tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29352268547259093012024-02-06T22:02:35.578-05:00A Vixen Says MooSlytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-2805446180570380772015-07-16T02:34:00.000-04:002015-07-16T22:21:03.831-04:00Women: Emotional and NostalgicAn open letter in response to a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-brian-c-mitchell/saving-sweet-briar_b_7792290.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> by <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-brian-c-mitchell/" target="_blank">Dr. Brian C. Mitchell</a>, Director of the <a href="http://edvancefoundation.org/" target="_blank">Edvance Foundation</a> and a contributor to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-blog/" target="_blank">HuffPost</a>.<br />
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<i>Perhaps apathy is a wave of emotions too afraid to </i></div>
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<i>burst </i><i>out of the </i><i>darkness into the bright light of day</i> </div>
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~Terri Guillemets</div>
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Dr. Mitchell,</div>
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Over the past four months, "experts" in higher education have come out of the woodwork to lament the closing of Sweet Briar College. "<i>Oh no!</i>" they cry. "<i>Single-sex, liberal arts colleges 20 minutes away from Starbucks are <u>doomed</u>!</i>"</div>
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In nearly every news article, blog post, op-ed, and radio show, the media accepts the former interim president's talking points without question: too few women want to attend women's colleges; those who enroll require large discounts; and the wealthy families of yore who financed the college for decades are few and far between.</div>
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Like you, most of these journalists like to point out that the alumnae are emotional over the loss of the college, and that nostalgia is no match for good business sense.</div>
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You state that we must answer the "why" of saving Sweet Briar: "<i>If the answer is a largely emotional one driven by the love and passion that alumnae feel for their institution, it is likely that their solution will be inconclusive at first and ineffective in the end.</i>"</div>
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With all due respect, sir, would you say the same thing to 10,000 men?</div>
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Beginning the evening of March 3rd, thousands of alumnae and friends took to the virtual streets when presented with...well, a <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>lack of data to support the closure</b></span>.</div>
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"<i>It's time to get to work.</i>"</div>
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What, exactly, do you believe the #SaveSweetBriar movement was doing? From legal proceedings to social media activism; from admissions and marketing plans to building renovation; from food services to environmental research; from $0 pledged and donated to $27.5 million in under four months; from showing students and staff that alumnae were there for them, even when the college's administration wasn't, to participating in Virginia politics. Et cetera, et cetera, and so forth. <i>(RIP Yul Brener)</i></div>
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<i>"Sweet Briar must survive for good reasons."</i></div>
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One of my favorite Washington Post trolls recently suggested that someone perform a study to find out if women's colleges were still relevant. He made this suggestion after dozens of women shared their stories about the education they received at Sweet Briar. Dozens of reasons, and he discounted them all. Thousands of "good reasons" to educate young women, yet you ignore them all?</div>
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<i>"The history of Sweet Briar demonstrates that the older strategy of incremental management simply did not work. It's time to strike out and try something new, imaginative, and rooted in the history and tradition of the College."</i><br />
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Since you are writing about Sweet Briar, I expect that you have done your research on the school, the people, and the #SaveSweetBriar events. If so, you would know that we've been saying the exact same thing all along. </div>
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*****</div>
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Let's move on to your strategic steps, shall we?</div>
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<b>1.</b> <i><b>Don't be afraid to ask for help</b></i>.</div>
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<i><span style="color: #e06666;">coughsayingthesamethingforfourmonthscough </span></i>NO more consultants. They've done enough damage to Sweet Briar already. Thanks for ignoring the "<i>good minds</i>" of the thousands of individuals involved to date. <i><span style="color: #e06666;"> If only we weren't so emotional and nostalgic, amIright?</span></i></div>
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<b>2. <i>Start with an environmental scan. The metrics that demonstrate the problem and indicate its severity are readily available.</i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS</span></div>
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<b>3.</b> <b><i>Respect the traditions, including its liberal arts heritage as a college for women, whatever the final decisions.</i></b></div>
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Man, I wish one of those wistful women would have thought of that.</div>
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<b>4. <i>If there is a future for the College, it will be in part because committed alumnae step forward to make it so. Once the management decisions are made, it will be equally important for the alumnae to step back.</i></b></div>
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No. No no no no no no no no no. The last time alumnae stepped back, the Board tried to kill Sweet Briar. Alumnae will stay involved, thankyouverymuch.</div>
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<b>5.<i> Sweet Briar is a tuition dependent institution</i></b></div>
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What was that? Sorry, I couldn't see through the haze of tears. Woe is me.</div>
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<b>6. <i>Transparency in communication is critical</i></b></div>
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Tell that to Mark Herring.</div>
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*****</div>
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<i>"A pivotal case study whose outcome will have important implications for American colleges and universities."</i><br />
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You're good for my ego.</blush> Oh! You meant the college.</div>
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<i>"In 'saving' Sweet Briar"</i></div>
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Whoa! What's with the quotes? We DID save Sweet Briar.</div>
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<i>"Let's hope for a negotiated, innovative and progressive outcome that <u>does not further undermine</u> some of the bedrock principles and rich traditions upon which American higher education is built."</i><br />
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Right. Blame the women's college for the fall of higher education. <i><span style="color: #e06666;">Move over, Helen of Troy, it's our turn to destroy civilization.</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-41453528393443167012015-07-07T01:52:00.004-04:002015-07-07T10:25:06.473-04:00You Missed This! Additional Information for the Campbell Law ObserverThe news of Sweet Briar College's <strike>closure</strike> resurrection has reached audiences worldwide. Unfortunately, the untruths spouted by the previous President and Board of Directors have stuck in the public's collective brain (<i>so many jokes, so little time</i>); #SweetBriar supporters continue to correct misinformation.<br />
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<a href="http://campbelllawobserver.com/author/p_miles1104/" target="_blank">Paige Miles Feldman</a>, Managing Editor of the <a href="http://campbelllawobserver.com/" target="_blank">Campbell Law School <i>Observer</i></a>, wrote about the <a href="http://campbelllawobserver.com/sweet-briars-almost-sweet-ending/" target="_blank">current state of Sweet Briar</a>, but left out a lot of information. Four months ago, I would have glanced at the article, noticed the <strike>legal mumbo jumbo</strike> legalese, and turned tail. My family has one lawyer; I'm not it. How my world has changed since the afternoon of March 3, 2015! As it turns out, I <i>like </i>the law and all of its <strike>gobbledegook</strike> concepts (<i>you're going <b>down </b>in our next argument, baby brother</i>).</div>
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Ms. Feldman, allow me to clarify some of the misconceptions in your article.</div>
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<li>Sweet Briar <strike>Women’s</strike> College in Virginia</li>
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<li>SBC "will live to see another year" and "the money will only keep the school open for so long" <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">We will, in fact, be open for the next 114 years. And beyond.</span></li>
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<li>Bowyer "claimed that Sweet Briar was a trust, and therefore would require court action to close. Sweet Briar disagreed, stating that because it did not have stockholders, it did not need the permission of the court to close." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">We lovingly call the Amherst suit </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawsuit #1</span></b><span style="color: #e06666;">. The lawyers for the former president and Board argued that Sweet Briar was a non-stock non-profit corporation--not a trust--and therefore were subject only to the Business Judgement Rule, not the Virginia Uniform Trust Code. Trusts do not have stockholders.</span></li>
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<li>"Initially, the injunction was denied in circuit court on the grounds that the court lacked the ability to stop the school from closing." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">The requested injunction (based on <a href="https://vacode.org/57-59/" target="_blank">Virginia Code § 57-59</a>) had nothing to do with whether or not the court was able to stop the closure. Circuit Court Judge James Updike ruled that Sweet Briar was a non-stock corporation, not a trust, which is why the injunction was denied under this statute.</span></li>
