The Carson-Newman Board of Trustees will be meeting in the next two days as a part of their annual meeting. They have an interesting new topic to discuss this year: the future of President James Netherton at Carson-Newman. I don't know what is going to happen over the course of the next two days; I just don't know the feel of the trustees. C.T. Cozart was quoted in the October 10 edition of the Jefferson County Standard Banner as saying, "it is important for the constituents of Carson-Newman College to know of our support of President Netherton and the faculty, and that we are committed to doing what is in the best interest of the college and its mission." If that statement truly represents the feeling of most of the trustees, then I doubt much will happen. I've heard that Jimmy is buddy-buddy with most members of the Board. I've also read on the faculty anti-Netherton website that Jimmy paints a whole different picture of CN for the trustees than what is really going on. After the no-confidence vote, the President promised to address the trustees, the faculty, and the student body. He notified the trustees immediately (close connections?), but he waited to address the faculty until a week later. He has still yet to communicate with the student body (shows how important we are to him). Other developments that have occurred, the Carson-Newman Alumni Association had their own vote and passed a resolution stating their "no confidence" in the President. This will certainly add more pressure to the trustees these next couple of days. Another website has also popped up; this one is in support of Jimmy. The supportive comments, however, are certainly lacking. (website
here, original website
here) There is a prayer time planned for today at First Baptist Church on campus; it has been dubbed a time to come pray for the future of Carson-Newman at a time when decisions are being made. The prayer time is from 1-3pm. I'm not sure how everything is going to turn out, but I'll try and keep you updated.
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Well, as far as being buddy buddy with the trustees, I can tell you that on Homecoming, I saw at least two or three of the trustees sitting in the skybox with ol'Jimmy boy during the game. One was the former president of the TBC Mike Boyd and the other was a couple that attend the church he pastors (as do my family). What is really accomplished for the faculty if the Trustees are buddy-ed up to? Hopefully, they'll be able to do what is really right for CN. : /
ReplyDeleteI guess Jimmy was smart by getting close to trustees from the get-go. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens over the next two days. I do know that somd kind of change needs to take place because our current strategy is not working. Here's for hope!
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