Harrington just announced his resignation

Stj fin law great post I have been arguing for a long time to merge the core departments English, Math, Theology and Philosophy so SJC CPS and the Pharamacy school core requirements are centralized and the number of admin is reduced.
 
Mike Cunniff ‏@Mike_Cunniff 3h
Cheers when harrington says this is his last graduation. there's more hostility than i expected. #stjgrad

Mike Cunniff ‏@Mike_Cunniff 3h
"we don't like you, but thank you." someone yells as harrington closes speech #stjgrad.
 
He didn't get roundly boo'd but there were a few jeers for him. None that could be heard on the stage or in the non-student areas though. It didn't help that it was freezing cold and pouring rain for the entire 3 hours. Peter King's speech was also brutally boring and unimaginative. You would think the school would have a backup plan for such a situation with the rain. What a miserable 3 hours out there on what should have been a great day.
 
He didn't get roundly boo'd but there were a few jeers for him. None that could be heard on the stage or in the non-student areas though. It didn't help that it was freezing cold and pouring rain for the entire 3 hours. Peter King's speech was also brutally boring and unimaginative. You would think the school would have a backup plan for such a situation with the rain. What a miserable 3 hours out there on what should have been a great day.

Many schools have outdoor commencements with an unlimited number of family and friends allowed to attend, but a limited number should the weather turn out to be horrible and need to be moved indoors.

This likely is Harrington's final public appearance. I hope that his successor, if a priest, is more pastoral, visible to students, and see himself as a shepherd or "fisher of men" than a CEO. It's wishful thinking, but if a priest is to be the next leader of the school, is it too much to ask that he sees his role as a vocation and not a profession?

Clearly a tall order since many of us would like to see a President who:

1) can raise the academic standing of the school
2) raise funds
3) be a great spiritual leader of staff, faculty, and students.

God help us.
 
My problem with Harrington 'retiring' as it were, is that he is going out on his own terms when there really should be many more questions asked about all the improprieties that went on at this school for all those years! He'll retire to some old age home for priests, never having to answer for his indiscretions. I REALLY hope the BOT have done their homework and get a president with some gravitas to lead alma mater, not just some faceless bearoucrat whose 'turn it is'
 
He didn't get roundly boo'd but there were a few jeers for him. None that could be heard on the stage or in the non-student areas though. It didn't help that it was freezing cold and pouring rain for the entire 3 hours. Peter King's speech was also brutally boring and unimaginative. You would think the school would have a backup plan for such a situation with the rain. What a miserable 3 hours out there on what should have been a great day.

Many schools have outdoor commencements with an unlimited number of family and friends allowed to attend, but a limited number should the weather turn out to be horrible and need to be moved indoors.

This likely is Harrington's final public appearance. I hope that his successor, if a priest, is more pastoral, visible to students, and see himself as a shepherd or "fisher of men" than a CEO. It's wishful thinking, but if a priest is to be the next leader of the school, is it too much to ask that he sees his role as a vocation and not a profession?

Clearly a tall order since many of us would like to see a President who:

1) can raise the academic standing of the school
2) raise funds
3) be a great spiritual leader of staff, faculty, and students.

God help us.

To be honest I don't think the majority of the students care if he's a great "spiritual leader"...what does that even mean anyway? I think everyone just wants the school to become more selective to raise the academic profile as you said and to give more prestige to the SJ brand. I realize it's a Catholic school but the reason most students go here (these days at least) is due to convenience and proximity since it's right in the middle of the NYC metro area where so many people live as well as being a decent education. We just need a guy who can raise the profile, get our standards higher, get new buildings, new programs, new partnerships, etc. while not being corrupt!
 
Given the fact that the Board of Trustees seemingly turned blind eyes over the years on Harrington, Wiles, Chang and other reported issues I don't hold much hope that Harrington's successor will be any innovative leader seeks a level of excellence and achievement.
 
Given the fact that the Board of Trustees seemingly turned blind eyes over the years on Harrington, Wiles, Chang and other reported issues I don't hold much hope that Harrington's successor will be any innovative leader seeks a level of excellence and achievement.

I disagree Otis. The money story is a big deal. Fr. Harrington would not have resigned if this story had not become as big as it did. With that, many people will be watching to see who is the next University President. Future fundraising depends on it.

