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Vilsack should fire Gartner et al.

Joseph Brisben

Iowa City Press-Citizen

November 21, 2006

[Note: This material is copyright by the Press-Citizen, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.]


As they say at the bridge table, let’s review the bidding: Michael Gartner, president of the Iowa State Board of Regents, complains that former Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable was appointed to be Tom Brands’ assistant without him (Gartner) being informed.

Then, Robert Bowlsby, the University of Iowa’s athletic director, leaves for Stanford amid rumors that Gartner tried to micro-manage the Hawkeyes.

Then President David Skorton leaves Iowa for Cornell after receiving a meager salary increase despite doing more with less from the Iowa General Assembly. Then the search for a new president, which had turned into a star chamber affair by the regents at Gartner’s behest, is botched because it seems someone Gartner wanted for the job did not make the final cut. In the process, Gartner alienated the faculty and the students. Do we see a pattern of heavy-handed micro-management here?

Gov. Vilsack should fire Gartner, who should take his comrade and fellow regent Teresa Wahlert with him.

Joseph Brisben
Iowa City