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<li>"The Virginia Supreme Court did not agree with the decision, and ordered the court to reconsider it." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">The way this is written, I understood you to mean that the Supreme Court of Virginia did not agree that "the court lacked the ability to stop the school from closing." That's misleading. </span></li>
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<li>"As a part of this order, the higher court said that being a trust and a non-stock corporation were not mutually exclusive in this case, and Sweet Briar could exist as both." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">The ruling does not apply just to Sweet Briar; "in this case" should be removed. <br /><br />In addition, the court did not rule that <i>Sweet Briar</i> could exist as both a corporation and a trust, merely that <i><b>a</b></i> corporation <i><b>could also</b></i> be a trust. The ruling said nothing about Sweet Briar herself, which is why the case was remanded back to Circuit Court. (<i>yes! more chances to make swoony eyes at Judge Updike.)</i></span></li>
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<li>"While Bowyer sought the injunction, she also contacted Sweet Briar’s vice-president for finance and administration and asked him to ensure that employees maintain any documents regarding Sweet Briar." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">Commonwealth's Attorney Ellen Bowyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to Scott Shank because his office held midnight shredding parties to destroy school records. </span></li>
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<li>"Additionally, she requested an injunction to forbid the school from using any donated money to shut down the school. The court allowed this action." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">This is what's known as <a href="http://grammarist.com/usage/lead-lede/" target="_blank">burying the lede</a>. This sentence should be moved up one paragraph to follow #4 above. <br /><br />"This action" was the first of many legal battles won, providing a 60-day injunction against the College from using previously-solicited funds for closure based on <a href="https://vacode.org/57-57/" target="_blank">Virginia Code § 57-57</a>. It did not enjoin the College from soliciting donations for the <i>purpose</i> of winding-down operations (<i>if I never see "winding-down" again, it will be too soon</i>).</span></li>
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<li>"After the Amherst County Attorney filed suit, the faculty of Sweet Briar chose to also file an injunction in mid-April." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">Technically, this is </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawsuit #3</span></b><span style="color: #e06666;">. </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawsuit #2</span></b> <span style="color: #e06666;">is the student/parent/alumnae suit, which I discuss in point #13 below. </span></li>
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<li>"They claimed that the shutdown would be a breach of contract, but the school replied with a clause from the faculty manual: that faculty can only be fired 'under extraordinary circumstances because of financial exigencies.' Naturally, the faculty disagreed with this reasoning, arguing that the school was in fact not in danger of financial crisis." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">The <b><i>faculty </i></b>presented the manual, not the College. As noted in the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/263004389/Complaint" target="_blank">Faculty and Staff Complaint</a> on page 12:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqGyKxUW2Ko4GLKXeXzwBm_SXNR363F4cnpOoguUII26Lyf-mVq9vEL-OIXz6WOaM6fFrUNhEs_XNGFMHlwTnWCuBum5xhsSjegnNbSAVFtSrqbjSi16CAqzSUcr6-fP8MxoF7TW3-_Q/s1600/Lawsuit+3+page+12+point+70.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqGyKxUW2Ko4GLKXeXzwBm_SXNR363F4cnpOoguUII26Lyf-mVq9vEL-OIXz6WOaM6fFrUNhEs_XNGFMHlwTnWCuBum5xhsSjegnNbSAVFtSrqbjSi16CAqzSUcr6-fP8MxoF7TW3-_Q/s400/Lawsuit+3+page+12+point+70.png" width="525" /></a></div>
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<li>"Ultimately, the decision by the Virginia Supreme Court ruled, and Sweet Briar could stay open." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">The court's ruling worked in #SaveSweetBriar's favor, but it was not an automatic victory. All parties spent <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/sweet-briar-college-mediation-described-as-open-and-candid/article_6cf302bf-8ffe-554b-acec-0167064b4056.html" target="_blank">five weeks in mediation</a> under the <strike>guise</strike> guidance of the office of Virginia Commonwealth's Attorney General Mark Herring. (<i>Herring only called for mediation after we <strike>stalked</strike> <strike>harassed</strike> spoke with him at multiple political fundraisers</i>)</span></li>
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<li>"The $24 million is nothing more than a temporary solution" <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">It's $28 million.</span></li>
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<li>"Students were rightfully upset, but did not sue to attempt to stop the closure, and might not have standing to do so if this happens again." <br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawsuit #2</span></b><span style="color: #e06666;">, filed by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/262462103/Campbell-Motion-for-Order-Preserving-Sweet-Briar-s-Assets#scribd" target="_blank">Elliott Schuchardt on behalf of students, parents, and alumnae</a>, netted a bigger gain than the initial injunction from </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Lawsuit #1</span></b><span style="color: #e06666;">: a six-month stay on selling or disposing of any of the College's assets. <br /><br />Honestly, 95% of us believed that the case would flounder (<i>sorry, Elliott!</i>); imagine our surprise when we won! Elliott has major cojones. (<i>don't worry, Catherine! it's just an expression!</i>)</span></li>
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<li>"If Sweet Briar students had attempted to bring suit on a contract claim, they would likely have also failed. Furthermore, the only way Sweet Briar students could possibly win on a contract claim in the future is if Sweet Briar closed in the middle of a semester, thus requiring the school to refund any tuition to the students." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">Delete delete delete.</span></li>
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<li>"[T]he faculty could again sue over the financial exigencies clause, or any other contract breach that could be in question." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">Truuuuuue. But 10,000 people spent four months saving Sweet Briar. Do you really think that we're going to let the College fail? <br /><br /><i>If</i> we find that there <i>are</i> financial exigencies, we'll be able to prove them and reverse course. <i>If</i> we fail and the College closes, at least we will have done everything in our power to save her. Unlike the previous administration, we won't hide the financials at every turn.</span></li>
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<li>"Here, everything was dismissed by the court before final judgments were reached." <br /><span style="color: #e06666;">An important point: the lawsuits were dismissed as part of the <a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/sweetbriarsaved-consent-settlement-order.html" target="_blank">Settlement Agreement</a>.</span></li>
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<a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/mr-breneman-lets-be-clear-board-of.html" target="_blank">I love a good rebuttal</a>, but I do expect better research from a third-year law student.<br />
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Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-8127218585139701242015-07-06T21:57:00.001-04:002015-07-06T21:57:27.985-04:00Sweet Briar the Riveter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPy-nNLAT2gbJraHM8HZVuDQMSXDGm6dJMJuoW7pKihEbTBtaIFhBXORSyrzPGRRH9c9YKWzXXN_9KqkmnbuowXsSPB36ryQDaVfJGb9JljWAKfKRlPRGZbqRqE2r6vqx8yQhFXdT7xg/s1600/Sweet+Briar+the+Riveter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPy-nNLAT2gbJraHM8HZVuDQMSXDGm6dJMJuoW7pKihEbTBtaIFhBXORSyrzPGRRH9c9YKWzXXN_9KqkmnbuowXsSPB36ryQDaVfJGb9JljWAKfKRlPRGZbqRqE2r6vqx8yQhFXdT7xg/s400/Sweet+Briar+the+Riveter.png" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-62268827791570627312015-07-03T17:52:00.000-04:002015-07-03T17:52:16.055-04:00An Insider's View: You Say You Want A Revolution<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF5ov9yktJ0cPAIZxsed4SSgj7CIpLZ-JyBt-bcWAYSq1NF8TK911C_103nmK7UQqQAobgklVWcIiseEyj_PVcdU7PlpkSFLZHZCgZ-6zF3LEEdbYp1bQGWKkg3JhlIkK5mv1lGUnNUo/s1600/rosie+the+riveter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikF5ov9yktJ0cPAIZxsed4SSgj7CIpLZ-JyBt-bcWAYSq1NF8TK911C_103nmK7UQqQAobgklVWcIiseEyj_PVcdU7PlpkSFLZHZCgZ-6zF3LEEdbYp1bQGWKkg3JhlIkK5mv1lGUnNUo/s200/rosie+the+riveter.png" width="79" /></a></div>
I've been in the unique position to see first-hand how--via two organizations in two days--drastic changes in leadership can positively and negatively affect employees, faculty & students, members, volunteers, local businesses, and other stakeholders.<br />
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From this vantage point, I have witnessed four leadership precursors to success:<br />
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<li><b>Start with a Bang!</b></li>
Show the world that you are ready to lead. This is especially important in cases of stakeholder unrest, <a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/sweet-briar-cfo-threatens-students-do.html" target="_blank">when tensions are high</a> and <a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/mr-breneman-lets-be-clear-board-of.html" target="_blank">trust is low</a>. The new President of Sweet Briar College, Phillip C. Stone, <a href="http://sbc.edu/president/remarks" target="_blank">sent a powerful message</a> to all parties the moment he took office, closing his letter with a mic-dropping new slogan:<br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">At Sweet Briar College, the Impossible is Just Another Problem to Solve</span><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">BOOM!</span></b><br /><br />
<li><b>Clear Communications are Crucial</b>*</li>
People are afraid of change. The moment you <a href="http://amzn.to/1HBJ4qh" target="_blank">move someone's cheese</a>, you make him step out of his comfort zone. Plan your media (<i>pssst...young'uns use social media</i>) strategy in advance, be as transparent as possible, and (for the love of <a href="http://amzn.to/1IWb9oO" target="_blank">GOT</a>) don't begin the transition period by hoarding your power and ignoring others' viewpoints.
