Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Veterans Center fubar, part 7: Glenn's "military friendly" poster boys respond to the Minklerian narrative

Vets
     Last night’s Minkler post yielded a strong response. Essentially, we had presented (what seems to be) Minkler’s side of things, the essence of which is that a disgruntled faculty member (“hey, I shoulda got that job!”) and a core group of unruly vets (“we have created these monsters!”) have “Swiftboated” the innocent Minkler, who is in fact a competent professional with no history of inappropriate conduct.
     Let’s just say that, at this point, we have heard rather loudly and clearly from some irate veterans who insist that the above Minklerian narrative is a complete and perverse fiction:
  • Minkler has certainly not been “cleared” of charges that he behaved inappropriately; on the contrary.
  • Contra the Minklerians, the complaints against Minkler are serious and have necessitated his removal from the vet center; his conduct, especially with women, has been distinctly and consistently inappropriate.
  • Contra the Minklerians, the so-called “core group” of vets have never been accused by students of offensive/unwelcome behavior; they are in fact respected and valued by the IVC vet community; indeed, for years, they have been the administration’s poster boys for IVC vet-friendliness.
  • The so-called “disgruntled” instructor (who filed the initial complaint) would have gained nothing by having been selected for the vet counselor job (e.g., securing the job would have yielded no increase in salary); he/she applied essentially as a favor to the veterans
     At least one veteran with whom we spoke insists that the Minklerian “side” represents nothing less than administration’s outrageous attempt to spin the facts and divert attention from a bad hire (details to come, perhaps) and utter mismanagement of a once-promising center, which, until recently, attracted vets and thus impressed VIPs and inspired donors.
     The latter enterprise, he said, is now in serious jeopardy.

* * *
     For what it’s worth, I have asked around about the allegedly “disgruntled” instructor, and, thus far, I have been unable to find anyone who has anything critical to say about him/her. He/she is a “good person,” they say, not the vindictive soul described by Minklerians.
     Likely, despite HR’s tight-lipped ways, time will tell whose portrayal of “the complaints” about Mr. Minkler is closest to reality.
     At least to a degree, that is likely true, too, concerning these competing portrayals of “the core vets.”
     For now, I’ll simply observe that it is unlikely that Glenn and Co. would consistently rely on these vets for their various vet-friendly dog and pony shows—as, undoubtedly, they have done—if they were indeed the louts and Neanderthals that the Minklerian account describes.

Limber Lou confesses to some confusion about all this talk lately
about Vets. Why, he asks, are there so many Vets at IVC?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

This gets more and more interesting.

Anonymous said...

you create a false idea that there is a group of "minklerians" there is one mark minkler and I can name 25 veterans that can't stand him as a counselor and request to see others

Anonymous said...

For now, I’ll simply observe that it is unlikely that Glenn and Co. would consistently rely on these vets for their various vet-friendly dog and pony shows—as, undoubtedly, they have done—if they were indeed the louts and Neanderthals that the Minklerian account describes.

well there ya go

Anonymous said...

Glen and Co use whoever they want for whatever they will and if you think they won't throw you under the bus when they are done with you well you aren't listening to the screams of those they have done that to.

Roy Bauer said...

I have a good reason for being vague about my "sources" for the Minklerian perspective. Hence my reference to Minklerians. Readers should not assume that I am referring to vets who have come to me/us to defend Mr. Minkler.

Anonymous said...

If this was a healthy campus we'd have a newspaper that would cover this and other issues. But they don't want that. They think an absence of coverage and communication makes things better but it actually makes things much worse. If they cared about more than their paycheck they change things but they don;t. Thanks to the blog for caring.

Anonymous said...

The Board - or someone - should look into the people who lose their jobs - full and part-time- because they do share their views, as is encouraged, but not really tolerated. Everyone is Anonymous here because they are afraid.

Anonymous said...

This is an old story here. They use you until they don't need you anymore. It's just too bad that they're doing this with students instead of only faculty and staff. An observant board member might take notice.

Anonymous said...

Is it true that students were filmed without their knowledge and consent?

Anonymous said...

There is not a newspaper program at IVC, used to be about 15 years ago, but not anymore.
The costs of the program and lack of students participation are two main reasons not to have a two-sheet rag. Newspapers across the country are going out of business. Writers and Colluminsts are being forced out of their jobs. Only a fool would want to be a newspaper writer as a career. It is a dead end job.
I would rather see more general classes at IVC so students can earn their credits in a timely manner so that they may transfer.

Anonymous said...

That two-sheet rag you refer to is alive and well. It's called "Irvine Vets". RM terminated the paper because he could not control what was printed. Those in charge of the paper would not control it for him and ......where are they now?

My Girl Friday said...

Actually one of the fastest growing programs at UCI is their Literary Journalism prorgam. Many IVC students have transferred into it - including one high profile and very successful vet - Hi Jason!

Journalism is not only on the printed page anymore. Most colleges have both print and web-based newspapers. This helps build and sustain community - and it's more economical. USC's journalism program (aka Neon Tommy) is one of the most successful.

Journalism is not dead - it's just changing as media changes as it always has. Too bad IVC students don't have access to the award-winning program they used to have here.

One of IVC's former journalism students - Kedric Francis - is now a top editor at the OC Register. He is one of our success stories.

The IVC program did not die because of costs and lack of student interest. It was purely political. Too bad. Shame.

Actually Communications (a journalism course) meets GE requriements as well. Just FYI.

Anonymous said...

While it is true that the newspaper business (and journalism) are in crisis, the need for journalism has not diminished whatsoever. On the contrary.
An important reason that the journalism program and the student newspaper at IVC failed is that, in its later years (late 90s or so), the President of the college continually meddled with it, censored it, etc. The School of H&L finally decided that it had had enough. The School is now contemplating reviving the program, this time focusing on an online newspaper; nothing will be printed. --RB

Anonymous said...

I want to know how Linda is going to explain the fact that she walked into a top notch veteran program running smoothly and after only being here a year it's completely destroyed. Good hire for VP Glenn, you really hit a home run with that one.

Anonymous said...

No, the two-bit rag that I was refferring to was the old IVC Newspaper. Never heard of your bird cage liner.

Anonymous said...

11:47am - who is RM?

Anonymous said...

RM is Richard Morley, Foundation Director. Not a popular guy on campus

Anonymous said...

Raghu Mathur

Anonymous said...

I doubt that you would. Its a facebook page. The point is, the voice of the campus will speak. The medium that's used has changed. Cage liners are being cast aside for technology that speaks faster and louder.

Roy Bauer said...

Yes, that RM was Raghu Mathur

Genesis said...

Raghu who begat Glen.

Anonymous said...

I took a peak at the page Chrissy. That is not journalism, just hatred. All this negativity only makes you look pathetically bad.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...