H88 Comes to University of ILL

The News-Gazette has listed some events   that the University of Clout will be offering under its generously-named "Inclusive Illinois" Initiative, regarding the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Apart from the list having a rather one-sided nature to seriously be taken as "inclusive," there is another feature of note.

One of the guest lectures is Thavolia Glymph, described here as simply "an author. However, Glymph is also a member of the Duke University faculty . A look at her publication shows a large block of no publications between 2003 and 2008. This is unfair because it does not show a couple of very important publications in her position as a member of Duke during 2006. 

In addition to being a cosigner of the infamous "Group of 88" libellous, racially-motivated,  and politically-correct prejudgement statement  thanking protesters for making noise about what happened to "this young woman" (who is now awaiting trial for murder) and carrying signs saying "castrate" and "confess" during the now-notorious Duke University Rape Hoax. Of course, Glymph also signed the following so-called "Clarifying Statement" which did nothing to clarify anything, only to falsely claim that the original statement had nothing to do with the lacrosse players (now thoroughly discredited since the letter's creator, Waheema Lubiano stated in writing that the statement was about "the lacrosse team incident."

But most horrific and damning was Glymph's final willingness to shed any previous or future attempts to disguise her own (or anyone else in the Group of H88) assumption of guilt of the lacrosse players. The DNA returns, which the Blagojevich of Law, disgraced and disbarred attorney Mike Nifong conspired to hide were eventually revealed to exonerate the players, Glymph complained,"we have been moving backwards." We can sympathize with her-it would be pretty hard to falsely accuse your own students of rape based upon their race and gender if the DNA is exculpatory, and the DA you supported is exposed as a fraud and a liar.

Nonetheless, that the U of ILL would consider Thavolia Glymph to come on taxpayer money to represent  the "inclusiveness" of Illinois, says precious little good about our state or University (not that there is much left to harm). Nor does it give the appropriate level of importance to a document such as the Emancipation Proclamation, when one of their participants was so, and continues to be, rabid about shredding the Constitution and the rights therein to her own student body.

Posted by Hound No. 2

Michael Hogan Resigns

Michael Hogan has resigned. I confess that this comes as a surprised to me (some of my fellow Hounds are not).

Hogan was a disappointment. Not because of what he did, but what he did not do. He did nothing to fix the scandal that caused his predecessor's demise-he never fired White, Herman, Hurd, or any of the others involved. He never fired Ghosh, ask questions about Frerich's appointment. He never fired Renee Romano or Anna Gonzalez. David Green is still collecting a pay check for...something. He has not lowered tuition, improved quality of applicants, nor brought any kind of faith in the U of ILL back to the people of Illinois. 

Oh yes he did manage to fire Dr. Howell. There is that.

Posted by Alpha Hound

Hardly- unexpected disgust with the revealed agenda to ban the Three-in-One performance has resulted.

The longevity and singularity of the Chief tradition aside, the enduring nature of the Chief and his related issues can be explained by a history of back-door dealing, assaults on free speech, an Chicago-based subterfuge.



Familiar names and faces continue to impose themselves. Why the TASSers at the DI can at this point can even remotely consider Robert Warrior a credible commentator  for any matter at all is quite...interesting. Lest they forget on our behalf, in emails from FOIA requests by SFCI regarding Assembly Hall rentals for unofficial performances and the shadowy attempt to prevent them, Warrior wrote to Romano and Gonzalez, complaining that displays about the anti-chief movement had been damaged, in addition to other libels and claims so vile, even Gonzalez wouldn't touch. Afterwards, Warrior confessed that said actions were actually perpetrated by his own people in attempt to castigate chief supporters. "Incitement to resentment' indeed!






