Marquette Arts and Sciences dean search F-up

[MUeagle05]

Because "University Catholic" is gramatically incorrect.

And hiring a deal that's a lesbian isn't promoting anything.

You obviously didn't read the website, it's more than just grammar . . .

[Sir Lawrence]

Sounds like another classic example of hiring not the best candidate, but hiring to make some kind of impression or to make them feel better about themselves.  

Her sexual orientation should not be a reason NOT to hire someone.  Yet, at the same time, her orientation should not be the reason TO hire her either.  Is she the best candidate or not?  Forget all the other nonsense.  Diversity has such a limited definition for some people.  It seems to be defined by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender....when diversity should be based on life experience, thought process, etc.  

Hire the best damn candidate.  

I agree.  Dean Howard Eisenberg (Dean of MU Law School until he died too young) I believe to have been the best Dean MU has ever seen.  He was, of course, very Jewish.

I suspect that in the current debate, however, your suggestion that her orientation "should not be the reason TO hire her" was violated.

[LA]

How is she 100% qualified?

Progressively responsible work experience, well published, extensive network of references, experience in a catholic jesuit university.

How isn't she qualified?

[NavinRJohnson]

I still don't see how she would be harmful as a Dean, but not harmful as a member of the faculty.

Because she is more of a public figure?  This is a serious question.

Could Fr. DiUlio have done as much damage as he did as a member of the faculty?

[Hards Alumni]

I couldn't agree more, Chicos.

[MUMBA]

A few more considerations related to the role of Catholic higher education…

-   As a previous poster mentioned, let's not confuse the role of a Humanities Department at a Catholic University with Catechism class or CCD.  I hope that the students coming to Marquette have intellectual curiosity and embrace the rigor and occasional discomfort that comes with expanding one’s boundaries.  Otherwise they’d be better served memorizing facts at trade school.  

-   Marquette  recognizes the need for healthy debate and dialogue, which is why they actively recruit scholars (administrators, faculty, and student body) with diverse backgrounds.  Creating a “Catholic Bubble” isn’t going to help graduates work across difference when they encounter difficult issues in the real world.  Marquette allows students to grapple with issues (like gay marriage for example) in the safety of a classroom.  That’s how we test the convictions we developed in Catechism class or CCD.

-   Lastly, let’s be clear that professors in the Humanities don’t lecture “here’s my version of the facts”, or tell people what to think, or promote their views.  They might offer a contraversial reading for critique and analysis, and the best arguments and well articulated logic prevails.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

PC  thinking is driving everything these days. Had she been a Conservative member of the gay community, she would not have been considered.

[LAZER]

Obviously they'll never come out and say it directly.  But I think MU might want to redo their equal opportunity employer, cause they seemingly just ignored it.

[Ari Gold]

PC  thinking is driving everything these days. Had she been a Conservative member of the gay community, she would not have been considered.

Fixed. There is only room for 1 or 2 of those. But you can never have enough Socialists, Liberals, Communists, Lesbians etc

As for all those that are arguing whats wrong with her academic qualifications. It has a lot to do with administrators and deans not being afforded the academic freedom that professors do. McAdams explains it rather clearly http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/charlie_sykes_podcast/93120834.html?video=pop&t=a the whole thing starts at about 20:45

[PBRme]

I think what may have happened is that (typical of Academia) the silos were not communicating and when the selection was announced the people running advancement screamed "How could this happen" and the decision makers (Provost, Wild, etc) said damn never thought about how that would impact fundraising, parental support and relations, etc.  My guess is it was not a lone donor but a slew of negative reaction.  Lets face it not everyone is as "enlightened and open-minded" and a significant portion of the alumni and parents first reaction to hearing the titles of the "research and publications" from the new dean was negative.  Lets face it some parents are forking out $20,000 extra to sheild their kids from the perceived leftist leanings of the big state schools (whether you beleive that to be accurate or not).

Father Wild then weighed this and decided that she wasn't worth fighting a battle over.  One that he could not win either way.

[MUMBA]

Lazer, to take you point a step further, consider the University's statement on Human Dignity and Diversity...

