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Regent Tom Bedell's letter of resignation to Governor-Elect Culver

Regent Explains Resignation to Citizens (Regent Tom Bedell's Statement)

Lee Hermiston, "Two Votes By Students Rip Regents, Vilsack"

[Note: This material is copyright by the Des Moines Register, 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 Des Moines Register.]

"Somehow, we're letting this acrimony get in the way," said Tom Bedell, a Democrat. "We just need to cut it out and move forward."

Bedell, chairman of the fishing tackle company Pure Fishing, said he offered his resignation as a way for Gov.-elect Chet Culver to appoint a replacement who could become president of the nine-member board.

Regents President Michael Gartner, a Des Moines Democrat, has been a lightning rod for criticism from U of I faculty, staff and students since the regents voted 6-2 Nov. 17 to reject four finalists for the U of I presidency.

But campus leaders, such as professors Sheldon Kurtz and Katherine Tachau also have personalities that have ignited controversy, Bedell said.

"There is no debate about the shortcomings and political self-interest of the leadership of the Faculty Senate, staff and students at the University of Iowa," Bedell wrote in a letter to Iowans distributed to media outlets.

"Their behavior is disgusting and embarrassing. It does not represent the values of the people of Iowa nor, I am confident, the University of Iowa community at large."

U of I leaders said they were surprised by Bedell's resignation and his characterization of campus groups.

"I'm sad he feels that way. We obviously failed to effectively communicate," said Steve Collins, a U of I engineering professor. "Tom Bedell is a really, really decent person, and I know he's been troubled by the rhetoric."

Peter McElligott, president of the U of I Student Government, said he was himself "disgusted" by Bedell's criticisms of students, whose tuition pays a large portion of the U of I's general operating expenses.

"I'm a little concerned about what the self-interest of the faculty, staff and students would be besides having a great university to attend and teach in," he said.

Bedell, whose regents profile states he is a "born entrepreneur" who, as a boy, mowed lawns, delivered newspapers and taught water skiing to summer tourists, said Thursday that he was amazed the first time he came to a regents meeting and saw dozens of highly paid administrators idling as the board waded through a thick docket.

University presidents "know better than we do what the right answers are," Bedell said. "My job is to lead with vision and strategy and inspire a sense of the priority for education. My job isn't to decide a parking fee at the University of Iowa."

Regent Amir Arbisser of Davenport, who has identified himself as a Republican, said it was clear Bedell got tired of the minutiae.

"There was definitely some sense that ... time is limited and time is precious and it would be nice to focus on precious issues and not squander that time," Arbisser said.

The board will miss Bedell's imagination and energy, regents said. Bedell was appointed in 2005.

"He was a great spur to make his colleagues think in terms of the big picture and the future of all education in Iowa, not just regents education," Gartner said.

In similarly worded statements released almost simultaneously by e-mail, outgoing Gov. Tom Vilsack and Culver thanked Bedell for his service. The Democratic leaders' brief statements shed little light on what actions they might take concerning the Board of Regents turmoil.

Vilsack, seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, said the goal is still "to hire the best possible leader for the University of Iowa."

Culver, who takes office Jan. 12, said he was confident that Vilsack "will keep this among his top priorities in the final days of his administration." Culver also said that as he makes appointments to state boards and commissions, "I will be committed to appointing the best qualified Iowans to the Board of Regents during my administration." Culver will name Bedell's replacement when he is in office.

The board will hold a conference call Monday to talk about the next phase of the presidential search. Regents have said they plan to make changes in the process, such as naming a smaller search committee than the 18-member panel that chose finalists in the last search.

Regents also have suggested a dean or professor should lead the new search, instead of a regent, to instill more trust on campus.

To the People of Iowa:

The role of the Board of Regents is to represent the people of Iowa in setting broad policy and strategic planning for the Regent's five institutions -- especially the three universities. And, specifically, we are responsible for the accountability of the three university Presidents and their hiring and dismissal.

But, most importantly, our job is to inspire; to promote an atmosphere of priority for education in the state of Iowa; and to coordinate with the Department of Education and the K-12 and Community College system to advance education and life time learning from birth through death throughout Iowa, where Iowans choose to live and work. We should and we can become the number one education state again. But it will take collaboration from the Governor, the legislature, and the people and their communities to dedicate the resources and the determination to focus on the importance of our children and our number one resource -- our people.

As Regents we have failed to lead with vision and inspiration. We have engaged in power struggles that are unnecessary and divisive. Personalities have caused suspicion of intentions and agendas which are not focused on serving the people of Iowa. There is no debate about the shortcomings and political self interest of the leadership of the faculty senate, staff and students at the University of Iowa. Their behavior is disgusting and embarrassing. It does not represent the values of the people of Iowa nor, I am confident, the University of Iowa community at large.

But finger pointing and blame naming does not give us inspiration nor does it move us toward becoming the number one education state in America. It hobbles us. We have our eye off the ball.

I recommend the following:

1. I offer my resignation from the Board of Regents to Governor-elect Chet Culver so he can appoint a new leader who might be selected as President of the Board of Regents and provide the leadership and inspiration so badly needed at this time.

2. I recommend a cooling off period in the presidential search process at the University of Iowa. The atmosphere is not right for recruiting the very best president in America to lead the exemplary University of Iowa. And we need and deserve the very best.

3. Interim President Gary Fethke is doing a fine job and his service should be extended throughout 2007 so we will have stability going forward.

4. The Governor and the legislature should demonstrate their commitment to education in the upcoming months through their policy initiatives and funding.

5. And the Iowa press needs to learn to be more objective and discerning in its reporting. Thorough investigation not being completed leads to grandstanding and unfortunate, unproductive and inaccurate emotionalizing of issues.

I have been so proud to serve on the Iowa Board of Regents. I wish I had been more effective during these challenging times.

Cheers,

Tom Bedell

Iowa City, Ia. - The University of Iowa Student Government on Thursday echoed the sentiment of faculty, staff and graduate students, issuing a vote of no confidence in the Board of Regents' leadership.

However, the student government went a step further, issuing an unprecedented vote of no confidence in Gov. Tom Vilsack's involvement with the regents.

Both no-confidence measures were backed by large majorities. The votes were 45-1 against the regents and 42-4 against the governor's involvement.

Student Government President Peter McElligott, who served on the U of I presidential search committee, was critical of the regents' leadership and capabilities.

"Our university is under assault," McElligott said, "and so is the voice of the faculty, staff and students."
McElligott also held Vilsack accountable in the botched presidential search.

"Confidence in (Regents President Michael) Gartner is ill-placed," he said. The governor "should not skirt the criticism that comes with this search."

Though some student government members expressed concern about the influence of the votes, McElligott emphasized the importance of moving forward with the search, a move "we can't get with Gartner."

The vote against Vilsack was a more complicated matter, however, with many students wishing not to judge the out-going governor solely on recent events. "We cannot turn a blind eye," McElligott said. "To me, the buck has to stop with him."

- Lee Hermiston