Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - Printable Version
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Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - Blue Hawk (Mizzou) Card - 03-31-2023
Not suggesting that anyone should follow my lead. But fwliw, this is the email I just sent in response to an email from the Buck Cardinal Club advising me that athletics give day is coming soon:
RE: Steve, can we count on you on April 6? Response: Sadly, no
Dear _____:
Mark Madsen is now coaching at Cal, due to another year of our Athletic Director and the rest of Stanford’s leadership not caring enough about athletics to make the move that has been obviously needed for several years now. I was in St. Louis at the “and he was fouled” game. That was a wonderful day for Stanford athletics. And now the guy who was fouled is coaching at Cal, when we almost certainly could have had him had Stanford’s leadership cared enough for our student-athletes to take an admittedly difficult, but also needed, step. My Stanford loving heart is broken.
I am a university administrator, so I understand these decisions (or, in this case, non-decisions, year after year) are tough. Thus, I have been gritting my teeth and making my admittedly small contributions despite my frustration with the Director of Athletics and his supervisor. I really don’t want to punish the many wonderful Cardinal student-athletes for the lack of leadership at the top of the Department of Athletics and the university.
But I am now at wit’s end. I realize that Stanford athletics will not miss my small contribution. But I don’t know what else to do. Perhaps there are enough others who take a similar path that someone in Stanford leadership will take note and provide the leadership that Cardinal student-athletes deserve.
Please do not bother sending me the form response that you have undoubtedly drafted for emails like this one. That would just waste your time, and frustrate me.
I would, however, appreciate it that you make some sort of notation of my frustration. And please remove my name from your email solicitation list.
I will continue to root for and support Cardinal student-athletes. Someday I hope to be able to contribute again, and still live with myself for doing so. But I am not there now.
Best wishes. Thank you for what you do for Stanford student-athletes. This sad situation is undoubtedly not your fault.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - winflop - 03-31-2023
Nicely stated. I wasn't that diplomatic with my similar email last year to my now-former contact at Buck/Cardinal nor with the Board of Trustees this year. Stanford desperately needs major changes in its leadership, and I'm not even sure the Board of Trustees gives a damn anymore either.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - GK3 - 04-01-2023
(03-31-2023, 10:33 PM)winflop Wrote: Nicely stated. I wasn't that diplomatic with my similar email last year to my now-former contact at Buck/Cardinal nor with the Board of Trustees this year. Stanford desperately needs major changes in its leadership, and I'm not even sure the Board of Trustees gives a damn anymore either.
The total lack of action supports this thesis. No one cares it seems. I am not sure we even have a BoT anymore. The existing one dithers and gives the impression of having thrown in the towel.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - 82lsju - 04-01-2023
here's most of the email exchange I had around AD support
part 1
Quote:Thx for the note.
Yes, disappointing end to the WBB season. Hopefully we get at least one national championship in the Spring!!!
While not specific to the AD, I've got to tell you that the ongoing stream of unpleasant news from the University is pretty concerning to me as an alum and a supporter.
- the on-going investigation into MTL's research
- the stream of pieces on how life on campus has changed since "way back when" see a couple of examples
https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-11-26/stanford-soccer-player-katie-meyer-wrongful-death-lawsuit
and
https://www.thefp.com/p/stanfords-war-against-its-own-students
which says in part
Stanford now has more than 10,000 administrators who oversee the 7,761 undergraduate and 9,565 graduate students—almost enough for each student to have their own personal butler. (There are about 2,290 faculty members.) These bureaucrats make up an increasingly powerful segment of the university population, as they expand their portfolio and send the message that all conflict should be adjudicated by them.
that's about one administrator for every two undergrads + grad students + faculty, which seems unbelievable.
part 2 a couple of days later
Quote:So some more complaining, sorry to see Mark Madsen hired by Cal and not us. I'd think he would have been a good hire as our head coach given the positive trajectory of his coaching career (and if we're willing to hire Troy Taylor from Sac State to run the football team, then hiring Mark from Utah Valley State to run the basketball team doesn't seem like a big lift). Jerod Haase has had more than enough time to get the basketball team at least one NCAA tournament bid, he should have been replaced this if not last year. I wish Mark good luck at Cal (except when we play them).