"As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Marquette recognizes and cherishes the dignity of each individual regardless of age, culture, faith, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, disability or social class. Precisely because Catholicism at its best seeks to be inclusive, we are open to all who share our mission and seek the truth about God and the world. Through our admissions and employment policies and practices, our curricular and co-curricular offerings, and our welcoming and caring campus environment, Marquette seeks to become a more diverse and inclusive academic community dedicated to the promotion of justice.

Our commitment to a diverse university community helps us to achieve excellence by promoting a culture of learning, appreciation and understanding. Each member of the Marquette community is charged to treat everyone with care and respect, and to value and treasure differences. This call to action is integral to the tradition which we share."

http://www.marquette.edu/about/diversity.shtml

Just to be clear, I am not suggesting that Marquette should hire administrators that show blatant disregard for the school's Catholic and Jesuit identity.

In fact, the University's hiring process is heavy on Mission & Identity.  Faculty candidates are routinely asked to reconcile their research interests and teaching methods to the mission statement.  Compatability is scrutinized.  I find it very hard to believe that that an offer was extended without the candidate clearing the mission and identity hurdles. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Marquette is a *university* first - where different ideas are discussed and debated.  It's not an extention of your parish's CCD class.

And if the candidate was a stellar academic scholar but believed that a man should be able to have 10 wives.  Why shouldn't a polygamist get the same treatment in marriage as a gay person?

And thus, the pandora box opens wider and wider.

I thought that society historically put a value on marriage that had a number of practical benefits of stability, the berthing of children, etc.  The church saw those same values.  Now, with the imploring to open up marriage to other exceptions, exactly what exceptions are ok and why not all of them?  Why are we to make an exception for gay marriage and not polygamy?  

I only ask the question because it just seems a logic next step.  There are traditions, institutions, etc that society has setup for a reason.  Some are good, some are bad.  Those that are bad, eventually get changed.  Some that are good, have also been changed and brought upon unintended circumstances as a result.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Progressively responsible work experience, well published, extensive network of references, experience in a catholic jesuit university.

How isn't she qualified?

One of the criteria was to be "progressively responsible"....please define this term (sounds like it's right out of a Saul Alinsky training manual).  Progressively responsible, I love it.  I'll have to remember that one.  What you define as progressive, many people define as outrageous or even immoral. 

Well published?  From what I understand, that is not the case.

Extensive references - yes, but so do many other candidates.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Why would someone's sexual orientation even be mentioned? much less be a criteria for consideration. Get someone whose credentials bring honor and reputation to the University. Someone with Intellectual Dynamism whose accomplishments and goals bring distinction to an institution. Otherwise its feel good time for the "progressives" while chattering over cocktails. Not the kind who would rub elbows at the Avalanche.

[ChicosBailBonds]

From the UW-madison board

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2570&t=5926873

[4everwarriors]

Why is it so difficult for some to believe the "Big Donor" theory? MU is a school with a pitifully undersized endowment. And in this economy every sheckle counts.
Besides, we've all witnessed first hand the confirmation of Buzz by the King of Scratch himself, Dick Strong.

Speaking of basketball. Have we ever had a gay coach? Just axin'.

[GGGG]

One of the criteria was to be "progressively responsible"....please define this term (sounds like it's right out of a Saul Alinsky training manual).  Progressively responsible, I love it.  I'll have to remember that one.  What you define as progressive, many people define as outrageous or even immoral. 

You are reading way too much into it.  Progressively responsible means that you have a career path where you garner more responsibility over time.  (ie, professor, department chair, assistant dean, dean...)

[GGGG]

And if the candidate was a stellar academic scholar but believed that a man should be able to have 10 wives.  Why shouldn't a polygamist get the same treatment in marriage as a gay person?

Uh...because it's illegal?

