Sunday, May 28, 2006

What's Good For The Goose


This was listed as a hot news article in the Commercial Appeal. It makes you wonder who is writing these stories and what is their real agenda? I'm not condoning wasteful spending, but that's just the atmosphere. Where was this same concern when we were signing John Calipari for $1.6 million? I hear this same explanation about him filling the seats. And the national exposure he brings. That's just what they tell the public. To sweep the issue under the rug. This story isn't about Calipari though. It's just in the same vein. To see what I said about him, read my earlier post: http://indepcons.blogspot.com/2006/04/i-say-let-him-go.html

The Chancellor at the University of Tennessee 'Bill Owen', is under the gun now. He has had some questionable spending practices lately. There is a $28,000 discrepancy of unauthorized expenditures. Due to the latest spending debacle in 2003. Which resulted in the resigning of the former University Of Tennessee president 'John Shumaker'. You would think they would be extra careful. I think surely they would've double checked everything. I'm almost certain they did. This will amount to another witch hunt. I think he has fallen victim to the same scrutiny as Mayor Willie Herenton and MLGW Director Joseph Lee. It brings to mind something I once heard a racist say. "One hundred dollars a week. Is to much for a Black Man to make". Of course now the stakes are much higher. Instead of singles, this is for thousands. Is $100 thousand dollars annualy too much for a Black Man to make? In the minds of some people it is, based on public reaction. This is not race specific. Often this sentiment is shared, by both Black and White.

One thing I haven't heard mentioned by anyone perpetuating this probe. These homes are the property of the University. Any rise in property values and home improvements directly benefit the school. The former property is going to be sold I'm sure for more than the University paid for it initially. The Commercial Appeal won't have a follow up story on the sale of the house and where that profit goes. To get a detailed list of the money that's been spent. Read the link below:

In all fairness though I must admit. The wife Alice Owen is a bit eccentric.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_4731272,00.html

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The more I read.The more I agree with you.I do think Calipari is worth it.

7:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The real story is the wife. Why is she causing so much trouble? When they look into it farther. Alice Owen's name will appear more than her husband's.

12:46 AM  
Blogger Common said...

Ray,

I guess you have no problem with Bill Owen then.

5:37 PM  
Blogger Common said...

Weekly Reader,

You know how those wives are. They usually are over the top, especially those that have been around.

5:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They always complain about the money they make. I think educators make a good living.

6:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They are getting him for a steal. This man could go anywhere in America, to a major college. And get more money than that.

10:21 AM  
Blogger Common said...

UT's Owen will pay it back
Story Tools

By Halimah Abdullahl
Contact
June 6, 2006
Chancellor Bill Owen issued an apology Monday for his part in a spending debacle that has shaken the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's campus in Memphis.
Owen also agreed to reimburse the university for decorating expenses to his official, state-owned residence.

Those actions came after what UT officials described as a frank discussion of accountability and public service between the Memphis chancellor and his boss, UT president John Petersen.
"I take full responsibility for past decisions and actions I have taken as Health Science Center chancellor and for what has occurred as a result of those decisions," Owen said in a prepared statement. "I recognize that the confidence of some members of the public has been damaged. I am, today, committing to restore that trust and to renew my commitment to my role as a public servant on behalf of the University of Tennessee."

In conversations with Owen, Petersen underscored the need for restoring public confidence.

"As president of the University of Tennessee system, I place the highest priority on the public trust we hold," Petersen said in his statement. "In the last few weeks that confidence in our Health Science Center has been shaken, and the public and our trustees have raised concerns."

Owen's public mea culpa comes days after The Commercial Appeal found he spent more than $28,000 to improve the chancellor's residence, which also serves as a place for university fund-raising, including $4,500 for an interior decorator consultation, a $4,500 plasma TV, and $11,854 in shelving, lighting and extensive rewiring. Some of those costs, such as his wife's hiring of a decorator last fall, were incurred outside UT's spending protocols and drew the attention of higher level officials.

The school recently began using donor money earmarked for home improvements to cover some bills.

In an interview with the newspaper, Owen blamed miscommunication, broken promises made by UT system officials, the late arrival of system and Memphis campus CFOs and unclear policies for spending gaffes during his tenure as head of the Memphis campus.

However, in memos to UT staff Owen relayed a different story: "The University has policies, procedures and controls in place to review transactions and assure process adherence. ... There are no University led investigations under way nor have there been any admonishments issued of me or any of our leadership team for their expenditures or work-related activities."

Auditors will complete their review at the end of the month and release the results this fall, said UT spokesperson Gina Stafford.

In the meantime, Petersen stressed that despite spending missteps he has "a great deal of confidence in Bill Owen's abilities, talents, and vision for a world-class Health Science Center".

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