Concurrent with the Chief's "retirement," were mandates by ex-state senator and Blagojevich ally Emil Jones' shakedown demands that the university cease and the punish all future performances of the Chief or face the wrath of a cut in state funding (which happened anyway). Observers were quick to ignore Jones' strong-arming of the U of ILL and instead focus on NCAA sanctions-that is until the Tribune showed how Jones and steered in excess of 50 million dollars to Chicago State University, which in a statement to the Tribune, even its president was unequipped to explain. But Jones’ had little to fear since the entire Board of Trustee save one was comprised of Blagojevian appointments, and none, save one were from outside Crook County. A back door shakedown of trustees by Epply, and Jones’ own oppressive avatar, Francis Carroll lead the Illinois Press Association to declare the BOT and the U of ILL leadership winners of its annual "“Worsty”' awards for its skullduggery. In the due course of time, all involved with the Star Chamber passage of death on the Chief, from White, Herman, Carroll, Eppley, and the others were later implicated and revealed in the now-infamous U of ILL/Chicago-based Clout Scandal.






President and serial Clouter, BJ White, saw fit (as later revealed by the Sun-Times entitled "Something Smells and it's Not Roses) to reward handsomely his brand of leadership during the Chief retirement. Indeed, free VIP Championship Game Rose Bowl tickets were handed round, personally approved by White to Jones, Eppley, Carroll, Montgomery, and of course convicted felon Rod Blagojevich.

Coupled with censorship attempts by Herman during homecoming parades, music professors pushing to make opinions on the Chief a deciding factor in student admissions, and acts by Renee Romano and others to suppress appearances by Chief supporters, and now the most recent action by unnamed (despite FIOA requests) personnel ordering Houser to send patrols and students home from Marching Illini practice if they were apparel with Chief iconography, it is no wonder a strong support of stopping these initiatives is in place.


Ignoring the debate of the yet-to-be-proven claim of "racism" regarding the Chief, the manner and methods of the leadership, faculty, state, BOT and been consistently linked to the proverbial hip of censorship, duplicity, and Chicago corruption. And as long as that shadow alliance remains, the resistance thus seen will undoubtedly continue.


Posted by Hound No. 7

Call for Accountability in Higher Ed

Governors across the country are saying that Higher Ed needs to be far more closely examined to make sure it is living up to its astronomical cost.


Can you say, "duh?" 


Posted by Alpha Hound 

Keller's Resignation

Bill Keller has resigned as the head of the New York Times, leaving Jill Abramson at the helm of the "Paper of Record [number of Scandals, Inaccuracies, and Retractions]."

Not surprising, the Right over at Newsbusters and Timeswatch has taken this opportunity to attack the pair for every misstep including the John McCain- staffer hit piece, Jayson Blair, and the Times rush-to-judgement in the Duke Rape Hoax (Surprisingly, the harangue at Newsbusters did not include the Time's the shady dealing with Moveon.org).

We imagine some more pertinent reactions concerning Keller and Abramson's roles in perpetuating Nifong's reign of terror to appear this weekend or next week. Hopefully, DIW will have something to say.

Posted by Hound No. 2

(Updated 6-2-11)
Your color has been changed No. 2, since the change in background makes your font otherwise illegible.

Posted by Alpha Hound

The U of ILL has announced it will appeal the earlier ruling concerning the release of students names on the Category I list. Posted by No. 6

Unless this is a major April Fool's joke in conjunction between the CHE and K.C Johnson, this just in: Duke Lacrosse Rape Hoax Lawsuit goes Forward The timing is fortuitous, as a post regarding the case was pending here. It will be published, along with some additional observations with the latest revelations in a few days. Posted by Hound No. 2

Congratulations Gordy Hulten (Redux)

Gordy Hulten is in the news again, this time to take over for Mark Sheldon as Champaign County Clerk.

Sheldon was one of the few to raise concerns about some of the hanky-panky over there at the U of ILL and in Champaign by Clouter Mike Frerichs, who along with Fox/Atkins, Avijit Ghosh, and BJ White gets his wife a clout job in the business park. And there was John Cullerton, who gets family members of Tony Rezko into the U of Clout with the help of Richard Herman and (again) BJ White. We only hope that Mr. Hulten will serve the people of ILL as well as his predecessor and not resort to political shenanigans as those mentioned above did.

So for the second time, we wish Mr. Hulten the best (though we do miss his blog, which is now, for all intents and purposes, defunct. And its spiritual successor, "Halfway-Interesting"-is just that).