<br /><br />Communication is a two-way street: you must listen to any and all of your stakeholders when they share their concerns. Take Virginia Commonwealth's Attorney General Mark Herring, for example: his <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-attorney-general-in-tricky-political-spot-over-sweet-briar-closure/2015/05/12/56212e3e-f40a-11e4-bcc4-e8141e5eb0c9_story.html" target="_blank">careless attitude toward his constituents</a> may cost him the Governorship he so desires. <br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">Ignore your stakeholders at your own peril.</span>**<br /><br />
<li><b>Don't Reinvent the Wheel</b>***</li>
Why are you leading the business? To gain personal glory, or to serve your customers? The former will tank the group; the latter will encourage growth. <br /><br />Making drastic changes can negatively impact your company: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/case-against-layoffs-they-often-backfire-75039" target="_blank">laying off staff</a> decreases morale and increases the workload for remaining employees; <a href="http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-3075842/Marks-Spencer-admits-new-website-left-customers-confused-forcing-company-make-thousands-changes.html" target="_blank">moving to a new website</a> may puzzle paying members; or, worst of all, lead customers to <a href="http://bigblog.thinkbigshot.com/confused-customers-wont-buy-anything-from-your-website" target="_blank">shop elsewhere</a>. <br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">Don't change that "something" just for change's sake.</span><br /><br />
<li><b>Understand Your (and Others') Emotional Intelligence</b></li>
A few years ago, awareness of oneself replaced the old <i>Nothing Personal; Just Business</i> rhetoric. (<i>Thank goodness; it was waaaaay past time.</i>) Stakeholders have emotional skin in the game; don't be surprised when hurt feelings surface from the individuals who have dedicated themselves to the organization. <br /><br />As a leader, you are responsible for ensuring that any stakeholders who feel thrust to the side are heard, respected, and equipped to forge ahead. An employee, a customer, or a student who receives acknowledgement of her concerns will engage with the business sooner than one who does not.</ol>
<ol><span style="color: #38761d;">A stakeholder's <i>perception</i> is always right.</span> </ol>
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Transitions, especially those wherein all top leadership positions change hands, are hard. You will effectively manage hardships by taking charge, keeping open the lines of communication, preserving what works, and perceptively empowering the organization's stakeholders.<br />
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Four keys to success. Three days in. Two organizations in flux. And a cartridge for my printer, please.****<br />
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<i><span style="color: #999999;">* I like alliteration. So sue me.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #999999;"><i>** I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it!</i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #999999;">*** I also like clichés.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #999999;">**** Seriously. They're hella expensive.</span></i><br />
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Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-63183580759387908892015-06-22T15:50:00.004-04:002015-06-22T15:53:18.331-04:00#SweetBriarSaved Consent Settlement Order<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HpRzDXr7rddxwl_KCFz5OPKEimSu3JgY3XZZdT2SjBCWmwIide28vFXCby0Ee-oBO9T9WghUvwah8pyt8LLtxwQqv1Ag8-DcoD9HNxL-6deuua4LdB6Tx2vuhL0X7Jkco2yLD-hCes4/s1600/WE+SAVED+SWEET+BRIAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HpRzDXr7rddxwl_KCFz5OPKEimSu3JgY3XZZdT2SjBCWmwIide28vFXCby0Ee-oBO9T9WghUvwah8pyt8LLtxwQqv1Ag8-DcoD9HNxL-6deuua4LdB6Tx2vuhL0X7Jkco2yLD-hCes4/s400/WE+SAVED+SWEET+BRIAR.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5tjj6z4zdjanlm/Saving%20Sweet%20Briar%20Final%20Agreement.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">here</a> for the full Sweet Briar College court document.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Holla Holla!</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-16111212600571789492015-06-19T11:51:00.000-04:002015-06-21T12:02:38.258-04:00A Supplement to Sweet Briar's Alumnae FAQsA special insert to the Sweet Briar News.<br />
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<i>On June 9, 2015, Sweet Briar College updated its Alumnae Transition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage in response to questions overheard by staff and board members during reunion weekend. Some of these FAQs warrant further consideration.</i>
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<span lang="en-US"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2kzs4si6xynvug/Alumnae%20FAQs%20Special%20Insert.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">View the entire document here</a>.</span></div>
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Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-84178710663439850962015-06-19T01:28:00.000-04:002015-06-19T01:33:43.077-04:00Paul G. Rice: Parallels Between Work and Play(ing with Sweet Briar's Future)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-1ZCl84WMQ6v9pMGTPVftkP8oibFZVrcGhA6LdDsxvqBP0x6we3vU5B7S4RduGF8xn1XcE6-BM0SAC_IYRDUBGPvOnHoqasQTclLjWxcpkV8U6WG2UDRqltW_LifSiw59XV4c2Ilt8/s1600/two+rices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC-1ZCl84WMQ6v9pMGTPVftkP8oibFZVrcGhA6LdDsxvqBP0x6we3vU5B7S4RduGF8xn1XcE6-BM0SAC_IYRDUBGPvOnHoqasQTclLjWxcpkV8U6WG2UDRqltW_LifSiw59XV4c2Ilt8/s200/two+rices.jpg" width="200" /></a>Abrupt announcements. Misleading stakeholders. Endowment squandered. Millions of dollars due to creditors. Breach of fiduciary duty. <br />
<br />
These are not the (Sweet Briar) stories you're looking for.<br />
<br />
In fact, this isn't a Sweet Briar story at all.<br />
<br />
(<i>okay, it totally has to do with the events at SBC</i>)<br />
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<a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/paul-g-rice-brilliant-businessman-or.html" target="_blank">We know that Paul G. Rice started PEC Solutions</a> with two of his colleagues, who then sold the company to Nortel in 2005.<br />
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After the acquisition, Nortel found itself in hot water. In an interesting endowment coincidence, Nortel’s Health and Welfare Trust (NWT) appeared to breach its trust: HWT Governance Committees and a third party trustee--Northern Trust--breached their fiduciary duties to protect Nortel's disabled employees and survivors of deceased employees by allowing Nortel to misdirect over $100 million from the Health and Wellness Trust for purposes inconsistent with the terms of the Trust.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Jimmy Jones had nothing to do with the Nortel endowment, of course; <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.popecenter.org/commentaries/article.html?id=3158" target="_blank">he reserved that honor for Trinity College</a>.</span> </span><br />
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Many people (<i>everyone</i>) have questioned the appointment of Jones as interim president: a disgraced, asked-to-resign-for-mismanaging-the-endowment individual was the most qualified candidate? Since Jones was never voted in by the Board of Directors (nor the smaller Executive Committee), it makes one wonder: <span style="color: #cc0000;">did Rice hand-pick Jones to close the school because he (Rice) remembered the Nortel fall-out, recognized that Jones would never find a respectable job, and needed someone to take the fall?</span><br />
<br />
<i>(That could just be a coincidence.)</i><br />
<br />
In 2006, Nortel again made headlines when it paid out $575 million and 629 million common shares to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading investors about the company's health. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Jo Ellen Parker mislead Sweet Briar's stakeholders when she stated that Sweet Briar was poised to "flourish."</span></div>
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(<i>Huh. Another coincidence?</i>)</div>
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On January 14, 2009, Nortel filed for bankruptcy; the company had an interest payment of $107 million due the next day. <a href="http://www.unsolicited.guru/sweet-briar/sweet-briars-27271853-11-problem-nobody-is-talking-about/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Scott Shank has a $27 million problem.</span></a><br />
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(<i>Okay, <strike>but it's just a coincide...</strike> now it's just getting weird.</i>)<br />
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Fast forward to June 2009. (<i>Let me guess--coincidence?</i>) Nortel announced the wind-down of operations and the sale of its business units. At that time, the company handed out $14.2 million in cash compensation to seven executives. It also paid out $1.4 million to 10 former and current directors, and $140 million to lawyers, pension, human resources and financial experts helping to oversee the company’s bankruptcy proceedings.<br />
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Fast forward even further to May 2015: the court system has finally declared that the remaining assets will be divided up among the company's creditors, pensioners, and sold-off business units.</div>
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It will take years for Sweet Briar to go through the courts to unrestrict the remaining endowment and modify the will (because SBC <u><b>is</b></u> a trust), at which point the creditors will be paid, faculty and staff <i>might </i>receive severance, and the rest...well, no one really knows.</div>
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History repeats itself: misapplication of endowment; misleading stakeholders; closing its doors when a large payment comes due; and a years-long battle for recompense (first the creditors, then the individuals whose lives and livelihoods were most affected.)</div>
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Did Rice have anything to do with the <a href="http://ismymoneysafe.org/pdf/SystemicFailureofEmployerSponsoredDisabilityInsurance.pdf" target="_blank">Nortel situation</a> that eventually brought the industry leader to its knees? He was a senior executive at Nortel. He is the chair of board of Sweet Briar. </div>
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The <a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-business-of-mismanagement.html" target="_blank">business of mismanagement</a>: a coincidence...or more?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-9830965701787027122015-06-18T01:10:00.002-04:002015-06-18T01:21:48.195-04:00Paul G. Rice: Brilliant Businessman or Trusty Tagalong?Much has been made of Sweet Briar Board of Directors Chairman Paul G. Rice: some of it nice; most of it...not.<br />
<br />
Short.<br />
Balding.<br />
Rich.<br />
Disneyphile.<br />
President of Avaya Government Solutions.<br />
<br />
