Bill Gleason: Excellence within our means
Bill Gleason of the University of Minnesota is the author of The Periodic Table and The Periodic Table, Too. He is an impassioned advocate for access, value, and integrity in higher education and — this must be said in the interest of full disclosure — an on-the-record fan of MoneyLaw. And again for the record, MoneyLaw is a big fan of Bill Gleason.
Bill addressed the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents at an open forum on June 17, 2009. UMN president Robert Bruininks was in the audience. His comments, styled as Excellence with our means, warrant close attention by anyone who cares about the academic and economic priorities of public universities in a time of retrenchment and recession. I am pleased to rebroadcast Bill's remarks and to republish a transcript of his remarks:
Click on the image of Bill Gleason to read the transcript of his remarks:
Thirty five years ago, as a new Minnesota Ph.D., I went down to Carleton to start my teaching career. The chemistry laboratory facilities were, at that time, much worse than those in the state's high schools. And yet Carleton, today, is widely acknowledged as one of the best institutions of its kind.
There is a lesson here that I have never forgotten: People, not buildings, are what makes an institution excellent.
An imperfect acknowledgment of this idea is our administration's use of the phrase “human capital.”
Along with reminding me of my old lesson about the primacy of people, this phrase reminds us all of the old caution to pay attention to what people do, much more than to what they say.
In the matter of the Bell Museum, the new biomedical research buildings, MoreU Park, and modification of the Regents scholarship program, the administration asks sacrifices of us. It also asks people to anticipate the possible loss of 1200 jobs. But while it asks others to make sacrifices, the administration doesn't make its own. A salary freeze at the level of $750K is not the same sort of sacrifice as that made by a person earning less than ten percent of this amount and ultimately losing his or her job.
We all wish the best for our university. But many of us disagree with the current priorities of the administration and have been saying so for quite some time. This administration has ignored those who do not subscribe to the goal of being one of the top three public research universities in the world.
People who think that we should be one of the best universities in the Big Ten have been called “doubters” by our president. This is disturbing.
The following words are addressed directly and respectfully to the Regents.
Your desire to support President Bruininks is admirable. But some things that I have witnessed at Board meetings over the past few years lead me to believe that more skepticism about the administration's priorities is in order. Signs of this skepticism have begun to emerge.
Last year some of the Regents dared suggest that perhaps there should be no alcohol in the stadium. I think they were right, but they were browbeaten by the stadium's strongest proponent.
One of the Regents has recently argued that cuts to employee tuition reimbursement are inappropriate.
Regent Larson pointed out last December that requesting a budgetary increase that included a new Bell Museum was a mistake in the current economic situation.
I hope the Regents will be sensitive to the charges of elitism or arrogance that can readily be made for inappropriate financial requests to the state legislature.
We share a common goal — an excellent university. But our priorities should recognize the primary importance of people as fundamental to our land grant mission. Our fellow citizens must be convinced that this is so. Only then will we be able make our shared goal of excellence a reality.
Thank you for the opportunity to make this statement.
ELDER LAW & ESTATE ADMINISTRATION BOOK AND AUDIO FOR SALE
Book elder law & estate administration including:
• Why Have a Will? Gathering information; standard provisions; designation of fiduciaries; protective clauses; sample forms; Ethics - who is the client?
• Powers of Attorney Types of POAs; what should be included; why clients need them; POAs and Living Wills; sample forms
• Living Trusts (Revocable/Irrevocable) as an Estate Planning Tool Why it should be used; disadvantages; revocable vs. irrevocable; Insurance Trusts; sample forms
• Basic Tax Considerations Jointly-held property; “I love you” Will; no Will at all; insurance owned by client; unlimited marital deduction; estate planning in the testamentary document; sample forms/letters
• Estate Administration - New Probate Law in New Jersey Probate process; duties of executor/fiduciary; gathering of assets; tax returns; tax waivers; access to property; sample forms/checklists
• Medicaid Planning in Light of Federal Medicaid Reform Countable assets of Medicaid applicant; income cap/Medical needy standard; look-back period; transfers of property; personal residence; Medicaid estate recovery rules …and more
This practical program is designed to provide the nuts and bolts of elder law practice & estate administration practice to general practitioners and young lawyers, as well as to more experienced estate planners and professionals who help senior citizens. You’ll also gain insight on how Federal Medicaid Reform will impact seniors.