Posted by Alpha Hound

Another Teacher Molester in ILL

Reports the Chicago Tribune today, Plainfield North High School gym teacher Ashley Blumenshine was arrested after police approached a Kohl's store where she and a student were having sex Tuesday night.

Bizarrely, although she has admitted to the sexual acts, she will plead not guilty.

As many of the commentators of the Tribune have already pointed out, the fact that she faces a mere three-to-seven years imprisonment seems utterly absurd. Nearby the U of ILL in Urbana, Jon A. White has received forty-eight (an additional twelve for students abused in normal). Granted, Blumenshine ostensibly only stands charged for one count whereas White was found guilty of eight. Nevertheless, we share the posters expectation that "three-to-seven years" will be more to the tune of "three-to-seven months."

Unsurprisingly, there is no comment from the IFT, nor the IEA. A search made by we Hounds can find her in no listing for either affiliation.

[[Update 1-6-11]] The Tribune now states that Blumenshine has posted $75,000 bond. After the recent strings of exposes on the blight of the supposedly-underpaid educator, one must wonder where she retrieved such an amount (easily above the average ILL citizen salary (before taxes) so quickly?

Posted by Hound No 4

The time has come to correct the record. We can finally put to rest all those pesky, right-wing rumors and accusations that ACORN monopolized the voter fraud industry. Well to all the bellows of Limbaughs and Becks, we stick out our tongues.


Okay, but not like that.


The Ant, in his usual form, has the link to the story. The NEA has offered a novel way of getting out the vote.

John Leidecker, of the Rhode Island branch of the NEA, has been arrested on charges that he "used false information" and masqueraded as Rep. Gablinske, who was beaten by a pro-union candidate in the primary. According to the story from WPRI, "Rep. Gablinske filed a complaint with the police prior to the Nov. 2 election alleging that someone was sending out e-mails falsely claiming to be from him."

Said Gablinske, "The NEA is really organized crime and [to] resort to these types of tactics during campaigns."

The Tea Party must surely rue its disorganization now. After all, they could only manage open challenges and confrontations of elected officials in town halls and getting attacked by them on the street. How can they possibly compete with the public unions' willingness to trail blaze with ever-new methods of skulduggery (although there is something to be said about the full-frontal [to-the-face] method as practiced by the SEIU; it's hard to argue when you lay beaten in the street).

The NEA leadership claims no knowledge-a claim that is quite embarrassing. Leidecker as an assistant executive director, winning $115,099 working for the teacher union, is far from the standard bottom-feeder lackey. Does the NEA really have no clue as to what its executives are doing?

Of even more cause for concern is the revelation that Leidecker could not even spell Galinske properly. Surely one would assume that a high-level broker in the most-ardent force in public education that is tasked with educating our youth could manage, even if engaging in election fraud, to learn their ABC's.

So as a lesson learned, make sure you all check your email again from now on. It might be not be yours. And if happens to be porn, be careful-it might be the work of an NEA exec.

Posted by Hound No. 4

Veteran's Day

It is veterans day today where we honor those who take of the uniform of defenders of our freedom. Today, that comes from an unlikely source-the Daily Illini with no less than three articles espousing the importance of our service men and women.

In one such article is the revelation of the U of ILL's hostility to making veterans collegiate experience an adequate one. No news here, as the UI has a long history of laying veterans on the sidelines. Yet, if the TASSers in the DI had done their job properly in the past, the University of ILL's poor standings in the Best for Vets list would come as no revelation.

No doubt the sycophantic praise of veterans and pro-veteran policies-both of which the DI has abhorred since 2001, is the result of verbal, and (if its copious advertising for the Global Campus fiasco is of any indication) a very likely monetary directive.

Yet the DI all but ignored the revelations back in 2007 when the University of ILL conspired to revoke and remove its promised MBA scholarships to veterans in the College of Business. Championed by Rob Van der Hooning with support of Pat Quinn and Rahm Emanuel, the scholarship program was removed by administrator's including BJ White, Herman, Ghosh, DeBrock, and Ikenberry (David). White later used his position and via then-Chancellor Sylvia Manning to weed out Van der Hooning. When he objected to the railroading of the veterans who were promised, not to mention the unethical actions by we have all come to expect now by the clout-filled crowd, he was illegally fired.