[GGGG]

I think what may have happened is that (typical of Academia) the silos were not communicating and when the selection was announced the people running advancement screamed "How could this happen" and the decision makers (Provost, Wild, etc) said damn never thought about how that would impact fundraising, parental support and relations, etc.  My guess is it was not a lone donor but a slew of negative reaction.  Lets face it not everyone is as "enlightened and open-minded" and a significant portion of the alumni and parents first reaction to hearing the titles of the "research and publications" from the new dean was negative.  Lets face it some parents are forking out $20,000 extra to sheild their kids from the perceived leftist leanings of the big state schools (whether you beleive that to be accurate or not).

Father Wild then weighed this and decided that she wasn't worth fighting a battle over.  One that he could not win either way.

As someone who works in advancement, I would find it shameful if advancement "screamed" over any academic hire.

[Stringer Bellenson]

Why would someone's sexual orientation even be mentioned? much less be a criteria for consideration. Get someone whose credentials bring honor and reputation to the University. Someone with Intellectual Dynamism whose accomplishments and goals bring distinction to an institution. Otherwise its feel good time for the "progressives" while chattering over cocktails. Not the kind who would rub elbows at the Avalanche.

[/b]

While I don't see myself rubbing elbows with what some might call the "Georgetown liberals," to be fair I'm pretty sure I wasn't rubbing elbows with Harvard elitists like John McAdams and his cake-eater worshipers either.

[Hards Alumni]

Gotta love what this has progressed to.  Chicos went from rational to political adgenda in 3 posts!  Who needs rationale and logic when here-say and soothsaying are available?

the simple fact of the matter is that Catholocism is due for a social update.  To continue on its current path eliminates it of clergy by 2050.  Time to evolve or go extinct. I don't intend to belittle tradition or throw conservativsm to the side.  To do so would be the ultimate mistake.  But to not expect MU or the church to change with the times is rather unrealistic.

[21Jumpstreet]

Actually the simple fact of the matter is that it is MU's decision to hire or not hire whoever they so choose.  Did they handle it poorly?  Yes. 

[wyzgy]

My father in law is a history professor and was on the search committee. To suggest that the committee didn't do sufficient research on the candidates is false. Both Wild and Pauly had everything they needed on both candidates, both met and interviewed O'Brien and liked her.

Wild then just recently called them together to go off on them for recommending someone so against the universities teachings. The blame lies completely on Father Wild and I'm guessing it was pressure from donors that led to his change of heart. She was 100% qualified and not hired because she is an open lesbian. That is simply not right.

the search committee must have missed these minor details-here is a link to dr. o'brien's curriculum vitae-now one has to ask yourself-if they had access to this, which i would hope so, how in the heck does one make the short list??  maybe if you write for womens swank-this is absolutely an embarrassment to all involved

http://www.soc.washington.edu/users/affiliate/obrienj_CV.pdf

[Toodles1980]

the search committee must have missed these minor details-here is a link to dr. o'brien's curriculum vitae-now one has to ask yourself-if they had access to this, which i would hope so, how in the heck does one make the short list??  maybe if you write for womens swank-this is absolutely an embarrassment to all involved

http://www.soc.washington.edu/users/affiliate/obrienj_CV.pdf

So I take it you've read each of those articles and books, and determined their academic merit based on the content and not the titles correct?

[wyzgy]

come on toodles-you've got to be kidding me-gasp-reasonable people can figure out from the titles of those-ahem-scholarly writings what you may find in them-capice??  if i write a book titled how i found love staring at mens hairy bums...umm-first off-what do you think it's gonna be about??  second, i don't think it's a real resume enhancer.  next-i don't believe there will much academic merit here for even main stream thinkers.  if you want to learn about lesbos, go to a public university!  this is MARQUETTE !  we know this crap is out there-let it stay out there or go to get it yourself.  we are not here to main stream this life style.  no i'm not a homophobe.  i have a cousin who is gay and a great dude but he doesn't shove it in my face.  if dr. o'brien were a conservative lesbo, do you think she would have been considered?  i'll answer that for you-NO-so much for diversity of thought.  a conservative wouldn't feel the need to examine the sexual positions of transgenders and how to propagate internet sex-yeah, that'll earn you the big $$-maybe in san francisco, but they are a dime a bakers dozen out there-we're talking real world here baby