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - GK3 - 04-01-2023
(04-01-2023, 07:36 AM)82lsju Wrote: here's most of the email exchange I had around AD support
part 1
Quote:Thx for the note.
Yes, disappointing end to the WBB season. Hopefully we get at least one national championship in the Spring!!!
While not specific to the AD, I've got to tell you that the ongoing stream of unpleasant news from the University is pretty concerning to me as an alum and a supporter.
- the on-going investigation into MTL's research
- the stream of pieces on how life on campus has changed since "way back when" see a couple of examples
https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-11-26/stanford-soccer-player-katie-meyer-wrongful-death-lawsuit
and
https://www.thefp.com/p/stanfords-war-against-its-own-students
which says in part
Stanford now has more than 10,000 administrators who oversee the 7,761 undergraduate and 9,565 graduate students—almost enough for each student to have their own personal butler. (There are about 2,290 faculty members.) These bureaucrats make up an increasingly powerful segment of the university population, as they expand their portfolio and send the message that all conflict should be adjudicated by them.
that's about one administrator for every two undergrads + grad students + faculty, which seems unbelievable.
part 2 a couple of days later
Quote:So some more complaining, sorry to see Mark Madsen hired by Cal and not us. I'd think he would have been a good hire as our head coach given the positive trajectory of his coaching career (and if we're willing to hire Troy Taylor from Sac State to run the football team, then hiring Mark from Utah Valley State to run the basketball team doesn't seem like a big lift). Jerod Haase has had more than enough time to get the basketball team at least one NCAA tournament bid, he should have been replaced this if not last year. I wish Mark good luck at Cal (except when we play them).
Thank you for sharing this information. One would think that by this point MTL or the Provost would have stuck their head out of the trench far enough to at least say something. Then of course, where is the BoT, on extended vacation? It seems like no one is running the ship except the Veritable Plethora of administrators. (borrowing of course from Howard Cosell.) Of course most of the mentioned groups are doing what they can to make sure they are still getting a check next week. We have become a small imitation of the Federal and State Governments. The main thing is to protect your turf and prevent anyone from encroaching on their domain. Whether the administrators accomplish anything of a positive nature is no longer the issue, the issue is to keep the status quo and prevent changes.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - Goose - 04-01-2023
(04-01-2023, 12:47 PM)GK3 Wrote: We have become a small imitation of the Federal and State Governments. The main thing is to protect your turf and prevent anyone from encroaching on their domain. Whether the administrators accomplish anything of a positive nature is no longer the issue, the issue is to keep the status quo and prevent changes.Almost totally agree. In order to accomplish the above goals the administrators are required to carefully create the illusion of doing something by issuing politically correct statements that explain the "extreme difficulty" of their imaginary tasks using words that offend nobody and mean nothing, so they can't actually be falsified.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - winflop - 04-01-2023
(04-01-2023, 07:36 AM)82lsju Wrote: here's most of the email exchange I had around AD support
part 1
Quote:Thx for the note.
Yes, disappointing end to the WBB season. Hopefully we get at least one national championship in the Spring!!!
While not specific to the AD, I've got to tell you that the ongoing stream of unpleasant news from the University is pretty concerning to me as an alum and a supporter.
- the on-going investigation into MTL's research
- the stream of pieces on how life on campus has changed since "way back when" see a couple of examples
https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-11-26/stanford-soccer-player-katie-meyer-wrongful-death-lawsuit
and
https://www.thefp.com/p/stanfords-war-against-its-own-students
which says in part
Stanford now has more than 10,000 administrators who oversee the 7,761 undergraduate and 9,565 graduate students—almost enough for each student to have their own personal butler. (There are about 2,290 faculty members.) These bureaucrats make up an increasingly powerful segment of the university population, as they expand their portfolio and send the message that all conflict should be adjudicated by them.
that's about one administrator for every two undergrads + grad students + faculty, which seems unbelievable.
part 2 a couple of days later
Quote:So some more complaining, sorry to see Mark Madsen hired by Cal and not us. I'd think he would have been a good hire as our head coach given the positive trajectory of his coaching career (and if we're willing to hire Troy Taylor from Sac State to run the football team, then hiring Mark from Utah Valley State to run the basketball team doesn't seem like a big lift). Jerod Haase has had more than enough time to get the basketball team at least one NCAA tournament bid, he should have been replaced this if not last year. I wish Mark good luck at Cal (except when we play them).