We could go on, but for a much better summary, read it at Marathon Pundit.

Ghosh's rationale that there were "too many jar heads" and his attempt to run them out of the program by bumping up deadline dates without informing the applicants, besides being underhanded, strikes us as pandering as well. After seeing the racist and hate-filled harangues concerning veterans coming from the likes of employees such 9/11 "Truther" David Green (who now has sunk to a new low accusing veterans of enlisting just because "they think it's cool to blow people away) , or even DI employees such as Chelsea Fiddyment or Amy Allen, we are left with no doubt exactly who the administrators concerned are pandering to.

More telling is the status of those involved: the ethically-challenged BJ White is now continuing to extort the taxpayers behind a near-invincible fortress of tenure. Ghosh is imperator now of economic development, not to mention clout appointments of state senators' spouses. DeBrock now is dean of the College of Business, and one of the clout masters.

Meanwhile the DI only printed a few words from Van der Hooning, and an entire accusation from Robin Kaler. The TASSers at the DI spout their false praise for the day, knee deep in their own complicity.

Posted by Hound No. 9

V is for Victory, Vindication, and Valdosta

There was some uplifting news from Georgia today: T. Hayden Barnes has emerged victorious over Valdosta State concerning his unlawful expulsion by former-president, Ronald Zaccari.

As FIRE writes, the importance of the case demonstrates that "no president is above the law." To be sure, the major victory of this case, even beyond the return of Mr. Barnes lost rights of speech and due process, is the black eye against abuse of sovereign immunity by administrators and public officials in these cases. Judge Parnell ruled that Zaccari is "personally liable" for his actions. People like Mike Nifong, John Fallon, Rod BLAHgo, and Charles Steger can longer hide behind their roles as "good-intending" public stooges, but without the public accountability checks in place. The case can only further the backlash of government institutional abuse in a season and time where public loathing of government waste, corruption, and insularity is at an all-time peak.

Others have also weighed in with some observations which we believe are vital to the fight to combat the erosion of students rights across the nation.

The Student Press Law Center in particular states that the case highlights the promising trend of student handbooks and codes acting as legally-binding documents for schools that violate student rights; not only in public schools but private (emphasis added) as well:

"That finding adds to a growing body of law that makes clear
promises made by schools in handbooks, school charters, “Student Rights and
Responsibility” documents and other university statements can provide students
with legal protections that extend beyond those provided by more traditional
law. While most cases have so far involved promises made to students about the
fairness of campus disciplinary systems, the Student Press Law Center has long
argued that schools should also be held legally accountable for violating their
own student media policies and other provisions promising to protect student
speech."

An example of the crucial ramifications of this decision, we imagine this cannot make Brodhead and his ilk in the faculty and Duke echelons resting easy, since part of the Duke's rather pithy defense of its blatant violation of its own students rights rests on the out-right nullification of the Duke's faculty, student handbooks.

Posted by Hound No. 8
The Hounds of TASSers'ville

Boss Richard Daley has decided not to seek reelection as Supreme Overlord of the Chicago/Cook county political machine. Citing familial interests, the ILL "Tiger” is off to a new phase in the life of corrupt, Chicago officials. What will the former fat cat do with his time now, we Hounds wonder? Engage in typical post-career activities such as golf or lawn bowling? Or maybe become a sportsman? Fishing, and threatening to stick a rifle up the derrieres of some more journalists?

Posted by
Hound No. 6

Sweeping Funds under the Rug?

The second of September marked a surprising addition to a rather uninspiring repertoire of start-of-term publications by the Daily Illini. The article focuses on a small section of a large FOIA documents surrounding the role of the skunk, BJ White, with regards to funds spent to renovate and furnish the University of ILL’s presidential house.

Given the copious amounts of clout, scandal, Worsty Awards, spending, etc. at UI, it is only natural that the general public, students, and concerned alumni would question the necessity of such expenses and (especially if BJ White is involved) any ethics issues related. Based upon the story, there seems little, if anything, objectionable or illegal; certainly nothing to compare to the clout scandal.