A Google search (<i>how did we survive before the interwebz?</i>) proffers scant information about Rice's history, which is surprising for an individual touted as a leader in the Telecommunications industry.<br />
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Rice is a member of UVA's Engineering School’s Capital Campaign Cabinet. He's on the Board of his daughters' private school. A lover of theatre, he founds The American Children of Score, the Highland Center for the Arts, and The Rice Theatre. He donates significant sums of money to Best Friends Foundation, which focuses on girls rejecting drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex (<i>okay, that's creepy</i>).<br />
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Maybe I'm just used to business leaders and CEOs who promote themselves and their companies and Rice is an introvert who prefers to keep to himself.<br />
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But that doesn't explain the dearth of information. And honestly, I can't figure this guy out.<br />
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After graduating from UVA in 1975, Rice spent ten years working at Computer Sciences Corporation. He left CSC with two colleagues--Alan H. Harbitter and David C. Karlgaard--and formed Performance Engineering Corporation. In October 1985, Rice was named (Sr.) Vice President; he wouldn't become Chief Operating Officer for another eleven years. Could he have been a third wheel, riding his friends' coattails over a span of 21 years?<br />
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But that wouldn't explain how, in 2000, Paul Rice was named to Federal Computer Week magazine's "Federal 100," an annual honor bestowed on the region's top 100 technology executives selected by an independent panel of judges. According to the magazine's notification letter, award winners were selected for having the "<i>greatest impact on the government systems community in 1999</i>."<br />
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Luckily, I know a thing or two about award selection criteria, particularly in the realms of Technology and Telecommunications: anyone can nominate any person or company AND...people actually lobby to win these awards. Crazy, right?<br />
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Fast forward to May 2004 when he becomes President of PEC Solutions & his buddy David Kargaard is appointed CEO. This is in preparation for the 2005 acquisition by Nortel: the better one's title and pay pre-acquisition, the better one's title, pay, and stock post-acquisition.<br />
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A few months after Nortel purchased PEC for $448 million, Paul G. Rice donates $10 million to his alma mater for their new engineering building.<br />
<br />
No red flags. His past is rather banal: a well-heeled man is in the right place at the right time, following in the footsteps of the right people.<br />
<br />
What are we missing? Is Rice embracing his Machiavellian side, or is he a bumbling fool who tagged along while others did the real work?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-25224763932052502952015-06-17T17:04:00.000-04:002015-06-17T17:04:03.309-04:00Mark Herring Just Lost the GovernorshipWhen voters head to the polls on November 7, 2017, chances are that Mark Herring's name will be on the gubernatorial ballot.<br />
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But Mark Herring will never be Governor.<br />
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In spite of his progressive nature, the reversal of the ban on same-sex marriage, and his good ol' boy network, Herring has a problem: a small, private women's college in central Virginia.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Pffbt. Who cares about Sweet Briar College?</span></i><br />
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Never mind that there are 3,000 Sweet Briar College alumnae living, working, and voting in Virginia. Never mind that those 3,000 women have significant others, parents, children, siblings, and friends who live in Virginia.<br />
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Never mind the economic collapse of Amherst, VA (population: 2,200) when hundreds of consumers disappear. Never mind the 300 faculty and staff who stand to lose their jobs if Sweet Briar closes.<br />
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Mark Herring will never be Governor for two reasons: 1) a lack of action; and 2) a lack of foresight.<br />
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<b><u>Action Jackson</u></b><br />
Do you want a leader who will step up to the plate and take charge? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yeah!</span></i>) Or would you prefer a person in a position of power to sit back and see what happens? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">No!</span></i>)<br />
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Who would you respect more: a person who stands by his unpopular convictions, or someone who says nothing? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">How about popular convictions? Can we get those?</span></i>)<br />
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Do you want a Governor who will go to bat for the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Yes, I do!</span>)</i><br />
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If so, Mark Herring is not the leader you need. (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You know me so well.</span></i>)<br />
<br />
Herring had opportunity after opportunity to take a stand on the Sweet Briar College scandal, but he only grabbed the bull by the horns once, when he erroneously submitted an <i>amicus curiae</i> brief against his own Commonwealth's Attorney.<br />
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Since that time, he has avoided taking <span style="color: #cc0000;">any</span> action that would resolve this situation: mediation meetings that he does not attend; ignoring a call for investigation by 39 Virginia legislators; refusing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MsxFeN47CdRJ_nHzSGmH0NSSzyeC2EbFqTmRymva8GBWrVEElMW8XldZyGWEJRzS3-voK3ZOaXhfdyCpmDiJpB5dfqa4mvHWYXdc9MkXQe2TRPhMKkas6bw0_XNluBIl0NwbU4IZBdc/s1600/LETTING+OTHERS+LEAD.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MsxFeN47CdRJ_nHzSGmH0NSSzyeC2EbFqTmRymva8GBWrVEElMW8XldZyGWEJRzS3-voK3ZOaXhfdyCpmDiJpB5dfqa4mvHWYXdc9MkXQe2TRPhMKkas6bw0_XNluBIl0NwbU4IZBdc/s320/LETTING+OTHERS+LEAD.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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No, Virginia, this is not a man who can lead your citizens through four years' worth of decisions. Herring has a knack for sitting idly by, waiting to make a tough call until the outcome is already clear.<br />
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Virginia doesn't need Mark Herring's brand of leadership.<br />
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<b><u>60,000 Non-Profits Can't Be Wrong</u></b><br />
If the Board of Directors of Sweet Briar College succeeds in its mission to shutter the school, what does that mean for the nearly 60,000 non-profit organizations registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I'll go with "Breaking Bad" for $200, Alex.</span></i>)<br />
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Donors have publicly announced that they may <a href="http://watchdog.org/214924/mcauliffe-sweet-briar/" target="_blank">take their charitable donations out of state</a>, where donor rights are protected and they don't have to worry about misuse of funds with zero accountability. When 60,000 charities suddenly find that their sources of funding have dried up due to the inaction of Mark Herring, what do you suppose they'll do? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I'm leeeeeaving on a jet plane</span></i>)<br />
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Do you want a Governor who brings business into the Commonwealth, or pushes it away? (<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Can we stop with the rhetorical questions?</span></i>)<br />
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Yes, Virginia, this is a possible outcome. Herring, however, doesn't understand that his actions (er, rather, <i>lack of action</i>) affect more than a handful of old biddies gasping, clutching their pearls, and bemoaning the closure of a teeny-tiny finishing school: there are serious economic consequences.<br />
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Virginia doesn't need Mark Herring's brand of economic growth.<br />
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Mark Herring wants to be Governor. But he has a big pink-and-green problem: if 3,000 "emotional" women can derail his gubernatorial aspirations, what does he think his political opponents will do during election season?<br />
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His weaknesses have been exposed; come and get 'em.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-16615639555934373572015-06-11T22:53:00.001-04:002015-06-11T23:05:21.444-04:00Sweet Briar CFO Threatens Students: Do not Donate to Save Sweet Briar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Virginia Supreme Court Justice D. Arthur Kelsey asked Sweet Briar College attorney <a href="http://www.williamsmullen.com/people/calvin-w-woody-fowler-jr" target="_blank">Woody Fowler</a> "<a href="http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-sweet-briar-s-fierce-vixens-make-an-impression/article_f54f4e8c-ad35-5e78-8039-8726399771af.html" target="_blank">why [he is] contesting this so strongly</a>," he voiced the question asked daily by several thousand #SaveSweetBriar supporters.<br />
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In what can only be described as the most bizarre moment in an <a href="http://avixensaysmoo.blogspot.com/2015/06/mr-breneman-lets-be-clear-board-of.html" target="_blank">already confounding case</a>, <a href="http://www.sbc.edu/president/senior-staff" target="_blank">Scott Shank</a> has ordered a group of students -- spending their summer learning the <a href="http://www.shopsweetbriarcollege.com/" target="_blank">ins and outs of business development</a> under the tutelage of a much-loved and revered professor -- to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7a4y2mYuO3UxF2qdSllCr4O6VphxK3St3mJT4idre6XvBtHPdKMGXPGs4oaOOFiOP3lkp6nKAlZGwtl4dkypW_4uBDdAKcpZ_lKO7avdUjizEv2nT-zI1PWDZ4SsHoP9HMEq6cW49D0/s1600/Scott+Shank+Shop+Sweet.png" target="_blank">cease & desist all activities</a> regarding fundraising for the 501(c)3 charity of their choice: <a href="http://www.savingsweetbriar.com/" target="_blank">Saving Sweet Briar, Inc.</a><br />
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As part of the Business Seminar class, students design, create, and market one or more products to sell on a website. As in years past, students plan to use the proceeds to: 1) reinvest in the program; <strike>2) party like it's 1999;</strike> and <strike>3</strike> 2) donate a portion to charity.<br />
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Never before has the college placed restrictions on which charities students may support.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Mr. Shank forgot that Saving Sweet Briar, Inc. is not a party to the litigation placed before the college. Saving Sweet Briar's sole mission is to<br />
<br />
