"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: and some will think that it's all over

by: Michael Bersin

Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 16:44:45 PM CDT

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Mazel tov.

This is the fifty-third post in an ongoing series as we file Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) requests and investigate the non-renewal of the contract of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Links to previous coverage are below the fold. BG and MB

Media coverage from Buffalo, New York:

Podolefsky picked to head Buffalo State College
By Jay Rey
News Staff Reporter
Updated: March 18, 2010, 7:44 am
Published: March 18, 2010, 9:38 am

... His separation from Central Missouri, however, created a bit of a stir on campus.

Despite a faculty petition to retain Podolefsky and a glowing letter of recommendation from the state's higher-education commissioner, Central Missouri's board of governors decided, in a 4-3 vote, not to renew his contract, which expires in June. The board publicly offered no explanation but praised his contributions.

"Boards change, and new members want to go in a different direction," Podolefsky said during a phone interview Wednesday. "But I was very much affirmed by the response on campus from the faculty. That made me feel good about my five years."

Podolefsky has been mentioned as a presidential candidate at a number of colleges, including Central Washington State, the University of Central Arkansas and Youngstown State University, before he eventually landed the job at Buffalo State...

From Buffalo State College:

...Dr. Podolefsky has an extensive and successful background in public higher education and currently serves as president of the University of Central Missouri. His biography and CV are available on the Buffalo State Web site. His wife, Ronnie Podolefsky, is a civil rights attorney and a very dynamic person, and we are pleased and proud to welcome her as well to the Buffalo State College community.

Dr. Podolefsky embraces the importance of our vital mission and core values, including outstanding education, research, service learning, access, and diversity. He is extremely bright and engaging and will be a forceful advocate for our college in SUNY and throughout the community, the state, and the country...

That's quite a positive review. That's definitely going to grate on one individual in particular.

Remember this radio broadcast?:

...I'm not the problem. No question about that. The problem's gonna leave in June. That's the problem. And it'll be gone soon, we just have to wait. Okay....

Or this radio broadcast?:

...Throwin' those darts, eventually one sticks on the board...

Yes, of course, applying for, interviewing at, and being offered a position as president of a University is like playing darts.

Or this radio broadcast?:

...Aaron Podolefsky. Out. We've talked about it for a long time....

....The, the thing that really upset me, that kind of got [garbled] going originally was, for years there was a Christmas tree lit at Selmo Park. Remember that?

[....]

Drive by. He stopped that. I mean I think every religion should be able to celebrate, uh, in their own way, but, I mean we do live in Warrensburg, Missouri. This is America. You know. Let's bring that back. How 'bout that?

As if people are going to forget.

Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)

Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 - a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)

It wasn't just about a tree (October 21, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": I heard it on the radio (October 21, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": let's not get cut out of the will (October 22, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": $87.75 will get you one sheet of paper (October 23, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": They're not playing hardball, they're playing cat and mouse  (October 23, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": a cola and some scoreboards (October 24, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": a few more pieces of the puzzle? (October 28, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: your silence means consent (October 29, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: let's not get cut out of the will, part 2 (October 30, 2009)

Old media irony impairment (October 30, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement?": I heard it on the radio, part 2 (October 31, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: where everybody knows your name (October 31, 2009)

Methinks that someone is paying attention! (November 2, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: Bond, Stadium Bond (November 4, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: where everybody knows your name, part 2 (November 4, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: I heard it on the radio, part 3 (November 5, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: nothing succeeds like success (November 6, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: your Friday news dump (November 6, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: nothing exceeds like excess (November 7, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a grade for Accounting 101 (November 7, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: there ought to be a law (November 8, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: there's gotta be a contract around here somewhere (November 9, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: there ought to be a law, part 2 (November 10, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: Garbo speaks! (November 12, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle (November 13, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"? Follow the money and it reveals the timeline (November 14, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: the new president search consulting contract (November 18, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a march on a cold and rainy day (November 18, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: raise their voices (November 19, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: great moments in radio reporting (November 21, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: Oh, my! (December 3, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: It's simple, really... (December 5, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: I do truly care about the success of our students (December 6, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: "...a wonderful relationship there we're really proud of..." (December 7, 2009)

Oh brother, it's time to convene another panel on blogger ethics... (December 8, 2009)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a lesson on how not to attempt damage control (January 26, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a lesson on how not to attempt damage control, part 2 (January 28, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: welcome to the party... (February 1, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: welcome to the party, four months late, part 2 (February 2, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: those people from Denmark, you know, the Dutch (February 3, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a conversation with the Muleskinner (February 6, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a simple question (February 8, 2010)

Find the Non-Employee Game! (February 8, 2010)(NYCMule)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a different choice of phrase would have made it all better (February 11, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: never mind the facts, here's right wingnut talk radio (February 13, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: and we should give weight to your opinion... (February 18, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: fools for spin (February 20, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: fools rush in... (February 21, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: Who's the more foolish... (February 25, 2010)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a phone call from out of the blue (February 26, 2010)

HASSLER to PHILLIPS Connect-the-Dots Game! (February 27, 2010)(NYCMule)

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: project much? (February 28, 2010)

These things sometime happen when you afflict the comfortable (March 12, 2010)