Enter the Serial Obfuscator: Tom Hardy.

The electronic equivalent of barking and frothing at the mouth, Tom Hardy posted a rabid harangue on the comment board shortly after 1p.m. the same day, turning it into a mad house, because his bosses reputations may well be in the dog house, all over the costs of the penthouse, while it was the White house, who belongs in the Big House.

Accusing the DI of exploiting a “Gotcha” moment, and launching into several name-calling tirades such as “amateurish” “half-baked” and in violation of fair, objective journalism the post is rather extraordinary since there was little to castigate in the DI’s originally article. Nowhere in that article appears any conclusion or insinuation of wrongdoing warranting the accusation of a “Gotcha” moment that Hardy insulates in his Palpatinian out lashing. Indeed, the DI reported the renovations, attached the price to the rug, and includes the relevant documents. In the second and third paragraphs, the DI identifies the go-between, and the source of the funding. Nowhere in either does the publication insinuate or identify any improprieties-a hallmark nonetheless characteristic of the White regime.

The second to last paragraph merely is a statement of record, concerning White’s fate regarding the admission scandal. Nothing contained therein reported is false-White did resign. He was replaced by Ikenberry and ultimately succeeded by appointment of Michael Hogan. Or would Hardy dare to challenge these facts? Hmmm?

Finally a promise to follow up on the story. If, if we can bear to take Hardy’s word, there are 1200 more pages worth, this hardly seems unrealistic. Needless to say, hardly anything worthy of the boorishly delivered monikers of “half-baked” or unprincipled.

Hardy’s tirade, in which he attempts to take the moral high ground with claims about “friendly’ facts and a lack of secrets, becomes even more incredible when one bears in mind that, in addition to being called out by the IPA for "thumbing its collective nose" at the FOIA request regarding the cost of presidential searches, he and the university currently face a push for a state ruling by the News-Gazette for failing to adhere to the recommendations of the IL Public Access Counselor. Nor shall we forget that this man previously (in an equally brazenly hypocritical, snide, albeit less hot-headed manner) chastised the DI’s editorial picture for calling into question BJ White’s actions during the admission scandal. The context was the revelation that White (which he testified to) used his position on behalf of a member of his own family, which Hardy bizarrely omitted, in his letter to the DI, ever happened. Hardy's description of White handing himself over to "private" life also causes some scratches to the head (for us behind the ears), given that White is now a golden-parachute faculty member, teaching of all things ethics(!). Given Hardy’s brazen need to completely whitewash White of anything, no one would be surprised if tomorrow Hardy started to insist White’s urine was, in fact, wine (if only “half-baked.”)

Perhaps this was a non-story, and we shall wait to see if it was. But Hardy’s expose of bureaucratic indignation over some fiscal transparency and accountability has replaced it. Regardless of the journalistic merit of White’s unsurprising largess (a topic that has been, and will likely continue to be analyzed, but as Tolkien would say, does not enter into this tail). Tom Hardy IS now the story. We know the DI well. We are forced to read it everyday (this Hound in particular!) This can be a chore. As anyone who reads us knows we have been adamant since the start of the fall term concerning the DI’s failure to update or retract a false rape allegation that it has previously reported. And we know full well, ’amateurish” ’half-baked’ and in violation of “every principle of fair, objective expository journalism “ are accurate, well labeled appellations of the Daily Illini’s journalist apparatus on most days.

But not today. And we challenge Hardy to show specifically where it is otherwise.

Posted by Hound No. 9

***Update 9-2-2010 5:31 P.M.***

The Daily Illini has posted an update regarding the rationale for the publication of this story. Though not by name, it is certainly a rebuke of Hardy's accusations. The Daily Illini's explanation echoes No. 9's post and our own defense of the publication.

Posted by Alpha Hound

The start of term for the University of ILL has started, and the DI has kick-started the semester by holding to its usual standards of journalistic ethics.

On August 7th, Both the News-Gazette and the TASSers at the DI had stories that a report of criminal sexual assault that occurred earlier that day near the Wright and Chalmers (in the general vicinity of the Illini Union Bookstore for those unfamiliar with the area).

