunningly positive and appreciative. Businessman Mark Egger tells AveWatch "I made a contract proposal three years ago to manage the college bookstore at AMU, but instead they selected the world's largest college bookstore contractor [Follett]. I guess a small Catholic family-run business just didn't fit with their plans." Other important points were submitted:
+ [visitor quote] "You can't tell Wal-Mart and Walgreens that they can't sell contraceptives, but a Catholic pharmacist could be found who would operate under Catholic teaching and would not sell contraceptive. But this is not Monaghan's way of doing things. For him, big is beautiful."
+ Several visitors stated that Dominos franchises, under Monaghan's tenure, would hire manager trainees with the verbal promise that they'd eventually become managers. The trainees worked long hours for low wages. Just prior to the end of their trainee period, they were fired.More...
"Why am I still hung-up in Ann Arbor?"
Thu, Feb01, 2007 - Category: Town
Tom Monaghan at the Marco Island Civic Association
annual meeting, January 30, 2007.
Besides the usual canned lines about wanting to die broke, Monaghan makes the case that he moved the University to Naples despite his own "selfish" reasons to stay in Michigan, and that he was prepared to pay "$120 million in cold cash" for another parcel of land prior to the Barron Collier deal.
"I didn't have to do a marketing study. I've been doing demographics of the whole world as a hobby. I knew where the best place in the country was for a school.."
"Some people have suggested that its [Ave Maria Town] only going to be open for Catholics. That's ridiculous.."
"And we ended-up with an arrangement where we got 900 acres of land for the school. We have there's a total of 10,800 acres, and the other ninety-nine hundred acres we bought 50% of. So, in effect, the university owns 50% of ninety-nine hundred acres."
Updated 2/2/07 (click below)More...
Besides the usual canned lines about wanting to die broke, Monaghan makes the case that he moved the University to Naples despite his own "selfish" reasons to stay in Michigan, and that he was prepared to pay "$120 million in cold cash" for another parcel of land prior to the Barron Collier deal.
"I didn't have to do a marketing study. I've been doing demographics of the whole world as a hobby. I knew where the best place in the country was for a school.."
"Some people have suggested that its [Ave Maria Town] only going to be open for Catholics. That's ridiculous.."
"And we ended-up with an arrangement where we got 900 acres of land for the school. We have there's a total of 10,800 acres, and the other ninety-nine hundred acres we bought 50% of. So, in effect, the university owns 50% of ninety-nine hundred acres."
Updated 2/2/07 (click below)More...