SPTimes: Billionaire's role in hiring decisions at Florida State University raises questions

[flpoljunkie]

Disgraceful!

Billionaire's role in hiring decisions at Florida State University raises questions

By Kris Hundley, Times staff writer
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A conservative billionaire who opposes government meddling in business has bought a rare commodity: the right to interfere in faculty hiring at a publicly funded university.

A foundation bankrolled by Libertarian businessman Charles G. Koch has pledged $1.5 million for positions in Florida State University's economics department. In return, his representatives get to screen and sign off on any hires for a new program promoting "political economy and free enterprise."

Traditionally, university donors have little official input into choosing the person who fills a chair they've funded. The power of university faculty and officials to choose professors without outside interference is considered a hallmark of academic freedom.

Under the agreement with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, however, faculty only retain the illusion of control. The contract specifies that an advisory committee appointed by Koch decides which candidates should be considered. The foundation can also withdraw its funding if it's not happy with the faculty's choice or if the hires don't meet "objectives" set by Koch during annual evaluations.

more...

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/billionaires-role-in-hiring-decisions-at-florida-state-university-raises/1168680

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Money money money. We bow down and worship money." - Republicons

Mammon is the core Republicon Family Cesspool Value

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. There's more than money behind this decision.

If he's after the Economic Department, he's looking for a foot hold into strategic campuses where he can then begin astroturfing campus newsletters penned under student names that will push right-wing points.

It's already happened in Florida. Take a look:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-rollins-student-newspaper-immigran20110324,0,1530297.story

Think of the convoluted, bad science of the Bell Curve being applied to math and on college campuses where people are just beginning to formulate their ideas.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. They either shouldn't have taken the money or if they did, not to agree to those terms.

[loudsue]

3. This is not new. It has been an intentional practice since the 1970's

by the rightwing to use their financial influence over University programs to insert their conservative agenda via faculty.

This is the history of where we are right now: Every liberal or progressive needs to know and understand what Justice Powell started with what is called the Powell Manifesto.

http://hnn.us/articles/1244.html

Conservatives were so outraged by integration and environmentalism and "women's lib" that they collectively decided to use their financial clout to never let liberalism raise it's head again in this country. Powell was appointed to the supreme court by Richard Nixon in the 70's. He started the US Chamber of Commerce on the path that it is on today.

http://old.mediatransparency.org/story.php?storyID=21

[OHdem10]

4. The Merger of Business and the State equals Fascism in which

Business has the power. Right Wing Ideiogy and Koch
Bros are really pushing RW Ideology. The most efficient
way to accomplish is to take over Institutions of Learning.

[loudsue]

5. Kickin' because this is REALLY important

:kick:

[OHdem10]

6. More important than most can imagine.

[handmade34]

7. immensely important!!

when we lose objectivity in teaching we are in serious trouble

[tallahasseedem]

8. I am an FSU alumni...

and I'm sick over this.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Economics Department

Read this article and see why he's after the Economics Department:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-rollins-student-newspaper-immigran20110324,0,1530297.story