Little over a week later, the News-Gazette reported that the sexual assault accusations, according to the UI Police, was "unfounded." The TASSers of the DI reported this on...well, never.

By viewing the link to the DI above, you will see that we Hounds brought this to the TASSers' view that same day (though we were twenty-four minutes behind the first. The DI responded by not even posting the comments (except the one dated August 10) until the evening of the 18th-well after the DI regulated the story far, far away from the news thread. The only way to find it now is via a google search.

In addition, a simple search of keywords, including "Hofstra," at the DI article database tell us a pretty tale. Or rather, confirms one that we noticed some time earlier: According to the DI's reporting (or in this case, lack thereof), no reader would know that the Hofstra students (arguably the most nationally scrutinized false rape next to the infamous Duke Lacrosse Hoax) falsely accused by Danmell Ndoye since the DI did not print a story of any kind.

Do we expect any kind of recanting or clarification? Not really. The DI's parent company, Illini Media, also owns and prints the Buzz. The Buzz prints the "Doin it Well" column by Wantland and Sanger (Jo not Margaret, though they do have a lot in common), which in April of last year, printed a column about the previously-mentioned Duke Hoax that No. 2 thoroughly and appropriately excoriated.

No matter; if we must school the DI some more, then never fear. We are the Hounds and it is our job to watch, correct, and educate when the need arises .

Welcome to the start of term!

Posted by Hound No. 9

The incoming leader of the University of ILL, Michael Hogan has handily set himself in to the system and repertoire of the institution. Only a month into his tenure, he has managed to lead the institution into a discrimination case for one of his adjunct professors, and he has raised eyebrows about the cost of his services in a time where the state faces record budget deficits, a clear result of fiscal mismanagement, overspending, and conspicuous consumption concerning higher and primary education. An unquestionable benefit resulting from the whole situation is the ever-more stringent scrutiny over university finances, and its disposal of taxpayer monies from the ever-constant shakedowns political allies in the state government undertake on its behalf. Several local news outlets including the News-Gazette and the TASSers at the DI have filed FOIA regarding the costs and identities the U of ILL’s presidential search. While the amount spent on the searches is a story in of itself, there is another result which is even more telling...

Described in a News-Gazette, the U’s reaction is, at least, doubtlessly consistent. All the pertinent names of the candidates and institutions had been blacked out. And airports they may have flown from. And travel agencies. And other expenses

This, in spite of Public Access Counselor Cara Smith's maxim, " the disclosure of this information [said expenses], in and of itself, does not constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."

So the university, like so many other institutions, sees fit to rationalize and hide behind FIOA privacy clauses, as well as the misapplied FERPA exemption, in order to protect its own inconvenient truths.

Despite all of Hardy' claims about how we need to protect the privacy of candidates fielded for the leadership positions, he never answers the most fundamental question that arises: why do we need to protect the identities and privacy of the applicants? Should not the shareholders of the university, as the IPA's Craven asserts, be privy to exactly what type of candidates are fielded, especially in a plus-$300k deal? Considering the growling and hissing about how Professor Howell was employed through the Newman Center, why should not the rest of the professtocracy and administrators be held to the same amount of transparency? Hardy obviously subscribes to a much different type of transparency: the B.J. White kind. If, as said, that sunlight is the best disinfectant, the U of ILL could quite easily rival the the brilliance of say, Minakami Village.


Hardy may speak more accurately than he realizes when he challenges the view of the Illinois Press Association counsel, that the U of ILL thumbed it’s nose at the public. A more accurate assessment would be to say it lifted its leg on the public.

Posted by Hound No. 6

Update on UC Davis

The MSU has appealed the ruling that has put the student group on probation after the groups members conspired to disrupt a presentation given by former ambassador Michael Oren at UC Irvine. In the midst, there has been significant reaction to the issue on the ed blogs and from First Amendment groups.

