If you believe that Larry E. Rivers had something to do with this, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I don't want to sell you. You MUST know that Larry Rivers, as FVSU president, is riding on the coattails of an administration that has previously done the groundwork for the structures that are and will be popping up all over the campus. When he was dean of Arts & Sciences at FAMU, he did absolutely nothing! Nothing but chase you-know-what. He didn't do a thing for the faculty in the college of A&S at FAMU, and he didn't anything much for anybody else, either. He left in the middle of a semester--who does that? most folk wait until the end of the semester to at least give the appearance of loyalty--especially so after30 years or so--close out the semester, straighten things up, do whatever, but leave like that? That's like a man just up and leaving his family after 30 years, but he did. Just up and left. I don't think in a month or so, the Regents of Georgia would have given the job away. Plus Larry Rivers was under the cloud of a lot of bad publicity. Scandals, grievances, lawsuits, etc. You name, he was under the cloud, over the cloud, and inside the cloud. So, to the previous Poster, Larry isn't "getting it done." It was pretty much a "done" deal when your highness arrived at the gates. Get real, use some logic, or stay off-line.
Larry Rivers is an outstanding academician and had a stellar career at FAMU. He left because he was dis-respected by this current curse of an administration at FAMU. I worked with Larry for 20 years and know personally of his commitment and achievements. Just ask R. B. Holmes about Larry Rivers.
Larry Rivers is doing an outstanding job at FVSU. As soon as he was hired, he got out on the road and did a Fred Humphries style recruitment campaign. Freshman enrollment has skyrocketed at our university, by more than 50% at the last count I heard.
Furthermore, Rivers was indeed the driving force behind this historical preservation grant. Rivers chairs a national historical preservation committee. He was appointed to that position by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. He used his Washington, DC contacts to secure the grant and successfully lobbied the Georgia Board of Regents for matching grant money.
FVSU Wildcats are excited about the fact that we are on the move with this new president. Check out the feedback about Rivers on the Onnidan forum:
It's clear that anonymous @ 8/24/2006 7:17 AM is not a Wildcat or anyone who has even the slightest idea about what is really going on in the Valley.
Former president Kofi Lomotey was universally disliked and distrusted within the FVSU. Alumni from all the across the country rallied for his removal. He was also completely detached from the student body. Lomotey had absolutely no sense of shared governance, and thus, ran into tremendous resistance from the faculty, as well.
Lomotey's incompetence resulted in the loss of FVSU's teacher education program. A new teacher education program was established at neighboring, predominantly white Macon State. Sound familiar, Rattlers? It's just like what happened when the state shut down FAMU's law school and created a new law school at FSU.
Lomotey's reputation was so impaired after being fired from FVSU that he could not even secure another university presidency. The best he could do was become provost at Fisk. And already, some of the Fisk alums I know are asking why in the hell someone like him was hired.
I have friends and colleagues at both FVSU and FAMU and we have followed Rivers' career very closely.
FAMU's College of Arts & Sciences was managed well under retired dean Aubrey M. Perry. However, under Arthur Washington, things began to steadily fall apart. Washington's ouster was cheered by faculty in all departments, and especially by FAMU's faculty union. Washington amassed a large number of gender discrimination suits and whistle-blower law complaints during his tenure. Rivers walked into that mess and began to build up Arts & Sciences again, just like Perry had.
Under Rivers, the College of Arts & Sciences made a 180 turn for the better. Sponsored research dollars went up 25%, graduate enrollment increased 15%, 500 A&S graduates went on to enroll in doctoral programs, and numerous academic programs were successfully reaffirmed by the the Florida Department of Education.
Rivers is also a leader who puts his money where his mouth is. When he stepped into the presidency, he gave the institution a check for $100,000 (most of his annual salary). Wilcat alums are following the president's example and are being inspired to make much larger financial contributions to their alma mater.
Rivers has the potential to be the best FVSU ever. Our university will truly be one to watch in the upcoming years.
The Board of Regents gave Rivers the March start date. The BOR and its FVSU Presidential Search and Advisory Committee wanted to find someone who could quickly come in and undo the damage that Lomotey had inflicted.
The situation was further complicated when Interim President William Harris expressed interest in the permanent job. The search committee told him: "No." After that, the search was expedited to keep Harris from making too many longterm decisions that the permanent president would have to live with.
There was a broad consensus within the BOR and campus search committee that once hired, the new president should be asked to come to work as fast as humanly possible.
The Rattlers at FVSU are getting it done!
