One person in particular—a man in his late twenties who greatly impressed us with his compelling blend of humility and gravitas—noted that the vets gain much simply from having a place to hang out together. Often, one learns more, he said, from other vets than from anyone or anything else.
Ironically, I suppose—given the money recently spent—earlier incarnations of the Vet Center were far more attractive in this regard—a fun place, not really for study but for hanging out and talking, with a backdrop of the expected services. The existing Center does not inspire the hope that such camaraderie will be found. And, obviously, it hasn’t helped that Mr. Minkler has turned out to be a repellant character, a turd in the glass of milk.
The center, said our vet friend, is the reason he was able to transition successfully to academia. (He’ll be transferring in the Spring.)
Sadly, the new Vet Center has become something of a vet repellent.
“The Center,” said this particular military veteran, “shouldn’t be a place where you pick up and turn in forms.” But that’s pretty much what it has become.
The “Fubar” series:
• The Veterans Center FUBAR, Part 1 — or "Why do the Veterans hate the veterans' counselor?"*
• The Veterans Center FUBAR, part 2: protection!
• The Veterans Center FUBAR, part 3: a room of one’s own
• The Veterans Center fubar, part 4: another side?
• The Veterans Center fubar, part 5: administration's dog and pony show
• The Veterans Center fubar, part 6: the "other side" re Mark Minkler
12 comments:
"Turd in a glass of milk"......Priceless.
he could come in and set up a Code Of Conduct
Get ready for the biggest surprise....the BOT agenda was just put out and IVC is creating a new faculty position. Asst. Dean of Financial Aid and Student Support Services to report to the VP. One might ask why Darryl's old Position of Director is being changed to a Dean. Well placed sources have indicated that a good friend of our illustrious VP Linda F from Cuesta College is the new heir apparent. She is not a Director, but happens to be a faculty member, so the job description has been changed so she can qualify. Be on the look out for a new hire by the name of Ornelas....coming to your college soon. I offer this information so you know who to vote for if you happen to be on the hiring committee...this way you won't have to wait for Linda or Glenn to tell you. (see section 6.7)
OMG..I just read section 6.8 -Morley is being promoted to EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR with a position change from 16 to 22....
I think I'll go have that drink now!
Let it be known that rumor has it that said Ornelas is on " leave" from her said position at Cuesta College. The things that make one go hmmmmmm!
Where's the vision? Where's the accountability? Thanks for posting about this. Obviously the way they run the college people don't have anywhere else to go to get heard. This is one picture that they'll try not to take.
Nice that someone gets a job all made for her. Didn't we hire someone else that Fontanella brought over who was fired from someplace else? This works out real swell for everyone except of course for other candidates who apply in good faith thinking that we have a process that is open, honest and fair. Why not save us some moment and just give her the job with forcing us through advertising and the hiring process?
Fontanella opens her speeches with "I was a Vietnam veteran" yet we all saw how she treated Darryl Cox, a man with a purple heart from Vietnam.
Loyalty
The hiring process is a joke...they make people go through the charade of applications, interviewing (including 2nd level) and then hire the person they wanted all along. Ornealas is a done deal...don't waste your time applying. Richard did the same thing for his hires. Meanwhile Glen sits unaware of what goes on (even if it occurs in his office).
No doubt there's truth everywhere in this story, though I am inclined to believe the vets on this one. But one thing seems obvious - the lack of communication, the tone of what communication there was, made the whole situation much worse. And yes, it's nice that the admin is apparently so responsive to one person's fear of "hostile" students - the rest of us get no such responsive treatment to our complaits about "hostile" students.
There is no communication at IVC unless it can be done in a PR announcement or triumphal email blast. Otherwise we are invited to show up in public forum before our bosses and supervisors and complain. What fool who has to pay their bills is going to do that?
I should not have written "no" communication. There is a little, but not enough. Take the case of Darryl. What kind of institution disappears a longtime employee and says nothing about it? Not even to state that they cannot say anything? Such disrespect to us all.
You are correct 10:29 - This is the institution that claims that it embraces "mutual respect" then treats long-time employees like dirt.
Linda F telling his department that Darryl was put on Administrative Leave and then having him escorted off campus by police. There you have it BOT members....that is the type of "respect" shown by our leaders to our campus. Wasn't this the same type of crap that Ragu used to pull?
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