... <i>wait for it </i>...<br />
<br />
Save Sweet Briar. <br />
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As has been noted, alumnae have no standing in a court of law (<i>humph</i>) and have instead spent the past three months raising <a href="https://savingsweetbriar.com/saving-sweet-briar-donations/" target="_blank">$16.5 million</a> for the continued operation of Sweet Briar College and supporting the students that the college has failed (<i>and failed...and failed...</i>).<br />
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Channeling the Honorable D.A.K. (<i>yeah, I know: it doesn't work as well as <a href="http://33.media.tumblr.com/8ed105135d0eabe3c23eacbd7d3acda1/tumblr_npe6j8831t1ru5h8co1_540.gif" target="_blank">Notorious R.G.B.</a>; so sue me</i>), I can't help but wonder: <b><span style="font-size: large;">Are you farking kidding me!?</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Why in the ever-loving <a href="https://archive.org/details/tastesremembered00comp" target="_blank">fudge pie</a> (<i>soooooo good</i>) are the interim president, the Board of Directors, and many of the college's senior staff fighting so hard to close the school?</span><br />
<br />
Mr. Shank speaks of <strike>principals</strike> principles (<i>fixed it for you!</i>), yet he continues to advocate for the closure of a financially stable institution. <br />
<br />
Welcome to your most important business lesson yet, my Vixen sisters: dealing with those who would rather <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>be</b></span> right than <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">do</span> </b>right.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-25649466242297082762015-06-11T01:30:00.002-04:002015-06-11T14:55:33.975-04:00Mr. Breneman, Let's Be Clear: The Board of Directors Failed<i>This post is an open letter, a rebuttal to a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/06/10/heres-why-sweet-briar-collapsed-they-chose-not-to-enroll/" target="_blank">Washington Post op-ed</a> by David W. Breneman, member of the <a href="http://www.sbc.edu/" target="_blank">Sweet Briar College</a> <a href="http://www.sbc.edu/president/board-directors" target="_blank">Board of Directors</a>. Dr. Breneman has <a href="http://curry.virginia.edu/uploads/employeeCVs/BRENEMAN_CV.pdf" target="_blank">extensive experience</a> in higher education, notably in the financial realm.</i><br />
<br />
Dr. Breneman:<br />
<br />
Allow me to rebut your <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/06/10/heres-why-sweet-briar-collapsed-they-chose-not-to-enroll/" target="_blank">June 10, 2015 statements</a> point-by-point. I do hope you are sitting in a comfortable spot; this will take a while.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><u>A Record Number of Applicants with a Decreasing Yield</u></b><br />
Colleges and universities across the country are experiencing the exact same "problem" with yield. A decade ago, a student applied to four or five colleges and enrolled in one. With the introduction of the <a href="https://www.commonapp.org/Login" target="_blank">Common Application</a>, a student now applies to eight or nine schools. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">And still only enrolls in one.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b><u>Enrollment</u></b><br />
You are absolutely correct that enrollment is the highest priority when it comes to running a college. Which is why it's surprising that:<br />
<ol>
<li>There was no Dean of Enrollment<br />Louise is awesome and wonderful and competent and deserves heaps of praise for taking on additional responsibilities. That does not, however, automatically give her a background in Admissions. She hasn't had the experience of working in different colleges and universities, learning from others' successes and failures, sharing best practices, and having a mentor who understands the Admissions field.</li>
<br />
<li>There was no Director of Marketing<br />Again, when you place a non-subject-matter-expert in a position of tremendous influence, you receive less-than-stellar results. This is not to knock the individual who was in the position. Rather, ask yourself: How effective was the Marketing? <i>This is a rhetorical question; we know how effective the Marketing was.</i><br /><br />In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qRlmG69u38" target="_blank">Sweet Briar Woman</a> video, less than 30 seconds were allocated to academics. Most of the time was spent on the equestrian program, swimming, dance, art, and campus scenery. It's a gorgeous video, but when you are promoting yourself to young women looking for boys (<i>boys!</i>), social activities, and a fun atmosphere, you don't show them a slow-mo video of wide open spaces with students alone or in pairs. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">An individual with real marketing experience would know that.</span></li>
<br />
<li>Sweet Briar's strategic plans show goals of 750-800 students<br />Where did the 1,200 number come from? Where are you planning on housing the extra 400 students?</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b><u>Prospective Students</u></b></div>
<div>
(<i>a.k.a. Important for Enrollment</i>)<br />
<ol>
<li>No interest in a single-sex college<br />You should have seen me at 16 years old: <span style="color: #e06666;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Y</span>!</b></span> <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">C</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">R</span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Z</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Y</span>!</b></span> The thought of going to a "<i>girls' school to be taught by nuns</i>" made me laugh and cringe at the same time. I only visited campus because my mom (<i>ugh! mother!</i>) dragged me there on our way to visit a large, urban, co-ed university (<i>where there were boys!</i>). <br /><br />After spending the night with current students, attending a class & speaking with a professor, and learning what it <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">really</span></b> meant to attend a women's college--leadership experience, a focus on education, an automatic sisterhood (without having to join a sorority, like at a large university), and developing myself as a woman--I told my mother that she was right (<i>ugh! mother!</i>). We never made it to the large, urban, co-ed university. Yet somehow I managed to see boys (<i>boys!</i>) every weekend and usually once mid-week.</li>
<br />
<li>Lack of social life<br />Back in the 1990's, we had Dell Parties, performances, author readings, movies, and more for students who didn't want to leave campus. Upperclasswomen opened their arms and car doors to new students: a throng of women headed over the mountain to Lexington; another wound its way to Farmville. From what I understand, there are no more Dell Parties. There are fewer performances. The atmosphere on campus is such that students don't want to stay there. <br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">When you take away the social life, you take away the students who are looking for more than just a place to study.</span></li>
<br />
<li>Too small<br />This is a selling point, not a detractor. One-on-one meetings with your French professor to share an exciting passage you read in Madame Bovary and you couldn't wait until class tomorrow.* The opportunity to work on the latest in scientific research and receive author credit (<i>as an undergrad!</i>) with your professor, an honor reserved for graduate students at large universities. Small class sizes where the professors encourage you to share your views and think critically about your beliefs...and are expected to back them up with logic and sound reasoning.<br /><br /><i>* Hyperbole. This would never happen with Madame Bovary.</i></li>
<br />
<li>Retention<br />I wouldn’t want to attend a college where the President ignored the students, faculty and staff were afraid for their jobs, and there was limited social life, either. What was done to slow the tide of transfers?</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b><u>Endowment</u></b></div>
<div>
The endowment only needs to reach $250 million if there is no change in the business model. As the Board has stated many times, the current business model is unsustainable. We agree on that aspect.<br />
<br />
We diverge here: you and the Board want to keep the business model the same and destroy Indiana Fletcher Williams' wish to educate women in memory of her daughter; I want to change the business model so that Sweet Briar becomes sustainable once again and the college lives on for another 114 years. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Or, you know, in perpetuity. Whichever comes last.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b><u>Closing with Dignity</u></b></div>
<div>
You may have expected that the students, faculty, staff, and alumnae would shed a tear, wax poetic about the past, and move on to the next flight-of-fancy. Or is your idea of dignity:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Calling the media to take action shots of heartbroken students as they poured out of the auditorium? Grief counselors would have been more effective.</li>
<br />
<li>Holding a college fair right when students come back from Spring Break after the closure announcement? Have you read any of the stories of the students who have <u>not</u> transferred successfully? Thankfully, <a href="https://savingsweetbriar.com/alumnae-angels/" target="_blank">the Alumnae Angels stepped up where you failed</a> and assisted with application and deposit fees. The Sweet Briar website says that 231 final transcripts have been processed. How are the remaining 170 students faring?</li>
<br />
<li>An unwillingness to share the data that led the Board to the conclusion that the school must close? My children will tell you that "<a href="http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/part-q-a-with-sweet-briar-college-president-james-jones/article_955b2786-cf83-11e4-b0f8-b3c822f2ba88.html" target="_blank">we don't have to</a>" share is a no-no.</li>
<br />
<li>Making the post office staff hand out pink slips via registered mail? Instead of facing faculty and staff and standing by your decision.</li>
<br />
<li>Evicting an 86-year-old woman from her on-campus apartment? She worked at Sweet Briar for decades.</li>
<br />
<li>Evicting faculty and staff who own their on-campus homes, but not the property on which they sit?</li>
<br />
<li>Fairly ensuring that faculty will not have the opportunity to find jobs for the 2015-2016 academic year? Faculty appointments were made prior to the announcement. You are leaving them homeless and jobless. Though one career counselor did recommend getting a CDL license and driving a truck.</li>
<br />
<li>Blaming the lawsuits as the sole reason you can't provide faculty severance? It was never a sure thing: from the very beginning, severance was a "hope to" after the restricted funds go through the courts, a process which could take up to two years. All statements coming from the Board of Directors list the creditors first. <br /><br />The creditors. Not the students. Not the faculty. Not the staff. The creditors.</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b><u>A Last-Hope Merger</u></b></div>
<div>
<div>