Donors want certainty now that any future donations are going towards improving SJU. and not a Rolex or a get-away to Hawaii. I know I certainly do.
 
[quote="kranmars" post=67330

.... The money story is a big deal. Fr. Harrington would not have resigned if this story had not become as big as it did. With that, many people will be watching to see who is the next University President. Future fundraising depends on it.

Donors want certainty now that any future donations are going towards improving SJU. and not a Rolex or a get-away to Hawaii. I know I certainly do.[/quote]

Kranmars,

I hope you are right and that the Board of Trustees do not merely "rubber stamp" whoever Harrington recommends as his successor. St. John's and most other private colleges face monumental challenges going forward.

Hopefully the next president of St. John's will excel in fundraising where Harrington was average- at best, and that money is wisely used to not only provide for the schools proclaimed "Mission" but also to enhance the University's academic profile. Don't believe the handful of Harrington supporters that would have you believe he was a "great fundraiser". When he took over as St. John's President in 1989 St. John's had an endowment of $79M and today has an endowment of $411 M. That sounds impressive until you understand that with the inflation over the 24 years Harrington has served the $79M would have a value of $422M which mans that Harrington's fundraising, which included 2 major campaigns failed to keep up with inflation. Here is a link to that calculation: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi
 
Otis, I'm not sure how you are running your numbers, but you are way off. $79 million in 1989, inflation adjusted is $144 million in 2012.

But- I agree that Harrington's fundraising was around average. The problem was that St. John's was awful at fundraising before he came, so he raised the school from awful to average. We need someone now who will elevate St. John's, not only in fundraising but in academic prestige, ranking and reputation.
 
[quote="kranmars" post=67330

.... The money story is a big deal. Fr. Harrington would not have resigned if this story had not become as big as it did. With that, many people will be watching to see who is the next University President. Future fundraising depends on it.

Donors want certainty now that any future donations are going towards improving SJU. and not a Rolex or a get-away to Hawaii. I know I certainly do.

Kranmars,

I hope you are right and that the Board of Trustees do not merely "rubber stamp" whoever Harrington recommends as his successor. St. John's and most other private colleges face monumental challenges going forward.

Hopefully the next president of St. John's will excel in fundraising where Harrington was average- at best, and that money is wisely used to not only provide for the schools proclaimed "Mission" but also to enhance the University's academic profile. Don't believe the handful of Harrington supporters that would have you believe he was a "great fundraiser". When he took over as St. John's President in 1989 St. John's had an endowment of $79M and today has an endowment of $411 M. That sounds impressive until you understand that with the inflation over the 24 years Harrington has served the $79M would have a value of $422M which mans that Harrington's fundraising, which included 2 major campaigns failed to keep up with inflation. Here is a link to that calculation: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi[/quote]

You cannot discount the fact that when Harrington arrived on campus 3% of alumni who contributed to the school. Today the number has risen 6 fold, to about 18%. You cannot simply look at the endowment as a singular example of fundraising, since much of it has gone out the door to build new structures on campus and also to provide scholarships. You keep repeating the same point without acknowledging the fault in your logic.

I am one of the most vocal posters calling for Harington's ouster. Anyone who steals from the university, which is what he did with the zero interest loans that benefitted his Wile-Harrington for profit endeavor, or failed to repay the cost of jewelry, clothing, and other gifts that were found to be paid by the university credit cars deserves to be in jail, not just retired.
 
[quote="kranmars" post=67330

.... The money story is a big deal. Fr. Harrington would not have resigned if this story had not become as big as it did. With that, many people will be watching to see who is the next University President. Future fundraising depends on it.

Donors want certainty now that any future donations are going towards improving SJU. and not a Rolex or a get-away to Hawaii. I know I certainly do.

Kranmars,

I hope you are right and that the Board of Trustees do not merely "rubber stamp" whoever Harrington recommends as his successor. St. John's and most other private colleges face monumental challenges going forward.

