One of the charter members of the Great Destroyers, Barney Bishop, wrote to the Tallahasee Democrat, castigating the paper for its OPED opposing the appointment of John Thrasher as president of FSU. Bishop, as president of Associated Industries of Florida, along with Thrasher led the charge against the 2008 constitutional referendum called Florida Hometown Democracy. No one -- in other words -- did more than these two to harm the state of Florida. An endorsement by Barney Bishop? Please …
Re: “Say no to Thrasher” (Our Opinion, Sept. 21).
I wasn’t surprised by the Democrat’s editorial against state Sen. John Thrasher, but I’m very disappointed nonetheless. In another story in the newspaper that highlighted the background of each of the four finalists, you left out that Thrasher was chair and vice-chair of the Clay County School Board, which gives him some educational credentials. You know better, and if you don’t, then you didn’t do your research.
To suggest that FSU’s reputation will be hurt is hogwash. Florida’s universities and even FSU have had politicians who were presidents, and they did an excellent job. The views of a president on climate change and evolution are disingenuous, as everyone can guess what his views are. More importantly, where is your tolerance, and that of the faculty and students, for divergent views? I thought that was what we were supposed to be teaching the students. No, you and the faculty/students want a liberal president to match your ideology. Shame on all of you, as this is a teachable moment — and you have failed the test.
BARNEY T. BISHOP III
barney@barneybishop.com
Re: “Say no to Thrasher” (Our Opinion, Sept. 21).
I wasn’t surprised by the Democrat’s editorial against state Sen. John Thrasher, but I’m very disappointed nonetheless. In another story in the newspaper that highlighted the background of each of the four finalists, you left out that Thrasher was chair and vice-chair of the Clay County School Board, which gives him some educational credentials. You know better, and if you don’t, then you didn’t do your research.
To suggest that FSU’s reputation will be hurt is hogwash. Florida’s universities and even FSU have had politicians who were presidents, and they did an excellent job. The views of a president on climate change and evolution are disingenuous, as everyone can guess what his views are. More importantly, where is your tolerance, and that of the faculty and students, for divergent views? I thought that was what we were supposed to be teaching the students. No, you and the faculty/students want a liberal president to match your ideology. Shame on all of you, as this is a teachable moment — and you have failed the test.
BARNEY T. BISHOP III
barney@barneybishop.com
6 comments:
Gimleteye, the formatting of this post is confusing. I take it the 2nd half is Bishpp's piece in the Tallahassee Democrat, and not your writing, I had to look twice. Maybe indent it or something?
Thrasher is the new FSU president!! Just announced. Excellent news.
the state is run by good ole boys!!
That is unfortunate for the state. He is 70 years old, so maybe he won't hold up progress long, or do too much damage, and his tenure in that role won't last long. He is missing a lifetime of training and experience in higher education so he has nothing to depend on in decision-making. University presidency is not a cream puff job like some people think, and is not a place you go to retire. It is a dynamic role filled with complexity, lots of tension, and you must actually lead. It is surprising that the board has so little vision for the future of the university. Individual egos are more important than actual capabilities, and personalities are more important than the well-being of institutions that impact all of us. He knows he is unqualified, the board knows he is unqualified, but neither of them would stand up and do the right thing for the state of Florida. There remains one more approval level.
Clay County School Board to President of a major state university? Puh-leeze! Bishop is such a putz. Always has been. Talk about somebody with NO credentials besides being a suck-up.
FSU just dropped down a few pegs.
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