Friday, February 1, 2013

IRVINE VALLEY CHRONICLES: the donated table caper

Like this but with blue stone inlay
     Today, a former student of mine told me the following tale.
No there there
     Some time before the December break, a benefactor, through the IVC Foundation, donated a fine concrete table (with three bench/chairs) specifically for the Performing Arts Center and the students thereof. It was placed just outside the north entrance of the PAC and was routinely used by students, who seem to find that sort of seating more convenient (for laptops, etc.) than the nearby basic benches.
     All was well. Then, upon everyone’s return from the break, denizens of the PAC zone were horrified to find that the table had disappeared. Had it been stolen?
     Nope. Evidently, IVC’s Director of Facilities decided that he did not like the table there, and so, with evident and blatant unilateralism, he moved the darned thing to the crossing of that tree-lined pedestrian boulevard out beyond the PE complex. It’s near the soccer field. Way out there, a road to nowhere.
     I went to that location today and, sure enough, I found a handsome concrete table with three ornate concrete bench/chairs. The table and chairs are embellished with inlaid stones. Blue. Nice.
Rice, Ripston, Sobel
     I asked around and, sure enough, this table had recently been moved from the PAC by maintenance. I poked around some more and, as far as I can tell, Herr Direktor is known to do this sort of thing. He does what he likes, they say.
     There’s a handful of such people on campus. Roquemore let’s ‘em do like that. He either doesn’t care or he’s too dumb to notice. After ten years, does it even matter?
     IVC is a peculiar place. By and large, teaching is excellent and much of the remaining staff is excellent.
     But IVC’s top echelon, save our bumbling president, comprises mostly bullies. Bullies seem to thrive at IVC. You know who I mean.
     Or don’t you?
     Even some faculty have exploited Roquemore's bully tolerance policy. One sees them treating perceived underlings—classified employees, junior faculty, adjuncts—badly, amassing power or influence, feathering their nest, blackballing those who don’t fit into their relentless, self-aggrandizing machinations.
     It sure is a shame.
     (More to come.)

SEE Tenure Time


15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder what the donor has to say about this. What a bonehead move.

Anonymous said...

Glen tolerate the bullies because he is afraid of them and he doesn't care us that much.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering why that table was way out there.

Anonymous said...

I've donated items to IVC before and as I recall you have to fill out a donation form (I think it was called non-cash donation) and it had to be approved by my Dean, Richard Moreley and Davite. If they all approved accepting the gift to the PAC why did Glen allow it to be moved? If the gift is not to be used for the donors purpose, then give it back!

Anonymous said...

The donation was made by the Green Committee to the PAC for use by the students. When Glenn saw the table and benches he said he liked them....of course that was before John got invoved. If the college doesn't want the students at he PAC to have use of the donation I'm sure the green committee can find another home with an organization that appreicates getting such a beautiful gift. No more gifts to IVC...no appreciation! By the way...what ever happended to our pledge to do things for the students?

Anonymous said...

9:24 is right, I quit giving to IVC after the Veterans Angles gala. Glen said they raised $16 thousand at the event, but I've checked with some of my vet contacts and our IVC vets never got a dime. So, Glen, Richard, where is the money???? There is no transparancy in the foundation money goes.

Anonymous said...

I think the table should be put back at the PAC location and John should have to buy a plaque for it thanking the Green Committee for their generous donation to the students at IVC.

Anonymous said...

Dear 11:03...it will never happen. The Green Committee is a classified employee group and unfortunately most of our admins give lip service (but little support or appreciation) for our classified folks. When was the last time an administrator donated something for the IVC students?

Anonymous said...

How petty to deny the students a place to eat or work just to satisfy John's ego. Wake up Glenn....shit is happening to our students, faculty and staff and you are allowing it to happen (being unaware is the same as being benign and clueless). These are not the traits of a leader.

Anonymous said...

Most of the people that report to Glenn are control freaks and bullies. They have to show how big they are by making others feel small. Glenn turns a blind eye or defends their actions, but nothing will change until Glenn is gone or the Chancellor and/or Trustees finally wise up and clean house IVC.

Anonymous said...

While there is a dangerous precedent of allowing the donor to determine all particular uses of a gift, this one was handled very, very badly. Glen says one thing to one group but then backs down in meetings and well, there you go.

Anonymous said...

Dear 12:36 There is already a precedent on specific uses for donor gifts at IVC. It is perfectly acceptable and happens all the time. A bench for the Bee's Garden, musical instruments for Fine Arts students, a refrigerator to keep lab specimins for science students, books for the library, etc.
The question is once the gift was accepted by the college(with the donors wishes stated) why was John allowed to move it?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the explanation.

Can we get some "gifts" for the A-200 lounge to make life a bit better? (Just kidding! Sort of... It would be nice if the denizens of A-200 had the same quality of life others did - or perhaps just the same quality of work life as the honor students or the MUN or the speech team...It's looking pretty shabby...)

Anonymous said...

I don’t think Glenn is oblivious. I think he derives some kind of strange pleasure in having underlings sniping at one another and throwing their weight around. I think it’s sadistic.

Anonymous said...

I think you're right Anon 11:03. he enjoys and even encourages the sniping and bullying because that way he can pretend to be the grown-up and above it all.

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...