With all due respect, Dr. Breneman, your "last hope" is the 10,000+ stakeholders who are intent on <a href="http://www.savingsweetbriar.com/" target="_blank">Saving Sweet Briar</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>Unable to Find an Answer</u></b></div>
<div>
As trustees, when you determined that you were no longer in a position to serve the best interests of the college, it was your duty to resign from the Board and find new trustees with new ideas who <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>could</b> </span>find that answer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">You have, by your own admission, failed in your fiduciary duty. It is time for the interim president and the Board of Directors to step down.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-39196556115190097382015-06-05T18:39:00.000-04:002015-06-05T18:39:14.946-04:00Five Lessons Learned at the Virginia Supreme Court (TM)(Not all of these lessons pertain to Sweet Briar; there were three cases on the docket prior to ours)<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Don't interrupt Justices when they are speaking. They don't like that.</li>
<li>Don't tell Justices what they can and cannot do in regards to hearing a case or making a ruling. They *really* don't like that.</li>
<li>The Attorney General's office is not above making deals behind the Supreme Court's back. Guess what the Justices think!</li>
<li>If you're going to argue your position, stick to your guns. When you say "maybe," "I think," "perhaps," or "I guess," you lose credibility.</li>
<li>There is such a thing, legally, as an "average" sex offender.*</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* Seriously?</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-82179921442493248872015-04-25T00:23:00.001-04:002015-04-25T00:23:55.521-04:00The Independent Women of Sweet Briar<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3jDdEB5PG9vflif3BIWaJLeVCBbG0C2DamDyzsNZsJTJME_71KPR6Gg7MVmmd7o_pToHVKf0Cs0C3_OxmgkANiRldOXjDraNiBgxg8ilOfH6p-OOzp45MughsECTZx1rBCSUis1twas/s1600/23SWEETBRIAR_cover-superJumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3jDdEB5PG9vflif3BIWaJLeVCBbG0C2DamDyzsNZsJTJME_71KPR6Gg7MVmmd7o_pToHVKf0Cs0C3_OxmgkANiRldOXjDraNiBgxg8ilOfH6p-OOzp45MughsECTZx1rBCSUis1twas/s1600/23SWEETBRIAR_cover-superJumbo.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New York Times: The Independent Women of Sweet Briar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm sure that my friends are wondering why I keep posting about <span class="_58cl"><b><i>#</i></b></span><b><i><span class="_58cm">savesweetbriar</span></i></b> all over my Facebook and Twitter timelines. <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/fashion/the-independent-women-of-sweet-briar.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0" target="_blank">This New York Times article explains why</a></b>. <br />
<br />
Sweet Briar College was the only school I wanted to attend. I never
imagined myself at a women's college (no boys???), yet the moment my mother and I drove up the long, winding driveway to campus, I felt like I had come home. (Sorry for ever doubting you, mom!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Sweet Briar is where I learned that it was safe to raise my hand and
state my opinion. Sweet Briar is where I ate lunch with my professors
and attended informal gatherings at their homes. Sweet Briar is where I
partook in extracurricular activities that had nothing to do with my
major; all activities were open to all students.<br />
<br />
At Sweet Briar, I was not an anonymous student lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces.<br />
<br />
<a class="profileLink" data-gt="{"entity_id":"443547712460766","entity_path":"WebPermalinkStreamController"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=443547712460766" href="https://www.facebook.com/savingsweetbriarinc">Saving Sweet Briar</a>
is the least I can do for an institution that gave me the foundation to
become a smarter, more adventurous, more independent woman.<br />
<br />
</div>
Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-79549579437358481672015-04-24T02:50:00.001-04:002015-04-24T03:05:33.637-04:00Thank You for the Form Letter, Mark Herring<span style="font-family: inherit;">An open letter to Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Brittany Anderson, Director of Legislative and Constituent Affairs:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I have been affected by the actions of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Sweet Briar College (“SBC” or “College”), a nonprofit institution subject to oversight by the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am concerned that your deference to the Board in the decision to close the College without a proper investigation is incorrect and should not stand. I respectfully request that you conduct a full and thorough investigation into the actions of the Board and administration of the College before working with those parties any further. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
In addition, I would like to take this time to address some of the points in your response via my own form letter, though you will find that mine has been personalized.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
*****</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<i><b>Letter from the Attorney General</b>: Sweet Briar has served a unique
purpose in the Commonwealth for more than a century, and its closing has
understandably been shocking and disheartening to thousands connected to the
school and many more Virginians who proudly claimed the college.</i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many thousands of people are more than shocked and disheartened. We are angry, hopeful, and determined. Three thousand Sweet Briar alumnae reside in Virginia. This number does not include our significant others, parents, children, or friends, nor the faculty & staff of the college or surrounding businesses. We are your constituents: people who campaigned, funded, and voted for you. We--<b><i>I</i></b>--helped you win the last election by less than 1,000 votes.</span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The passion
and commitment shown by the Sweet Briar family following the Board of
Directors' decision has been a testament to the kind of education it has
offered.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are more than passionate and committed. Over 20,000 women have graduated from Sweet Briar with degrees across a wide spectrum, all based on a liberal arts education that prepared us for any and all challenges we face. Sweet Briar taught us to use our voices to confront injustices. I'm thrilled that your mother taught you the same: "<i>if you see a problem, you've got a responsibility to try to fix it. And you keep working on it until you get it done.</i>" We have that in common, you and I.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
you know, Sweet Briar College is a private school,</span></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you know, on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, Bedford County Circuit Court Judge James Updike ruled that Sweet Briar is a non-stock corporation.</span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and therefore is not a
client agency of the Attorney General, who advises state officials and
represents the various state agencies, departments, and colleges and
universities.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Attorney General also represents his constituents: the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. </span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week, a Bedford County
judge ruled that the Board has the legal authority to vote to cease operations
when it has determined that it is no longer sustainable to continue.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the same ruling, Judge Updike also noted that the Board has the legal authority to cease operations as long as it is<b> acting in good faith</b>. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He also ruled in favor of Attorney General Ellen Bowyer's motion to grant a 60-day injunction against using general funds, which he would not have done if he did not believe the case had merit in front of the Virginia Supreme Court.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It
is extremely unfortunate that the Board could not find a viable path forward;</i><i> </i></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Collectively, hundreds of individuals have spent hundreds of thousands of hours over the past seven weeks researching, writing, advocating, and planning for the future of Sweet Briar College. Hours after Jones announced the closure, alumnae and supporters mobilized and formed Saving Sweet Briar, both in on-line and offline groups. The College has refused funds and ideas emanating from these stakeholders to prevent SBC’s closure. </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>but unless the Board has acted improperly or violated its duties, the
Commonwealth of Virginia has no legal basis to intervene.</i><i> </i></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You have replied that there is nothing to do unless the Board acted improperly or violated its duties. It is specifically because I believe the Board acted improperly that you are receiving this request. Please pay special attention to the following evidence that has come to light:</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A letter from a Board member who was forced to resign because he did not agree with the chair of the Board.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: inherit;">Board meetings leading up to the decision for
closure were conducted in “Executive Session” without meeting minutes subject
to review and analysis. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: inherit;">A forensic accountant's report that shows that Sweet Briar is not in as much financial trouble as presented to the public.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: inherit;">A Sweet Briar professor's analysis of the now-debunked study cited by the Board as a reason for closure.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f1f1f; font-family: inherit;">Solicitation of funds from Virginians by the College, for use in Virginia, as a Virginia nonprofit under false pretenses; misleading donors; and misusing donor funds. Between November 2014 and February 2015--while College administrators and Board members were taking steps to close SBC--the College was soliciting donations for its Annual Fund to be used for general operations. Moreover, to solicit Annual Fund donations during that time, the College indicated that SBC was viable and released information about a strategic plan for the future.</span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to know how you are so sure that the Board of Directors didn't violate its duties, especially in light of your refusal to conduct an investigation. </span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of the
commitment of people like you, the size of the assets involved, and the
significant economic and cultural impact of the closing, the matter is receiving