Speakers:
THOMAS D. BEGLEY, JR., ESQ.,
KENNETH A. VERCAMMEN, ESQ.
Chair, ABA Estate Planning & Probate Law Committee
2006 NJSBA Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year
KATHLEEN A. SHERIDAN, ESQ.
MARTIN A. SPIGNER, ESQ.
Handbook 45.00 [$36 NJSBA Member Price] pages ] Item M57809
Handbook with Audio CD $189 [$149 NJSBA Member Price Item CDP57809
*NJSBA Member Price – To qualify for this reduced price, you must provide your NJSBA Member# at the time you place your order
Contact: New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (732)214-8500
Book elder law & estate administration including:
• Why Have a Will? Gathering information; standard provisions; designation of fiduciaries; protective clauses; sample forms; Ethics - who is the client?
• Powers of Attorney Types of POAs; what should be included; why clients need them; POAs and Living Wills; sample forms
• Living Trusts (Revocable/Irrevocable) as an Estate Planning Tool Why it should be used; disadvantages; revocable vs. irrevocable; Insurance Trusts; sample forms
• Basic Tax Considerations Jointly-held property; “I love you” Will; no Will at all; insurance owned by client; unlimited marital deduction; estate planning in the testamentary document; sample forms/letters
• Estate Administration - New Probate Law in New Jersey Probate process; duties of executor/fiduciary; gathering of assets; tax returns; tax waivers; access to property; sample forms/checklists
• Medicaid Planning in Light of Federal Medicaid Reform Countable assets of Medicaid applicant; income cap/Medical needy standard; look-back period; transfers of property; personal residence; Medicaid estate recovery rules …and more
This practical program is designed to provide the nuts and bolts of elder law practice & estate administration practice to general practitioners and young lawyers, as well as to more experienced estate planners and professionals who help senior citizens. You’ll also gain insight on how Federal Medicaid Reform will impact seniors.
Speakers:
THOMAS D. BEGLEY, JR., ESQ.,
KENNETH A. VERCAMMEN, ESQ.
Chair, ABA Estate Planning & Probate Law Committee
2006 NJSBA Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year
KATHLEEN A. SHERIDAN, ESQ.
MARTIN A. SPIGNER, ESQ.
Handbook 45.00 [$36 NJSBA Member Price] pages ] Item M57809
Handbook with Audio CD $189 [$149 NJSBA Member Price Item CDP57809
*NJSBA Member Price – To qualify for this reduced price, you must provide your NJSBA Member# at the time you place your order
Contact: New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (732)214-8500
Child Support Blues
If you think you have the child support blues, because of frustration in trying to receive or to pay child support, here's a real story for you. A minimum-wage-earning 29-year-old man in Knoxville, Tennessee, is already the father of 21 children with 11 different mothers. On second thought, I also should have mentioned frustration of the taxpayers, as they will in their own way undoubtedly be sharing the child support blues in this case as well.
Here's daddy on youtube:
Although this story appeared in the Huffington Post last month, I give my hat tip to Family Lore and Divorce Discourse, where I first found this interesting story in the blogosphere today.
For information about Massachusetts divorce and family law, see the divorce and family law page of my law firm website.
Here's daddy on youtube:
Although this story appeared in the Huffington Post last month, I give my hat tip to Family Lore and Divorce Discourse, where I first found this interesting story in the blogosphere today.
For information about Massachusetts divorce and family law, see the divorce and family law page of my law firm website.