Wow more than one administrator per student says a lot about Stanford...and makes me all the more comfortable in the actions I've taken.
Here is the email I sent to the BoT
Dear Stanford Board of Trustees,
As a Stanford alumnus, I am writing to inform you that I have amended my estate plans to no longer include Stanford University. I had included six-figure donations to both the University and the Athletic Department – not any more, not one dime. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number of friends and family who have recently asked me questions along the lines of “What the **** is going on with your alma mater?”
Over the last several years I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of the University. The tipping point for me was what happened last week at the School of Law, particularly the weak apology from the Dean of the School along with the failure to take any action against Dean Steinbach or the students whose behavior toward Judge Kyle Duncan was disgusting and embarrassment to the School and the University as a whole.
Stanford is headed in the wrong direction in so many ways. I’m calling the Board of Trustees to take at least some of the following actions that will demonstrate a new direction for the University
• Ask President Tessier-Lavigne to take a leave of absence until the investigation in to the allegations of his academic misconduct is completed
• Reverse the policies toward student social activities that have been labeled under the banner “Stanford Hates Fun”
• Deliver on all of the mental health resources that were promised last year in the wake of the suicide of senior Katie Meyer
• Remove Dean Steinbach from the School of Law
• Insist that Dean Martinez issue a second, more forceful apology that announces Dean Steinbach’s removal, disciplinary action against all students who participated in the harassment of Judge Duncan, and that the School will not tolerate any behavior of this nature. If Dean Martinez refuses to issue a reinforced apology, she should also be removed from her position
• Remove Bernard Muir as Athletic Director
Stanford has a long way to go, but these steps will be a good start in renewing its mission and the letter and spirit of The Founding Grant.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - Spiny_Norman - 04-01-2023
Has the university said or done anything to counter the accusations that Stanford hates fun? That Stanford has failed to address the mental health needs of its students? That Stanford's student judicial process is penal and petty and has failed to provide due process?
The University is being tried in the court of public opinion by their own students and they are not even offering a defense.
I hear nothing from the president, nothing from the BoT. I think that they are damaging the Stanford brand by their inaction.
This is a reunion year for me. One of the Development officers has asked to meet with me in LA this coming week when she is in town. I will be telling her that I won't be participating in my class gift and explaining why. I don't think that an organization with a $40B endowment needs much help from me anyway.
RE: Response to Buck Cardinal email appeal - 82lsju - 04-01-2023
(04-01-2023, 02:49 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: Has the university said or done anything to counter the accusations that Stanford hates fun? That Stanford has failed to address the mental health needs of its students? That Stanford's student judicial process is penal and petty and has failed to provide due process?
The University is being tried in the court of public opinion by their own students and they are not even offering a defense.
I hear nothing from the president, nothing from the BoT. I think that they are damaging the Stanford brand by their inaction.
This is a reunion year for me. One of the Development officers has asked to meet with me in LA this coming week when she is in town. I will be telling her that I won't be participating in my class gift and explaining why. I don't think that an organization with a $40B endowment needs much help from me anyway.
student affairs created a FAQ on not hating fun...
https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/social-life-faq
which leads off with
Quote:Does Stanford hate fun?
Of course not! We want fun—Stanford has always had a sense of whimsy, fun, and irreverence alongside its academic rigor. That’s been part of our enduring zeitgeist, something that distinguishes us from many of our peers. And yet, in recent years, many undergraduates have shared that this hasn’t been their experience.
and another puff piece here
https://news.stanford.edu/report/2022/11/17/update-social-life-farm/?utm_term=0_c042b4aad7-b3382af641-55119134