the close attention and careful consideration it deserves.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During recent hearings in Bedford County, attorneys from your office stated that in bringing suit against the College, “<i>the Amherst County Attorney seeks to ignore the process that the General Assembly provided through [the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (“UPMIFA”)] for institutions to properly use gifts restricted for one purpose for another consistent purpose.</i>” I have reason to believe, however, that the Sweet Briar College Board ignored these standards in deciding to shut down the College and dispose of its assets. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Though an organization is permitted to make bad decisions, it is not permitted to violate law. I have questions about the Board’s actions as it relates to the business judgment rule’s requirement of “<i>good faith, loyalty, or due care</i>” as the Board, in requesting donations, did not provide information or concerns about its financial condition. It is now clear that the College harbored such concerns. I also question if donations from thousands of Commonwealth citizens were mismanaged.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In his <i>Inside Philanthropy</i> article entitled <i><a href="http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/the-gift-adviser/2015/4/22/is-sweet-briar-college-complying-with-virginia-law.html" target="_blank">Is Sweet Briar College Complying with Virginia Law?</a></i>, Frank A. Monti shares:</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Dissolving a nonprofit charitable corporation is a matter of law. The Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act governs the dissolution of nonprofit corporations in the state. In addition, the organization’s articles of incorporation and bylaws are also likely to address the contingencies of a dissolution. Although I do not know what these documents contain in the case of Sweet Briar College, one basic requirement that I am sure is present in these documents is the IRS requirement that, upon dissolution, all assets of the corporation will be given to another charitable, tax-exempt entity with a mission as closely related to the Sweet Briar mission as possible. It would have been impossible for Sweet Briar College to obtain tax-exempt status from the IRS without this provision in its organizing documents."</span></i></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
the process moves forward, we will maintain that commitment to collaboration
and communication, and will continue to encourage the parties to be open and
transparent with one another and all interested parties and stakeholders. Even
in this difficult time, it is important that the school's leadership and its
community communicate openly and honestly about the challenges confronting
Sweet Briar and the Board's decision.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Students, faculty, staff, alumnae, parents of students, and donors had no reason to know that SBC’s financial situation was “dire” or “insurmountable,” as now described by the College. Recent news releases by the College emphasized record donations and expansions, and no major fundraising campaign had been undertaken since 2006. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Herring, if you truly believe that “<i>transparency and accountability are the keys to good governance</i>,” you will conduct an investigation and make public the reports, meeting minutes, and details that Jimmy Jones and Paul Rice are hiding. None of their actions with respect to the decision to close SBC have been transparent, and the Board and the College’s administration refuse to be accountable to its true stakeholders. </span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Attorney General's formal role under the law will be to speak on behalf of the
general public interest</span></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please let me know how the closure of the College benefits the general public. For the life of me, I cannot find the answer to this question.</span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">to ensure that Sweet Briar's remaining assets are used
in a way that is in the public interest and as close as possible to the intent
of the donor.</span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>only</b> intent of the original donor, Indiana Fletcher Williams--and all of those who have come after her--is to educate young women on the Sweet Briar estate. Closure is in direct opposition to this intent.</span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The law also requires the Office to review proposed modifications
to the use of certain gifts. No proposed modifications have been approved yet
and Attorney General Herring personally commits to the Sweet Briar community
that we will closely review the proposed use of remaining assets to ensure they
will provide lasting educational benefits and carry on the legacy of Sweet
Briar.</span></i></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">On Wednesday, April 15, 2015, the Attorney representing the College declared that $3 million in funds has already been released, meaning that you have, in fact, approved some proposed modifications.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">If your
position of support for an unchecked Board of Directors of a nonprofit without
an investigation is permitted to stand, it will send a terrible message to
Virginia citizens: that nonprofit Boards are untouchable, even when their actions
directly contradict the organization’s mission and a donor’s intent.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I request that you investigate</span><span style="color: #1f1f1f; text-align: justify;"> whether College authorities purposefully or intentionally
deceived donors; whether the most basic of steps to improve the financial health
of the College were taken; whether students, faculty, alumnae, and donors were
misled or deceived; and whether mail fraud and wire fraud transpired because
solicitations to donate to the College were made while those requesting such
donations were acting and in belief or suspicion to the contrary.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: justify;">An investigation will determine whether the
Board and administrators of SBC acted properly or improperly. An investigation
can also serve to preserve the integrity of donor intent for Virginia’s
nonprofit institutions.</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thousands of Virginians believe that Sweet Briar can and should be saved, and that the Commonwealth of Virginia should allow for a new Board that is willing and able to continue the College’s mission. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Sincerely, </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Vixen Says Moo </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Members of the Saving Sweet Briar community created templates for letters to the Attorney General and legislators. I am using them with permission.</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-11707324000007830642015-04-23T20:46:00.001-04:002015-04-23T20:46:15.064-04:00An Open Letter to the Sweet Briar College Class of 1969This message was originally posted by Molly Phemister in the comments section of the SBC Class of 1969 blog. I am reposting it here with Molly's permission.<br />
<br />
The original post pointed readers to an article written in the <i>Chronicle of Higher Education</i>: <a href="http://chronicle.com/article/How-Sweet-Briars-Board/228927/" target="_blank">How Sweet Briar’s Board Decided to Close the College</a>.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Dear 1969 alumnae,<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the <i>Chronicle </i>piece is not well done. It is purple journalism at its best, and reveals a number of unsavory details about our Board’s leadership (who I believe have steered our sisters on the Board into a blind alley and now won’t let them back up). Why hold the meeting in DC, which cost more and separated the Board members from making this decision on the campus that they love? Why would the consultant not let them keep the research results? Usually, those results are points of pride. If one slide is so deeply convincing, why not show it to everybody else so that we understand their decision? Why, if the decision was likely in November and getting very very clear in January, did they continue to both seek out and accept donations from alumnae? If this is only done under duress, and the resulting vigor from the alumnae was unexpected, why is is also unwelcome? We have $1 million dollars in hand, $5 million pledged for this year, $10 million pledged over the next 5 years… How could this be unwelcome news?<br />
<br />
1969, the most recent 30 years of Sweet Briar alum are desperate. We love Sweet Briar. Yes, many of us are willing to put a great deal of money on the line. Many many more of us are willing to come paint the buildings, mulch the flower beds, chop onions in the dining hall, teach classes, repair electrical wiring, clean windows, recruit students, re-roof Addie’s house… Why is our love so spurned? Why is it not enough to turn this boat around? I know you adore this campus. I walked the Dairy Loop and almost couldn't breathe for the beauty of looking north past Paul Mountain and that grand old sycamore. I didn't understand before, but alumnae are like in-laws: we love the same alma mater. We love her. You love her, I love her, we don’t have to love each other exactly, but we do have to recognize this common love. We would all do anything for her.<br />
<br />
I believe the reliance on the Sax research (showing a sharp skew due to sample bias of Black women from poor families entering women’s colleges at high rates) underpinned a number of decisions made over the past few years. It’s okay. We know better now. That data flaw was not seen by Sax (who is reputed to be a good researcher) but it was found by Dan Gottlieb, which says a lot about the tremendous faculty we continue to attract. We can remake these decisions, re-choose our destiny. You have a number of classmates on the Board and are in a unique position: according to Article 2, section 4 of the bylaws “<i>Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time upon five days written notice at the call of … any three Directors. No special form of notice shall be necessary to hold a special meeting, but the notice shall state the purpose of the meeting.</i>”<br />
<br />
You can do this. You can save us. You have the women on the Board who are able to say “let’s look again.” Nobody else has this capacity like you do. Please, look again, in love, with love, for love. Sweet Briar can rise again.<br />
<br />
Molly<br />
Class of '94<br />
<br />
PS - yes, I know that $10 million is not enough to retire all bonds, but it is enough to retire the 2011 bond, which has the more pressing triggers attached, and it’s only been 6 weeks, and it’s happened without the full power of the college behind us. As SBC 2.0, instead of as Saving SBC, we could have $30 million by the end of the summer. I think Sarah Clements called it “cow money”, which I find quite humorous, but yes, we all have some variant on “cow money” that would shake loose if the college said “wait, we’re going to try again.”<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-23639127858897057322015-04-22T07:00:00.000-04:002015-04-22T07:00:01.724-04:00The Business of Mismanagement: a Hypothetical ExaminationLet's play pretend.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You attended a prestigious university where you received a Bachelor of Science in engineering. <br />