ReplyDeleteIf you believe that Larry E. Rivers had something to do with this, there's a bridge in Brooklyn I don't want to sell you. You MUST know that Larry Rivers, as FVSU president, is riding on the coattails of an administration that has previously done the groundwork for the structures that are and will be popping up all over the campus. When he was dean of Arts & Sciences at FAMU, he did absolutely nothing! Nothing but chase you-know-what. He didn't do a thing for the faculty in the college of A&S at FAMU, and he didn't anything much for anybody else, either. He left in the middle of a semester--who does that? most folk wait until the end of the semester to at least give the appearance of loyalty--especially so after30 years or so--close out the semester, straighten things up, do whatever, but leave like that? That's like a man just up and leaving his family after 30 years, but he did. Just up and left. I don't think in a month or so, the Regents of Georgia would have given the job away. Plus Larry Rivers was under the cloud of a lot of bad publicity. Scandals, grievances, lawsuits, etc. You name, he was under the cloud, over the cloud, and inside the cloud. So, to the previous Poster, Larry isn't "getting it done." It was pretty much a "done" deal when your highness arrived at the gates. Get real, use some logic, or stay off-line.
ReplyDeleteLarry Rivers is an outstanding academician and had a stellar career at FAMU. He left because he was dis-respected by this current curse of an administration at FAMU. I worked with Larry for 20 years and know personally of his commitment and achievements. Just ask R. B. Holmes about Larry Rivers.
ReplyDeleteLarry Rivers is doing an outstanding job at FVSU. As soon as he was hired, he got out on the road and did a Fred Humphries style recruitment campaign. Freshman enrollment has skyrocketed at our university, by more than 50% at the last count I heard.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, Rivers was indeed the driving force behind this historical preservation grant. Rivers chairs a national historical preservation committee. He was appointed to that position by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. He used his Washington, DC contacts to secure the grant and successfully lobbied the Georgia Board of Regents for matching grant money.
FVSU Wildcats are excited about the fact that we are on the move with this new president. Check out the feedback about Rivers on the Onnidan forum:
http://onnidan.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006687
It's clear that anonymous @ 8/24/2006 7:17 AM is not a Wildcat or anyone who has even the slightest idea about what is really going on in the Valley.
ReplyDeleteFormer president Kofi Lomotey was universally disliked and distrusted within the FVSU. Alumni from all the across the country rallied for his removal. He was also completely detached from the student body. Lomotey had absolutely no sense of shared governance, and thus, ran into tremendous resistance from the faculty, as well.
Lomotey's incompetence resulted in the loss of FVSU's teacher education program. A new teacher education program was established at neighboring, predominantly white Macon State. Sound familiar, Rattlers? It's just like what happened when the state shut down FAMU's law school and created a new law school at FSU.
Lomotey's reputation was so impaired after being fired from FVSU that he could not even secure another university presidency. The best he could do was become provost at Fisk. And already, some of the Fisk alums I know are asking why in the hell someone like him was hired.
I have friends and colleagues at both FVSU and FAMU and we have followed Rivers' career very closely.
FAMU's College of Arts & Sciences was managed well under retired dean Aubrey M. Perry. However, under Arthur Washington, things began to steadily fall apart. Washington's ouster was cheered by faculty in all departments, and especially by FAMU's faculty union. Washington amassed a large number of gender discrimination suits and whistle-blower law complaints during his tenure. Rivers walked into that mess and began to build up Arts & Sciences again, just like Perry had.
Under Rivers, the College of Arts & Sciences made a 180 turn for the better. Sponsored research dollars went up 25%, graduate enrollment increased 15%, 500 A&S graduates went on to enroll in doctoral programs, and numerous academic programs were successfully reaffirmed by the the Florida Department of Education.
Rivers is also a leader who puts his money where his mouth is. When he stepped into the presidency, he gave the institution a check for $100,000 (most of his annual salary). Wilcat alums are following the president's example and are being inspired to make much larger financial contributions to their alma mater.
Rivers has the potential to be the best FVSU ever. Our university will truly be one to watch in the upcoming years.
The Board of Regents gave Rivers the March start date. The BOR and its FVSU Presidential Search and Advisory Committee wanted to find someone who could quickly come in and undo the damage that Lomotey had inflicted.
ReplyDeleteThe situation was further complicated when Interim President William Harris expressed interest in the permanent job. The search committee told him: "No." After that, the search was expedited to keep Harris from making too many longterm decisions that the permanent president would have to live with.
There was a broad consensus within the BOR and campus search committee that once hired, the new president should be asked to come to work as fast as humanly possible.
Count me among Dr. River's admirers. I'd trade FAMU's current administration for FVSU's anytime.
ReplyDeleteAnd why should Rivers have waited until the end of the semester? A lame duck dean would have done nothing but further erode already sagging morale.
I am with you on this one BrotherBrown.
ReplyDelete