(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:
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Can someone please explain what the hell Doug Jones was talking about? It’s not exactly clear, and I want to make sure Jesus never gets mad at our legislators again.
Doug Jones think’s he’s the second coming and so anyone who disagrees with him or questions his motives is un-christian.
Great job, Dave. Now you’ve gone and pissed off Jesus.
And reply that Doug Jones, as one of the Chosen, has the full and total support of Jesus in everything that he does, so by opposing his desires in selecting Blake the CO State Legislature was going against Jesus’ will.
I wouldn’t do it
And either it never occurred to Jones that some of the Legislature might not be Christian (and the very thought of being called “un-Christian” would persuade those straying followers back on to the path), or he knew full well and was being, to be polite, an insensitive clod.
Appealing to his “base.”
He is, I assume, a pre-Ritter holdover on the board appoined by a Republican Governor. He has no real chance of being reappointed to his post, and as such, is a lame duck.
He would only have a “base” it seems to me, if he has higher ambitions (CO-4 or a vacancy created by someone else’s election or appointment perhaps?)
I would also guess that he didn’t expect his comments to go beyond those in the room, his close associates and those immediately involved with HB-1369.
People with further political ambitions who expect to be heard by a wide audience generally are more careful in what they say, and I don’t think that kind of commment endears him to the academic community that he indirectly leads at CSU (which is almost certainly disproportionately non-Christian compared to the general population), winning him support with some “base” within CSU’s internal politics.
is a real piece of work. When Penley and his cronies lied to the GA about a failed last minute tuition increase a few years back ol’ Mr. Jones was behind him all the way.
Especially now we know that he has God on his side?
is that he is probably a person who believes that.