Pilarz to step down

[avid1010]

I guess that really does not matter much now.

maybe.  buzz and father wild had a great relationship, and his retirement was almost a guarantee that his replacement wouldn't have the same level of relationship he and buzz had.  it seems to me like this is a good thing for buzz if any of the rumors of the last few years are true.  my thought is pilarz and lw had a connection similar to wild and buzz as they "hired" the respective ad/coach.  someone new comes in, and if lw really is a prick, buzz isn't dealing with the guy who hired him.  

[Eldon]

Who knows?  It's not lack of fundraising capacity.  Pilarz did well at Scranton.  It's been years since the Magis Campaign and is commonly believed that University Advancement has grown stagnant and staff-heavy for the $$ it currently brings in.  The Office of the President got rid of Julie Tolan, who served as VP of UA for years.  The new guy, whom I know personally, is top notch and has a track record for running successful, efficient operations.  (That said, I met Tolan years go and had high regard for her, too, back then.")

If I were a betting man, this is not because of anything scandalous.  Any university keeping a president on once a scandal has come to light is simply asking for it, and i hope to God the MU board isn't that stupid.  I guess the board could have come to the understanding that Pilarz is no Wild and wants a change, but that is remote and Pilarz seems at least solid.  More than anything, it sounds like the board it torqued because they wish Pilarz would not have put his hat in the ring if he was having doubts about what he wanted to do.  Now, they have to go through another search.

I would imagine Pilarz's departure is either because of a personal health issue or because of a "crisis" of vocation.  (Probably the latter.)  If it is the former, being circumspect about the facts is due to a desire to maintain his privacy.  If it is the latter, there is a good chance it is about his sexuality--either he is gay and wants to come out and live a more honest life or is straight and wants to pursue a relationship with a woman.  This would account for the bit about the consideration he has given to his ministry over the past three years.

Anyway, my two cents.

Great first post.  Welcome.

[Aughnanure]

I can show you a relationship that most that are in that poll with that view have their heads either so far up one coach's arse or in the sand (either way, doesn't matter)....but yes, let's see that SCIENTIFIC poll.     At least on this particular topic.  Do you not remember the folks here that said Buzz should have no boss, no administration oversite.  WOW.

Does it have any effect on Buzz....whenever a new boss is hired it can have an effect.  No one knows for sure until new person is hired.  Seems pretty obvious.   Wait and see.  Maybe the new President will want to make us more like SLU.  

Stop making crap up.

[314warrior]

Who knows?  It's not lack of fundraising capacity.  Pilarz did well at Scranton.  It's been years since the Magis Campaign and is commonly believed that University Advancement has grown stagnant and staff-heavy for the $$ it currently brings in.  The Office of the President got rid of Julie Tolan, who served as VP of UA for years.  The new guy, whom I know personally, is top notch and has a track record for running successful, efficient operations.  (That said, I met Tolan years go and had high regard for her, too, back then.")

If I were a betting man, this is not because of anything scandalous.  Any university keeping a president on once a scandal has come to light is simply asking for it, and i hope to God the MU board isn't that stupid.  I guess the board could have come to the understanding that Pilarz is no Wild and wants a change, but that is remote and Pilarz seems at least solid.  More than anything, it sounds like the board it torqued because they wish Pilarz would not have put his hat in the ring if he was having doubts about what he wanted to do.  Now, they have to go through another search.

I would imagine Pilarz's departure is either because of a personal health issue or because of a "crisis" of vocation.  (Probably the latter.)  If it is the former, being circumspect about the facts is due to a desire to maintain his privacy.  If it is the latter, there is a good chance it is about his sexuality--either he is gay and wants to come out and live a more honest life or is straight and wants to pursue a relationship with a woman.  This would account for the bit about the consideration he has given to his ministry over the past three years.

Anyway, my two cents.

I was with you up till the sexuality thing.  I find that highly unlikely.  A crisis of vocation is likely much more mundane.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I was with you up till the sexuality thing.  I find that highly unlikely.  A crisis of vocation is likely much more mundane.

If its about "his sexuality" that constitutes a gargantuan scandal...gay or straight.

[Jay Bee]

Great first post.  Welcome.

Which part was your favorite? "Good chance ... he is gay and wants to come out and live a more honest life"

[Skatastrophy]

I heard from a reliable source that Fr. Pilarz failed in his duty to get bigeast.org up and running earlier this summer. Because of this he is no longer considered fit to lead.

[Pakuni]

Stop making crap up.

Actually, in Chico's defense, he's not exactly making that up.

[mileskishnish72]

I'm not one of the Chico's haters, but Jeez, Chico, this is a new low for you - a Liz Warren reference. It's tough enough living in this liberal bastion of the People's Republic of Massachusetts - please, I beg you, no more quotes from our distinguished Native American senator on Scoop - Scoop is a refuge.

[314warrior]

If its about "his sexuality" that constitutes a gargantuan scandal...gay or straight.

Pilarz is a 54 year old Jesuit. I find it very hard to believe that some new revelation about his sexuality is driving him to give up his post.  If he was a young priest or a diocesan priest I would consider it possible. Ten years of formation and ten years of being a president at another university would have likely uncovered it already. There may be a scandal or something, but this surely isn't it.

a Liz Warren reference...

Gotta love Elizabeth Warren.  She is a great consumer advocate.  The R's in the Senate wouldn't confirm her for CFPB so she took one of their seats.

[buckchuckler]

Pilarz is a 54 year old Jesuit. I find it very hard to believe that some new revelation about his sexuality is driving him to give up his post.  If he was a young priest or a diocesan priest I would consider it possible. Ten years of formation and ten years of being a president at another university would have likely uncovered it already. There may be a scandal or something, but this surely isn't it.

