Wendt Initiative Overview

We have posted a 9-page overview of the Wendt Initiative on our download site. This overview was composed by the University and was distributed last year.

UD's Answer Available for Viewing...

...Well, sort of.

We have posted four out of six pages of UD's answer to the Jeffries petition on our download site (PDF format). Unfortunately, the copy that we had was missing the last two pages, which we didn't realize until we were in the process of scanning it.

We will head down to the courthouse as soon as possible to pick up another (complete) copy, at which time we will re-post the document. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please check back within a week for an updated file.

TIP: Download Jeffries' petition (which is referenced in the answer).

NOTE: If the dowload site does not open (i.e., if you get an error message) that means our bandwidth allotment for the hour has been reached. Please check back at a later time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Simple "Protocol" or Sexist Etiquette?

We have obtained a memo, which was sent to the Wendt Scholars in preparation for their "Annual Wendt Character Scholars Award Reception," which we have posted on our download site.

The document contains "a few matters of protocol," which are quite interesting, including:

• "A man is always introduced to a woman. No woman is ever introduced to a man..." (emphasis added).
• "A younger person should never call an older person by his/her first name unless asked to do so" (emphasis in original).
• "When a man is introduced to a woman it is her decision whether or not to offer her hand, but if he puts out his hand, she must give him hers" (emphasis added).

Of course, we acknowledge that there is something to be said for keeping up decorum and being polite, but we would urge people to consider whether such sexist etiquette is really befitting of a Christian college. Does not our faith require us to be strongly egalitarian? Do we really want to send this sort of message about how men and women should interact socially?

Site Updates

Please view our methodology site to read a post regarding site updates.

Des Moines Register Article

The Des Moines Register ran story today regarding Iowa university presidential salaries. Among other things, the Register reports of the University of Dubuque's president, "Bullock in 2004-05 received $295,705, which is more than the salary of the Robert Koob, the president of the University of Northern Iowa. Koob, who oversees a student body enrollment that is more than 10 times the size of the University of Dubuque, is paid $242,610 this year."

The article further reports, "The University of Dubuque's trustees in 2004-05 increased Bullock's compensation by 9.5 percent. The increase came when the university was being criticized for not granting tenure to a professor, an issue the prompted some students to begin blogging on the topic."

Of course, the editors of this blog take issue with the notion that Jeffries was not granted tenure, but this is--of course--the University's official position.

Be sure to read the rest of the article.