Los Angeles Business Tax Amnesty Program Announced
The City of Los Angeles agency responsible for the administration and collection of business taxes, the Office of Finance, has announced a tax amnesty program. Non-compliant businesses will still have to pay the base tax and interest due, but an automatic waiver of the usual penalty will apply (without the amnesty program, penalty waivers can be requested, but they are discretionary with the Office of Finance):
Tax Penalty Amnesty ProgramMore information and applications forms available here: http://www.lacity.org/finance/amnesty/index.html
Chapter II, Article 1.12, Sections 21.12.1 - 21.12.7 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code provide for the development and implementation of a Tax Penalty Amesty Program. This program, beginning May 1, 2009 and ending July 31, 2009, allows taxpayers to avoid tax penalties imposed on any taxes as a result of nonreporting, underreporting, underpayment, or nonpayment of certain taxes. Tax Penalty Amnesty is applicable to (1) Business Taxes; (2) Telephone, Electricity, and Gas Users Taxes; (3) Commercial Tenants Occupancy Taxes; (4) Transient Occupancy Taxes; and (5) Parking Occupancy Taxes.
To participate in the program, taxpayers must file an application for tax penalty amnesty during the specified dates and comply with two conditions:
1.File completed tax statements or returns for all periods and taxes for which the taxpayer has not previously filed a tax statement or return and/or file completed amended tax statements or returns for all periods for which the taxpayer underreported the taxes due; and
2.Pay in full all principal, interest, and any applicable fees (excluding penalty fees) due.
The Tax Penalty Amnesty Program is an opportunity to pay delinquent City taxes and avoid up to forty (40%) in penalties. To take advantage of the amnesty program, please visit one of our offices or call the L.A. Tax Amnesty Hotline at (213) 978-1555 weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Follow J.C. Redbird on Twitter
» Adapted from The Cardinal Lawyer «
Twitter is a lightweight online platform that blends blogging and social networking. Its users "tweet" by answering a simple question: "What are you doing?" All answers are limited to 140 characters — the length of an SMS text message, minus 20 characters. Twitter has become a powerful weapon for marketing consumer goods, documenting brain surgery, and coordinating political protests. When even the New York Times, the grandest of conventional media sources, offers tips on Tweeting, you know that Twitter's time has come. And though predictions and prescriptions do differ, it does seem that Twitter — or something else capturing its blend of social networking, linking, and real-time searching — is here to stay.
My Twitter handle is J.C. Redbird. I would be honored if you would follow my tweets. To make sure that I follow your Twitter account in return, send me a private message inside Twitter, and I will take care to add you to my Twitter reading list.
Twitter is a lightweight online platform that blends blogging and social networking. Its users "tweet" by answering a simple question: "What are you doing?" All answers are limited to 140 characters — the length of an SMS text message, minus 20 characters. Twitter has become a powerful weapon for marketing consumer goods, documenting brain surgery, and coordinating political protests. When even the New York Times, the grandest of conventional media sources, offers tips on Tweeting, you know that Twitter's time has come. And though predictions and prescriptions do differ, it does seem that Twitter — or something else capturing its blend of social networking, linking, and real-time searching — is here to stay.
My Twitter handle is J.C. Redbird. I would be honored if you would follow my tweets. To make sure that I follow your Twitter account in return, send me a private message inside Twitter, and I will take care to add you to my Twitter reading list.
New Hampshire Becomes Sixth State to Allow Gay and Lesbian Marriages
Well, now it has happened: the New Hampshire legislature passed the final version of its gay marriage bill and the governor signed it this afternoon. It will become law in January of next year: N.H. Governor Signs Gay Marriage Bill.
For information about Massachusetts divorce and family law, see the divorce and family law page of my law firm website.
EXCERPT FROM TODAY'S AP ARTICLE:
CONCORD, New Hampshire - New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage after the Senate and House passed key language on religious rights and Gov. John Lynch — who personally opposes gay marriage — signed the legislation Wednesday afternoon.