Hopefully the next president of St. John's will excel in fundraising where Harrington was average- at best, and that money is wisely used to not only provide for the schools proclaimed "Mission" but also to enhance the University's academic profile. Don't believe the handful of Harrington supporters that would have you believe he was a "great fundraiser". When he took over as St. John's President in 1989 St. John's had an endowment of $79M and today has an endowment of $411 M. That sounds impressive until you understand that with the inflation over the 24 years Harrington has served the $79M would have a value of $422M which mans that Harrington's fundraising, which included 2 major campaigns failed to keep up with inflation. Here is a link to that calculation: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi[/quote]


You cannot discount the fact that when Harrington arrived on campus 3% of alumni who contributed to the school. Today the number has risen 6 fold, to about 18%. You cannot simply look at the endowment as a singular example of fundraising, since much of it has gone out the door to build new structures on campus and also to provide scholarships. You keep repeating the same point without acknowledging the fault in your logic.

I am one of the most vocal posters calling for Harington's ouster. Anyone who steals from the university, which is what he did with the zero interest loans that benefitted his Wile-Harrington for profit endeavor, or failed to repay the cost of jewelry, clothing, and other gifts that were found to be paid by the university credit cars deserves to be in jail, not just retired.
 
..... You cannot simply look at the endowment as a singular example of fundraising, since much of it has gone out the door to build new structures on campus and also to provide scholarships. You keep repeating the same point without acknowledging the fault in your logic.
.

Don't kid yourself; St.John's is not the only school that has built new biuldings and improved its campus during the 24 years that Harrington has been Presiddent of St.John's University. As also noted in prior posts, the average financial aid package to uncoming frosh at St.John's is not more generous than other Catholic colleges.

Please name for me any major national private University, Catholic or not, that does not use its fundraising for scholarships and has not improved its campus during the past 24 years. I will be surprised if you can name just one school.

Beast, as a pro Harrington poster please tell me what Harrington's biggest accomplishment is during the 24 years he has served as President of St.John's University.

Thanks.
 
..... You cannot simply look at the endowment as a singular example of fundraising, since much of it has gone out the door to build new structures on campus and also to provide scholarships. You keep repeating the same point without acknowledging the fault in your logic.
.

Don't kid yourself; St.John's is not the only school that has built new biuldings and improved its campus during the 24 years that Harrington has been Presiddent of St.John's University. As also noted in prior posts, the average financial aid package to uncoming frosh at St.John's is not more generous than other Catholic colleges.

Please name for me any major national private University, Catholic or not, that does not use its fundraising for scholarships and has not improved its campus during the past 24 years. I will be surprised if you can name just one school.

Beast, as a pro Harrington poster please tell me what Harrington's biggest accomplishment is during the 24 years he has served as President of St.John's University.

Thanks.

I am of the belief that Harrington did some very good things for SJU as well as some very bad ones. He's done a good job with campus infrastructure. That said, we need a totally different type of leader moving forward. I don't know the member of the Board of Trustees, but I am hoping that the board is brave a goes with a person with real vision and some innovative ideas, not just status quo type. St. John's needs to improve our academic standing. Trim pthe fat and start utilize our strong points instead of winning the 'sportsmanship award". Hopefully adding some new schools that pump out high level grads for future markets and get rid of some of our antiquated programs that brung in substandard students and don't have the same relative value as they did 20 years ago.
 
..... You cannot simply look at the endowment as a singular example of fundraising, since much of it has gone out the door to build new structures on campus and also to provide scholarships. You keep repeating the same point without acknowledging the fault in your logic.
.

Don't kid yourself; St.John's is not the only school that has built new biuldings and improved its campus during the 24 years that Harrington has been Presiddent of St.John's University. As also noted in prior posts, the average financial aid package to uncoming frosh at St.John's is not more generous than other Catholic colleges.

Please name for me any major national private University, Catholic or not, that does not use its fundraising for scholarships and has not improved its campus during the past 24 years. I will be surprised if you can name just one school.

Beast, as a pro Harrington poster please tell me what Harrington's biggest accomplishment is during the 24 years he has served as President of St.John's University.

Thanks.

I can tell you first hand that SJU is much more generous across the board to students in terms of financial aid than Villanova.

It may appear in this thread that I am pro Harrington, but that is very far from the truth. I've been brutal on him in the threads related to the scandal. I'm also very tough on him on the issue of secularization of the university and the overall decline in Catholic students. I'd give him a D to an F in each of those categories.

His one success was dramatically increasing fundraising, and vastly improving the physical plant, opening new campuses, and making shrewd business moves (lie the purchase and sale of the Manhattan campus)
 
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