<br />
You used your knowledge and business acumen to climb the corporate ladder.<br />
<br />
You proved to be a smart businessman, eventually becoming a Vice President, then Senior Vice President.<br />
<br />
After 20 years, you earned the top job. Congratulations on your Presidency!<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You sell your company for hundreds of millions of dollars. Woo hoo!<br />
<br />
Having successfully navigated the intricate dealings of an acquisition, you remain on board with the new company, a feat that many do not accomplish.<br />
<br />
You continue to lead the company, again becoming President.<br />
<br />
Your company is worth $1 billion dollars. You are a leader in your industry. Hot damn!<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You are a philanthropist. You believe in giving back. You join the Board of Directors of a small non-profit organization. <br />
<br />
You notice that the money spent is greater than the money received; it continues year over year. Heck, that's not sustainable.<br />
<br />
You are a shrewd businessman who doubled the value of his company, yet you do nothing to reverse this trajectory.<br />
<br />
You're the leader of the <strike>pack</strike> board. It's your time to shine: you know how to build businesses and reap a profit! Alas, you refuse.<br />
<br />
You alienate your fellow board members. 30% of them resign.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Bad decisions, year over year over year. You, a leader in business, sit idly by.<br />
<br />
Or worse.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You do not discuss financial constraints. You do not listen to others' viewpoints. You do not follow industry best practices. You do not hold accountable the individual(s) responsible for the paucity of resources. You do not ensure that each Line of Business is headed by the right person with the right qualifications.<br />
<br />
You spend money on consultants who do not report their findings. You encourage poor decisions by your Finance Team: decisions that cost the organization a significant percentage of its dwindling revenue. You ignore market research. You do not improve marketing campaigns. You do not change your product. <br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You announce the dissolution of the non-profit organization.<br />
<br />
You say that it's the fault of the customer base.<br />
<br />
Nothing to be done. You've tried everything. It's over. Too bad.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
You are a brilliant businessman who grew a for-profit company into an industry leader.<br />
<br />
And then proceeded to destroy a leading non-profit organization.<br />
<br />
Were you careless? Incompetent? Indifferent? Ill-disposed?<br />
<br />
You were not--<i>you are not</i>--a man of vision, intellect, or sensibility.<br />
<br />
You are the villain in this farce you call leadership.<br />
<br />
You are the antihero.<br />
<br />
An <i>enfant terrible</i>.<br />
<br />
A libertine.<br />
<br />
A wretch.<br />
<br />
You are Paul G. Rice.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-3308698787324716582015-04-20T12:00:00.001-04:002015-04-20T12:00:05.451-04:00A War on Women's Education<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I've spent many hours looking for the reason behind the Sweet Briar College Board of Directors’ decision to close the school. We all know that there is an undisclosed, underhanded reason for the closure--that this had little to do with admissions, annual fund donations, or being "30 minutes from Starbucks." What's the endgame? Is there a conspiracy? Who's going to profit from it?</div>
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I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter.</div>
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What matters is this: the key players--SBC interim president James "Jimmy" Jones, board chair Paul G. Rice, VP of Finance Scott Shank, and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring--are powerful men who believe that their wants and desires trump those of thousands of women.</div>
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Thousands of faculty, staff, students, parents, alumnae, and others have asked for clarity and more information. Yet Jones refuses to make public the data, reports, and meeting minutes that drove the Board to this decision. Why? "Because we do not have to" and "we have no duty to disclose this information."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Let me repeat:</div>
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The not-even-voted-in-by-the-Board male interim president of Sweet Briar College--a women's college--declared to over 14,000 students and alumnae that he does not need to provide any details.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"<i>Because we do not have to</i>" and "<i>we have no duty to disclose this information</i>."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Indiana Fletcher Williams, whose estate became Sweet Briar College, was a visionary: in a time when higher education was still mostly reserved for men, she saw to it that her legacy--in her late daughter's memory--would forever educate young women: women who would become leaders in the college, in the community, and in their chosen careers; women who would support their sisters; women who would "work for the good and work for the right."</div>
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<br /></div>
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A handful of men in closed meetings making decisions about women's lives, with no input of those whose lives are affected.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sound familiar?</div>
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<br /></div>
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These men held secret meetings with the Attorney General, who himself is actively working against the Save Sweet Briar movement. Instead of determining how to strengthen an institution that educates and empowers his female constituents, Mr. Herring filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of those fighting to close the college. (Bedford County Circuit Court Judge James Updike, who heard the first round of the court case, did not agree with the Attorney General.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jimmy Jones, Paul Rice, Scott Shank, and Attorney General Mark Herring are engaging in a war on women's education. They have forgotten, however, that Sweet Briar develops and promotes female leaders. They have forgotten that women are through with letting others dictate their lives. They have forgotten that the value of women’s education lies in the hearts of men and women worldwide.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We do not forget. We do not give up. We are just beginning to fight.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Join us in our fight to end the war on women’s education: go to<a href="http://savingsweetbriar.com/?hc_location=ufi"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>savingsweetbriar.com</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to read our legal complaint & supporting documents and pledge your support.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15493833466714152374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-29133313912831384982015-04-14T23:52:00.000-04:002015-04-20T11:29:51.431-04:00Mark Herring and Equal Pay Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MBwMwqyBkslB2Qew1ij_VENeeyAiUKz1__lKOU9Bu6sQX-NiRbYmHiKcOenlQhUK1Qz8v1h95jtizGCYQAkZNAg-Ib-9iHqlpOyawW3B1hcuLyyrnfEdLDmHqH3AKx-NEIOU9T5Dqy4/s1600/Herring+Equal+Pay+Day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MBwMwqyBkslB2Qew1ij_VENeeyAiUKz1__lKOU9Bu6sQX-NiRbYmHiKcOenlQhUK1Qz8v1h95jtizGCYQAkZNAg-Ib-9iHqlpOyawW3B1hcuLyyrnfEdLDmHqH3AKx-NEIOU9T5Dqy4/s1600/Herring+Equal+Pay+Day.png" height="163" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yes! Let me fix the last line for you, though: We can and must do better, and we can start by strengthening women's education and not closing Sweet Briar College.<br />
<br />
“The Attorney General is concerned that the disruption and conflict engendered by challenges raised against the decision of the Sweet Briar Board of Directors to close Sweet Briar are counterproductive to protecting the interests of the public, the students, alumnae, faculty, administrators and staff of Sweet Briar, and other interested parties.”<br />
<br />
Who are these "other interested parties," Mr. Attorney General? <br />
<br />
I can guarantee that you are NOT protecting the interests of the public (did you read the Amherst County Mayor's letter?), the students (have you seen the banners?), alumnae (lawsuit), faculty (lawsuit), and staff (lawsuit). I do believe that leaves administrators and others. <br />
<br />
On the one hand, you have 14,000+ women--and the parents, faculty, staff, and community who have worked to grow and nurture said women--working to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/savesweetbriar?hc_location=ufi">#savesweetbriar</a>. <br />
<br />
On the other hand, you have 23 board members--with two men at the helm--and an unknown number of unknown stakeholders who are fighting their hardest to close the school for unknown reasons.<br />
<br />
And you're working to protect the interests of whom, exactly?Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2935226854725909301.post-7012437303705818002015-04-10T18:24:00.000-04:002015-04-20T11:40:25.664-04:00An Open Letter to Mark Herring<br />Mr. Herring,<br /><br />I am a constituent and a voter; a Democrat who helped to fund your campaign for AG; an alumna of Sweet Briar College.<br /><br />I am extremely disappointed that you filed an amicus brief in support of the closure of Sweet Briar College. Please help me understand why you made this decision.<br /><br />There are thousands of stakeholders--a large percentage of whom are your constituents--working non-stop to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/savesweetbriar?source=feed_text&story_id=10206269247874995">#savesweetbriar</a>. There are less than two dozen people fighting to close the college. Why? Mr. Jones and Mr. Rice have shown no transparency--which you claim to be one of your tenets--in this process.<br /><br />"Attorney General Herring believes that transparency and accountability are keys to good governance. The people of Virginia have the right to know how their money is being spent and how this office is working on their behalf." The same holds true for the not-actually-voted-in president and Board of Directors of Sweet Briar.<br /><br />It is the responsibility of the Board to protect the College, not destroy it. If they have given up on her, let them resign.<br /><br />Make the right choice, Mr. Attorney General: enforce transparency; read the findings of the forensic accountant and the analysis of the Sax study; and redeem yourself in the eyes of those who funded and campaigned for you.<br /><br />Respectfully,<br />
A Vixen Says Moo<br />
Slytherpuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05810314141695886052noreply@blogger.com0