Yet, we have been disappointed in the coverage of the incident and the subsequent punishment of the MSU involved in the incident. Other than the Los Angles Times, no major commentary on the incident has highlighted a very important part of UC Davis recommendation to suspend. As the recommendation states,

"...the MSU, and each of its authorized signers, violated
the following University Policies:

Section 102.02 :

Other forms of dishonesty including, but not
limited to fabricating information, false information, or reporting a false
emergency to the University."

The other sections 102.13 through 15 are free speech matters which most of the commentary has focused on to date. The 02 section, however, we see as the most serious. Regardless of any appeal by the MSU towards their actions at the lecture, giving false testimony ought to be enough to reap some consequences. Given now that emails from members of the MSU and organizers of the disruptions demonstrate that the disruptions were premeditated and were carried out with the blessing of the MSU, contradicting earlier claims by members that the individuals arrested were acting independently.

It is unfortunate that the controversy is a victim of obfuscation by making it something it is not. Like the dog pile with Ward Churchill, this is no longer a free speech issue; now it is a criminal issue.

Posted by Hound No. 8

NEA Con 2010

The Ant over at the EiA has some tidbits from the National Education Association's convention in New Orleans. Compared to the antics at Comic-cons and Sci-Fi-cons , the Cons-cons here really act like denizens from outer space.

Two of our favorites:

1.NBI91 submitted by the CTA:

“Move that NEA RA 2010 New Orleans Delegates stand up and leave the convention center to send a clear message to protest against Public Schools’ budget cuts on July 6th (last day RA) for ‘one’ hour during lunch time (discretion of NEA President for time of lunch). NEA staff will contact TV news to get media coverage and organize the exit of members in an organized manner.”

Nothing says more the modus operandi of the teacher unions from California than if you want something done for yourself, make someone else do it. Imagine the sight: the CTA at the podium speaking to the crowd "Now, all you from New Orleans, you get up and go outside now while we're all eating and we'll watch. And cheer. What? Sorry. You'll just have to make do with whatever is left over at the buffet when you get back." Very droll!

2. Good news for Chris Christie: Other than some Jerry Springer-style wailing by Van Roekel at him, it looks like he is small time now. Arne Duncan appears to be Enemy #1on the NEA Hit List. Also from Ant:

"While introducing New Business Item 42, which directed NEA to “call on the U.S. government to end the war in Afghanistan,” delegate Nancy Porter from the Iowa State Education Association said: 'Bring home the troops and send in the Peace Corps and Teachers for America (sic).'"

Wow.

No question the highlight was Bob Chanin packing it in. Quite a confession he makes here (you can stop after the 1:00 minute mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piPkgAUo0w

"It is not because we care about children, and its not because we have a vision of a great public school or every child..."

Need we hear more?


Posted by Hound No. 4

New Page

With the new Page Designer tools, we have been able to give the ol' Doghouse a summer paint job.

We decided to take advantage of the change of appearance for two reasons. One, and the more obvious of the two, because the template looks nicer. Two, and probably the more important of the two, is because it is used as well by UIC pro-PC education blogger.

Still, myself and No. 1 are still not entirely sold on the color, and a couple of the fonts are not quite right. Also, we are still waiting for someone to invent a couple of gadgets we would like to utilize.

Posted by Alpha Hound

UI fires Catholic Prof for Teaching...Catholicism (Updated)

Professor Kenneth Howell was shown the back door last week for writing about...the back door. And worse, he was writing about Catholicism.

Prompted by an interesting complaint letter (more on this in a subsequent post) dated from early May, Howell was removed for "hate speech" by Robert McKim, chair of the Religious Department. McKim is conveniently out of the country at the moment.

No mention of the case yet by FIRE, but the Alliance Defense Fund and the AAUP have both offered legal and moral support, respectively, for Professor Howell.

Given the recently exposed developments of behind-the-scenes shenanigans by the U of ILL in recent months, the developments of this story will be fun to watch as the facts continue to come to light-a process that the UI always finds extremely deplorable.

The case recalls the time when Acton Gordon was fired for printing the Jylland-Posten Mohammad Cartoons.

Posted by Hound No. 9

(Update 7-10-10 23:00pm):

The UIUC Atheists, Agnostics, and Freethinkers have posted that they too find the administrations actions wrong.