Gotta love Elizabeth Warren.  She is a great consumer advocate.  The R's in the Senate wouldn't confirm her for CFPB so she took one of their seats.

No one cares about your political opinions.  This is supposed to be a safe zone. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Pilarz is a 54 year old Jesuit. I find it very hard to believe that some new revelation about his sexuality is driving him to give up his post.  If he was a young priest or a diocesan priest I would consider it possible. Ten years of formation and ten years of being a president at another university would have likely uncovered it already. There may be a scandal or something, but this surely isn't it.

I'm not saying its definitely a sexual issue, but the fact that he's 54 has zero to do with anything. And the fact that nothing has been uncovered has zero to do with anything. Maybe he found a girlfriend? Maybe he thinks he might be gay? Plenty of people have these things happen at 54...just not Jesuit university presidents, which is why it'd be scandalous.

[warriorchick]

Maybe he thinks he might be gay? Plenty of people have these things happen at 54...just not Jesuit university presidents, which is why it'd be scandalous.

Um, pretty sure it's okay to be gay and be a priest.  You just have to be celibate (just like if you were straight).

[Aughnanure]

Actually, in Chico's defense, he's not exactly making that up.

Seriously? What "folks" were calling for no AD or no boss? I follow along pretty well, but I always feel likle Chicos takes one idiotic comment and then tries to paint everyone on that side of the argument with that.

Were there really more than one or two posters calling for no AD/Boss? I mean, like, a real poster.

[4everwarriors]

The whole thinkin' about it for 3 years doesn't add up since he's only been here for 2 years. I'm sure it'll all sort out in due time.

[brewcity77]

Seriously? What "folks" were calling for no AD or no boss? I follow along pretty well, but I always feel likle Chicos takes one idiotic comment and then tries to paint everyone on that side of the argument with that.

Were there really more than one or two posters calling for no AD/Boss? I mean, like, a real poster.

No one was saying no AD or president, but I remember some calling for effectively no oversight. It probably was only 1-2, but that doesn't mean he's quite painting everyone with that brush.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Um, pretty sure it's okay to be gay and be a priest.  You just have to be celibate (just like if you were straight).

Um...what is your point? That the possibility (remote as it may be) that our university's president resigned because he's a latent homosexual wouldn't be scandalous or noteworthy? Let me be the first to tell you that, if this were the case, it'd be front page news across the country.

[Aughnanure]

No one was saying no AD or president, but I remember some calling for effectively no oversight. It probably was only 1-2, but that doesn't mean he's quite painting everyone with that brush.

Okay, that's probably accurate ("effectively"). But saying "the folks" would not communicate 1-2 to me, but more like a group of some relevant size.

[NersEllenson]

I can show you a relationship that most that are in that poll with that view have their heads either so far up one coach's arse or in the sand (either way, doesn't matter)....but yes, let's see that SCIENTIFIC poll.     At least on this particular topic.  Do you not remember the folks here that said Buzz should have no boss, no administration oversite.  WOW.

I can make you aware of a similar relationship whereby someone here still has their head up Tom Crean's arse, while simultaneously having their head buried in the sand with regard to how good Buzz Williams is.

WOW.

[warriorchick]

Um...what is your point? That the possibility (remote as it may be) that our university's president resigned because he's a latent homosexual wouldn't be scandalous or noteworthy? Let me be the first to tell you that, if this were the case, it'd be front page news across the country.

My point is that being a latent homosexual wouldn't be a reason for him to resign.

[Pakuni]

Seriously? What "folks" were calling for no AD or no boss? I follow along pretty well, but I always feel likle Chicos takes one idiotic comment and then tries to paint everyone on that side of the argument with that.

Were there really more than one or two posters calling for no AD/Boss? I mean, like, a real poster.

Well, there's a reason I wrote Chico's "wasn't exactly" making that up.
No, there was no widespread push for no AD.
There was, though, a small minority who argued that Buzz, as MU's most prominent and public figure, should essentially be allowed to run his program however he sees fit without interference or input from others (and certainly not an ex-Domer football player or priest).

[Pakuni]

The whole thinkin' about it for 3 years doesn't add up since he's only been here for 2 years. I'm sure it'll all sort out in due time.

It does if he wants to get out of academia and pursue some other field related to his vocation. Maybe he wants to go work in a refugee camp or go on a mission.

[4everwarriors]

Why would he take the MU gig if his thoughts were foggy?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Stop making crap up.

Making stuff up?  Would you like me to post the examples where people said he didn't need oversight, didn't need a boss and my favorite one, athletics should be on their own and not have to worry about the university at all.....left to his own devices and get out of his way and leave him alone and he can supervise himself.

I wasn't making ANYTHING up....and though I appreciate Pakuni's step in, I would quibble with the "not exactly" as well.  Not a damn thing I made up...that's truly how some people feel around here.  Like it's a separate entity from the university, a minor leagues where he shouldn't have to answer to anyone.

[Tugg Speedman]

If MU will consider a lay person, and their is a current search for a new Provost, how about someone with connections and good at fund raising.  A former politician is typically who takes these position (see Mitch Daniels now at Purdue).  So take Tommy Thompson now.  Yeah he's old but he'll have say in picking the new Provost (who really runs the University) and hopefully he sticks at MU long enough for Scott Walker to take over.

If not Thompson because you cannot see past political affiliation (as it should not matter) then how about Herb Kohl ... Or does the lay person have to be catholic?