Lehman to step down

[Rosey]

Wacky.

http://www.cornellsun.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/06/11/42ab05fedd949

Kyle

[peterg]

Extra, Extra!  Read all about it.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/news/updates/11723.html

[KeithK]

It's not April, right?  Very weird.  Maybe as a hockey fan Lehman wanted to give Schafer a $500k salary and the board said no... :-)

[ugarte]

Dammit, what is the real story!

[ithacat]

Some one knows but it's not me.

Lots of chatter, I mean rumors, today on campus. Everyone seemed to be talking about 2 things:

1) Lehman was too liberal and might have actually had a personal vision.

Pursuant to the university bylaws, the Board of Trustees is vested with "supreme control" over the university, including all of its colleges and other units. Trustees have a fiduciary responsibility to the university as a whole. Among other responsibilities, the board elects the president, adopts an annual plan of financial operation, and establishes degrees to be awarded. Through the bylaws, day-to-day responsibility for administration of the university is delegated by the trustees to the president.
http://www.cornell.edu/trustees/

2) Lehman's wife was brought in as a presidential advisor and essentially pushed out Inge Reichenbach (who was part of the old guard). Ironically, donations and media coverage have increased significantly in the last 2 years, obstensibly due to the first lady.
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April05/Reichenbachresigns.tb.html

I'd love to know the real story. Seems like awfully strange timing, however. It probably came down to old vs new Lynah.

[jtwcornell91]

Didn't everyone else get the email from the chairman of the board?

[Chris 02]

Yeah I got this

June 11, 2005


Fellow Cornellian:

I am writing to report to you that Jeff Lehman has informed us of his
decision to step down as president of Cornell University, effective June
30, citing differences with the Board of Trustees regarding the strategy
for realizing Cornell's long-term vision.

While much has been accomplished over the past two years, we believe that
this decision is in the best interests of Jeff and the University and all
of its constituents.  The Trustees and all of the members of the
University community appreciate Jeff's many contributions to Cornell over
the past two years, and wish him every success as he goes on to the next
stage of his career.

Hunter R. Rawlings III, president emeritus of Cornell and a current member
of the faculty, has agreed to serve as interim president.  Subject to
approval by the Board of Trustees, his appointment will become effective
July 1, and he will serve in this role until the University names a new
president.

We are pleased and fortunate that Hunter has agreed to guide the
University through this transition.  We are also pleased that Biddy Martin
will continue as Provost, a position she has held since 2000, and that
Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., who has served as Provost for Medical Affairs for
the past eight years, will continue in that role.  Both Biddy and Tony are
valued and respected members of the Cornell community.  With the
University's leadership in experienced and capable hands, we are looking
forward to a seamless transition.

Our work to identify the 12th president of Cornell will begin promptly.
As is the Cornell custom, the presidential search committee, which I will
appoint shortly, will be composed of faculty, student and staff trustees,
Board trustees, faculty, administrators and staff.  The committee will
begin its work this summer and will proceed with the goal of having a
thorough and comprehensive search process completed as soon as feasible.

We are grateful, as ever, for your continued support of Cornell.  We are
committed to our founders' guiding principle of "Any person, any study,"
and to its extension into the twenty-first century.  The work we have set
out to do will continue unabated.  Please be assured we will keep the
Cornell community informed as the presidential search progresses.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Cornell.

Sincerely,


Peter C. Meinig
Chairman of the Board of Trustees

[Trotsky]

"I try to get out but they just keep pullling me back in!"

[jtwcornell91]

[Q]Trotsky Wrote:

 "I try to get out but they just keep pullling me back in!"[/q]

We want Hot Tub!  (clap clap clapclapclap)

[KeithK]

Was that email or snail?  I haven't received it either way...

[Ken71]

I received an e-mail directed to Cornell Alumni, sent at 11:30 AM Saturday.

I almost deleted it as SPAM - I didn't recognize the Peter Meinig name.  

Ken '71

[JohnnieAg\'99]

One of the comments on the Sun article says that we're "floundering in a sea of mediocrity..."  I wouldn't go that far, but Rawlings only lasted 8 years, and this is a big black eye - especially since it's the first time we ever had a grad run the place - which I find shocking and pathetic.  

We should ask our Minnesota friends what it's like to go to a huge state school with abysmal academics, where all anyone has to look forward to is one Kick-A** hockey team :-P

[French Rage]

The central power is weak.  This is an excellent chance for the College of Engineering to declare war on and conquer those Architecture bastards!

[ninian '72]

[Q]

2) Lehman's wife was brought in as a presidential advisor and essentially pushed out Inge Reichenbach (who was part of the old guard). Ironically, donations and media coverage have increased significantly in the last 2 years, obstensibly due to the first lady.[/q]

This had to have been an awkward situation, no matter how well all the parties handled it.  Lehman's wife had had the equivalent of Reichenbach's job at Michigan, and having someone that well connected and capable looking over Reichenbach's shoulder must have made the Yale job very appealing to Reichenbach.

[ithacat]

[Q]ninian '72 Wrote:

 [Q2]

2) Lehman's wife was brought in as a presidential advisor and essentially pushed out Inge Reichenbach (who was part of the old guard). Ironically, donations and media coverage have increased significantly in the last 2 years, obstensibly due to the first lady.[/Q]
This had to have been an awkward situation, no matter how well all the parties handled it.  Lehman's wife had had the equivalent of Reichenbach's job at Michigan, and having someone that well connected and capable looking over Reichenbach's shoulder must have made the Yale job very appealing to Reichenbach.

[/q]

Agreed. And I don't mean to dismiss Reichenbach's contributions to Cornell over her 25 years (I believe that's how long she'd been here). Still, ironic isn't it?