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Michael Gartner should resign regent post now
 
Lawrence Rettig

The Gazette

November 23, 2006

[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, 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 Gazette.]



Once again, Michael Gartner has demonstrated his glaring lack of knowledge about and empathy with the university culture. Universities operate on a collegial basis. There is much consulting and collaboration, and an attempt is made to respect the opinions of everyone in the university community and to do so with civility. Because this is so, heavy-handed, topdown edicts do not play well in university cultures. An important part of any regent president’s job is to help other members of the board understand this. It is important to recognize that the University of Iowa differs from a business corporation in many respects and cannot be run as one. Because of this fundamental lack of understanding on Gartner’s part, I submit that he is unqualified to sit on the Board of Regents, much less to lead it. He should resign immediately, before he does additional damage to the relationship of the board with the institutions it governs.

Lawrence Rettig
South Amana