Has anyone started an official fire Engstrom thread?

[GrizRanger]

Engstrom is applying elsewhere. He knows he's done here. He wants out.

Oh boy, I sure hope you are right about this, and that some crazy school/organization hires him away from here! It is hard to imagine that the State of Montana pays something like $269,000 annually to keep his incompetent ass screwing things up at UM.

I have been afraid Engstrom would be a ball and chain impeding UM for years. :roll:

 

[Leopold16]

Faculty love the man...and so do students.

Here's a recent letter to the Missoulian, from faculty:

"UM must right its academic course first"

October 17, 2013 8:15 am • Guest column by MEHRDAD KIA

"In the past two years, the University of Montana has scrambled from one crisis to the next. Like a football team that keeps on fumbling the ball inside its own end zone, the university cannot expect to move forward and win the game against tough competition unless its leadership can avoid getting out-coached and turning over the ball.

"Hardly a week passes without the community learning about another embarrassing incident or a controversial decision. There is now no doubt that the crises the university faces today are self-inflicted. The mishandling of the sexual assault allegations and their aftermath, the unexplained firings of the athletic director and the football coach, the panic-stricken response to the arrival of federal investigators in Missoula, and the signing of a highly flawed agreement with the departments of Justice and Education, all originated in Main Hall itself. It is these failings and mishaps that have caused a significant drop in enrollment, a sharp decrease in revenue and a loss of reputation for the institution.

"But bad news keeps on coming."

...
Mehrdad Kia is a professor in the department of history at the University of Montana. This opinion is also signed by Linda Frey, Christopher Anderson, Evelina Badery, Peggy Cain, L. Jack Lyon, Lewis Schneller, Bernard Constantin, Michel Valentin, Timothy Bradstock, Todd Mowbray and Mladen Kozul.

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/um-must-right-its-academic-course-first/article_95424710-372d-11e3-878a-0019bb2963f4.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's how the faculty feels.

Had they asked, I would have signed as well.

Engstrom is applying elsewhere. He knows he's done here. He wants out.

Ah yes, Mehrdad Kia, former Provost of the International Studies Program (now an instructor) up to his Eyeballs with Couture in the Saudi Student Incident. One retired and one resigned within days of each other with provost Brown assuring everyone there was no connection.........

There is enough faculty politics going on, on campus without bringing it here. Its always been going on.

Why not mention the real issue on campus (that the faculty Senate is grappling with) and is of far more concern is HOW the budget is going to be spent (and is at some level now) I believe the title is "Performance Based Funding" There a number are whos pet projects/classes are on the chopping block screaming about academic freedom. Nothing new under the sun.

The connection alleged here between Kia’s resignation as Director of International Programs in March of 2012 and the so-called “Saudi student incident” is non-existent. Neither Kia nor anyone in his office had anything to do with the abrupt departure of the student from Missoula. Likewise, Charles Couture, Dean of Students, dealt with the student as required by student conduct codes, and initially had announced his retirement to the campus community a year earlier. It became effective at the end of that 2012 spring semester. You are right, TNT, this resignation and retirement announcement did occur “within days” of the student’s departure, but there was no connection. Gwen Florio, former reporter for the Missoulian, imagined a connection between the resignations and retirements, and the student’s flight, too, but eventually quit drawing it, realizing perhaps that it was non-existent.

Think before you make defamatory statements that have no basis in fact. Remember that there may be some on campus who imagine there is a benefit to be gained at this time from attempting to disparage Kia, who, along with many others, including the co-signers of this letter, has been very open about his concerns regarding budget cuts. Such people find it impossible to engage in rational discourse, and instead stoop to spreading defamatory rumors. Don’t make yourself one of them.

 

[rogermp]

How about starting an online petition that could be submitted the regents?

 

[justanotherfan]

I have nothing against a man who values academia. He is doing more this year to put Montana back on the map. His tour across Montana to talk to high schools and communities shows his dedication to this university. On a football board he has a negative light because people blame him for what happened in 2011-2012. I don't agree with firing someone as dedicated to academics as Engstrom is, especially when he is not to blame for 2011-2012 in the football realm. I wish people would give him the slightest chance because he is strides ahead of Dennison in having this University in mind. People seem to forget he was Dennison's right hand man for years. He is no stranger to how Montana has success. All these accusations that Engstrom does not "care" about football is ridiculous. The man is a Griz and knows where the money comes from. Not only is he more intelligent that Dennison, he will put Montana in the best position possible for the future. Faculty love the man...and so do students. I'm sorry football fans don't, but that's not my problem to deal with.

All true. What about the Rumor he is being Recruited by Virgina Tech???? I also heard Chancellor for the State University System of Florida, but I'm doubting that one. Faculty had doubts he could undo the damage caused by a certain VP, but he certainly has a good start. He certainly has earned a lot of respect outside of eGriz, and you gotta love the 7 figure checks coming in.

What about the rumor that he is submitting his resume to all of those folks knowing his days are numbered. The man Is way over his head and it will not take a search committee more than about two minutes to suss that out.

If you spread the same rumor about the outstanding president of MSU, it would be believable.

The University of Montana deserves better!

 

[tnt]

Jusr an FYI at that level they are nominated, thet don't send out resumes.

 

[GrizRanger]

Jusr an FYI at that level they are nominated, thet don't send out resumes.

Would you and Engstrom's other buddies here at egriz please nominate him for a job far from Montana!! PLEASE!!

Hell, I'll even give the incompetent twit a recommendation if it will help get rid of him. :lol:

 

[Buttegrizzle]

How about starting an online petition that could be submitted the regents?

And a bunch of us drunk (or otherwise impaired) egrizzers will fix things right here and now! Seriously, there are only one or two people on this website that have any idea what's going on and how things work at main hall. And I'm not one of them.

 

[first11]

How about starting an online petition that could be submitted the regents?

..or...a mindless mob with pitchforks storming the ramparts or what ever