After rallies outside the Statehouse by both sides in the morning, the last of three bills in the package went to the Senate, which approved it 14-10 Wednesday afternoon.
Cheers from the gallery greeted the key vote in the House, which passed it 198-176. Surrounded by gay marriage supporters, Lynch signed the bill about an hour later.
'Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities — and respect — under New Hampshire law,' Lynch said.
Lynch, a Democrat, had promised a veto if the law didn't clearly spell out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay marriages or provide other services. Legislators made the changes.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa already allow gay marriage, though opponents hope to overturn Maine's law with a public vote.
California briefly allowed gay marriage before a public vote banned it; a court ruling grandfathered in couples who were already married.
The New Hampshire law will take effect Jan. 1, exactly two years after the state began recognizing civil unions.
.....
For information about Massachusetts divorce and family law, see the divorce and family law page of my law firm website.
With medium power comes no responsibility
In his celebrated New York Times Magazine piece, The case for working with your hands, Matthew Crawford makes observations about middle managers that apply with full force to those of us who live academia's so-called "life of the mind":
Often as not, [craftsmen's workplace] crises do not end in redemption. Moments of elation are counterbalanced with failures, and these, too, are vivid, taking place right before your eyes. With stakes that are often high and immediate, the manual trades elicit heedful absorption in work. They are punctuated by moments of pleasure that take place against a darker backdrop: a keen awareness of catastrophe as an always-present possibility. The core experience is one of individual responsibility, supported by face-to-face interactions between tradesman and customer.
Contrast the experience of being a middle manager. This is a stock figure of ridicule, but the sociologist Robert Jackall spent years inhabiting the world of corporate managers, conducting interviews, and he poignantly describes the “moral maze” they feel trapped in. Like the mechanic, the manager faces the possibility of disaster at any time. But in his case these disasters feel arbitrary; they are typically a result of corporate restructurings, not of physics. A manager has to make many decisions for which he is accountable. Unlike an entrepreneur with his own business, however, his decisions can be reversed at any time by someone higher up the food chain (and there is always someone higher up the food chain). It’s important for your career that these reversals not look like defeats, and more generally you have to spend a lot of time managing what others think of you. Survival depends on a crucial insight: you can’t back down from an argument that you initially made in straightforward language, with moral conviction, without seeming to lose your integrity. So managers learn the art of provisional thinking and feeling, expressed in corporate doublespeak, and cultivate a lack of commitment to their own actions. Nothing is set in concrete the way it is when you are, for example, pouring concrete.
Often as not, [craftsmen's workplace] crises do not end in redemption. Moments of elation are counterbalanced with failures, and these, too, are vivid, taking place right before your eyes. With stakes that are often high and immediate, the manual trades elicit heedful absorption in work. They are punctuated by moments of pleasure that take place against a darker backdrop: a keen awareness of catastrophe as an always-present possibility. The core experience is one of individual responsibility, supported by face-to-face interactions between tradesman and customer.Contrast the experience of being a middle manager. This is a stock figure of ridicule, but the sociologist Robert Jackall spent years inhabiting the world of corporate managers, conducting interviews, and he poignantly describes the “moral maze” they feel trapped in. Like the mechanic, the manager faces the possibility of disaster at any time. But in his case these disasters feel arbitrary; they are typically a result of corporate restructurings, not of physics. A manager has to make many decisions for which he is accountable. Unlike an entrepreneur with his own business, however, his decisions can be reversed at any time by someone higher up the food chain (and there is always someone higher up the food chain). It’s important for your career that these reversals not look like defeats, and more generally you have to spend a lot of time managing what others think of you. Survival depends on a crucial insight: you can’t back down from an argument that you initially made in straightforward language, with moral conviction, without seeming to lose your integrity. So managers learn the art of provisional thinking and feeling, expressed in corporate doublespeak, and cultivate a lack of commitment to their own actions. Nothing is set in concrete the way it is when you are, for example, pouring concrete.
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