July 23, 2009 04:38 PM UTC

CSU board chair ripped lawmakers' "un-Christian attitudes" over chancellor process, recording shows

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• by: BobMoore

(There is more to the story of HB-1369 than meets the eye, and it may not be over yet – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Doug Jones, chairman of the Colorado State University Board of Governors, accused state lawmakers of “un-Christian attitudes” in attempting to reform the chancellor selection process, a newly released audio recording shows.

The recording of the May 5 meeting was released Wednesday as a result of the lawsuit settlement between CSU and three media organizations.

The recording reveals some interesting details on the clear tension between the board and the Democratic leadership in the Legislature pushing for a more open process in the selection of higher education leadership in Colorado.

Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer and House Majority Leader Paul Weissman unsuccessfully pushed in the closing days of the session for a law that would require higher ed institutions to publicly name at least 3 finalists for CEO positions. They were reacting to widespread reports that CSU was going to name a sole chancellor finalist, most likely board Vice Chairman Joe Blake.

Shaffer killed his bill the same morning the CSU board met and named Blake the sole finalist.  

In the recording, Jones repeatedly denies the board was trying to “jam” Blake into the job. But he also pushed for Blake’s selection and urged prompt action to beat possible legislation that would force a restart of the chancellor selection process.

“I’ve been close to politics all my life, so it’s not news to me but I’ve been so disappointed at, for lack of a better word, the un-Christian attitudes,” Jones said. “For me that sums it up, the un-Christian attitudes in the kind of demonstrative efforts that are going on down there; it’s just beyond my wildest dreams.”

Weissman responded with some humor.

“I don’t want to be flip about it, but he’s right, I’m not Christian,” said Weissman, who was raised Jewish. “But I know enough of the Bible to know that judging like that is also un-Christian.”

Here’s the Coloradoan’s Trevor Hughes’ story on the recording:

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti…

Hughes’ story on the lawsuit settlement itself can be read here:

http://www.coloradoan.com/arti…

You can listen to the board recording here:

http://www.coloradoan.com/news…

Also, some good discussion on my diary from last night on the settlement:

http://www.coloradopols.com/di…