<p>CUA is searching for a president. One wonders if H.James Towey will apply for the job? After all, he seems to have an "in" there. He spoke there in 2005. Here's the speech:</p> <p><a href="http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/speeches/05CommencementToweyAddress.htm">publicaffairs.cua.edu/speeches/05CommencementToweyAddress.htm</a></p> <p>But, interestingly, the search committee is stocked with at least one former White House denizen, and a former Mother Teresa person name of Sandy McMurtrie. Here are some sites of interest.</p> <p><a href="http://presidentialsearch.cua.edu/">presidentialsearch.cua.edu/</a></p> <p><a href="http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/tribune-review-pittsburgh/mi_8018/is_20070807/st-vincent-honor-mother-teresa/ai_n44942626/">findarticles.com/p/news-articles/tribune-review-pittsburgh/mi_8018/is_20070807/st-vincent-honor-mother-teresa/ai_n44942626/</a></p> <p><em>St. Vincent to honor Mother Teresa</em></p> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>| Tribune - Review / Pittsburgh Tribune - Review, Aug 7, 2007 | by Jennifer Reeger </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>St. Vincent College will host a gathering of Mother Teresa's family and closest friends in October to honor her life's work just after the 10th anniversary of her death.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>"This is going to be a conference that celebrates the person of Mother Teresa," said college President Jim Towey, who knew Mother Teresa and served as her attorney in North America. "Catholics tend to think of their saints as little plastic statues. What this conference will do will tell the person Mother Teresa was."</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Mother Teresa, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity and a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her work with the poor, died Sept. 5, 1997. And while those who knew her gathered in Rome in 2003 for her beatification, the opportunity to share stories about Mother Teresa never emerged.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>"This will have international interest because there's never been a conference like this held anywhere in the world," Towey said.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Towey, knowing the anniversary of her death was approaching, spoke to those who were closest to Mother Teresa, including those in Calcutta, about organizing the conference.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>"The pieces just fell into place," he said. "I think Mother Teresa orchestrated this from above."</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>One of the main speakers at the event, which will be held Oct. 5- 7 on the campus near Latrobe, will be Sister M. Nirmala, Mother Teresa's successor and superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, who will come from Calcutta.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>She will be joined by nuns, priests and brothers who are part of the congregation Mother Teresa founded in 1950, which now serves people in 134 countries.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Mother Teresa's only niece, Agi Guttadauro, will travel from Italy to participate.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Saint Vincent to Honor Mother Teresa</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>"It's going to be the who's who of people who knew Mother Teresa, so I'm excited they're all coming to St. Vincent," Towey said.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Other speakers will include: </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>* The Rev. Brian Kolodiejchuk, director of the Mother Teresa Center, a nonprofit organization directed by the Missionaries of Charity and the author of an upcoming book about her life.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>* Dr. Warren and Patty Kump, close friends of Mother Teresa since 1960, who will share their stories of having her as a house guest.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>* Jan Petrie, who co-produced two films about Mother Teresa and served as her travel companion.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>* <strong>Sandy McMurtrie, a close friend of Mother Teresa who traveled to Cuba with her and who adopted a child from one of Mother Teresa's orphanages in Mexico City.</strong></em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong><em> </em></strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>Because of space limitations, the event will not be open to the public. Only those invited by the college or the Mother Teresa Center may attend. Towey expects national media coverage will convey aspects of the conference to people around the world.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>A luncheon will be held on the final day of the conference. Invitees will include residents of area homeless shelters and group homes for the developmentally disabled.</em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em> </em></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><em>"Her first love were the poor, and we couldn't have a conference talking about her life and not welcoming the poor," Towey said. "We're going to bring in people maybe the world doesn't count for much but meant the world to Mother Teresa."</em></div>
<p>Surely, the folks at CUA are blessed with more wisdom and foresight that the principals at SVC. If JT was a jocular event for SVC, it would be a comedy of comedies at a place like CUA.</p>
<p>I beg to differ eternalfootman. CUA is actually a better fit for Towey than SVC. The school falls directly under the Vatican making it more of a sterile dogmatic institution (at least on theory), there are a lot of high profile republican Catholics involved there and it operates within the Beltway so that Beltway mindset is expected there. If Towey ended up there, I wouldn't be shocked. Surface things that made him a bad choice for SVC work in his favor at CUA. As for his micromanaging and spiteful housecleaning, and so forth, those things aren't a good fit anywhere.</p>
<p><em>"The pieces just fell into place," he said. "I think Mother Teresa orchestrated this from above."</em></p> <p>I''m glad I read this line in between meals (*gag*).</p> <p>Yeah, I'd have to agree with svcbearcat30. Towey has a pretty good shot at CUA, but not the best one. While he'll assist the Catholic Church in its quest for irrelevance through ideology, he'd be beaten by a more capable administrator.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>
<p>This may not go over too well with some on the list, but Mother Teresa makes me gag. Friend of the Duvaliers in Haiti, the Stalinist dictator of her homeland Enver Hoxha, friend of the criminal thief Charles Keating, justifier of Princess Di's divorce while campaigning against Ireland's efforts to legalize divorce, etc., etc. </p> <p>michael yates</p>
<p>Assuming that JT's appointment to be president at CUA is remotely possible, one should take time to consider that that position should require at the very base a distinguished academic with a proven track record in Academe.</p> <p>Apart from that, JT would have to undergo a complete sea change in personality (especially the self-interest, self-indulgent portion of it). The position also calls for a proven track record in fund raising, and that JT cannot in any way provide except in a very minimal way, despite the way he has reinvented his post resignation resume.</p> <p>If CUA places the most importance on its Catholic Identity, then it is rather silly to realize how JT could contribute to that, unless the University has an interest in theological maturity that stops short of the sixth grade level.</p> <p>Would the University be at all interested in the JT "connection" to Mother Teresa? That's doubtful. It would seem JT has exhausted that "pool."</p> <p>Would they be interested in JT's former connection to the White House? Why would they be... given the schools location, collection of alumni, and other more profound connections the seat of National power.</p> <p>Would they be interested in JT's "political conservatism?" Possibly, if the University wishes itself to be associated with Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and other right wing entertainers, the same group JT managed to connect to Saint Vincent College through a series of ill-thought out op eds and TV appearances on Fox News. (Something he made a habit of doing throughout his tenure at SVC in several other ventures).</p> <p>Of course, the CUA possibility is hopefully just a rumor, like the recently touted "Dallas University" offer was(?)</p>
<p>I would hope that CUA would have sense enough to go with a legitimate college administrator/academic, but their Board of Trustees is filled with bishops, cardinals and businessmen. It depends on what their goals are and who is touted by wealthy, philanphropic Catholics, who pull purse strings at institutions like Catholic U. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, CUA is a major university in the United States, and a Towey presidency there would be as incongruous as testicles on a brass monkey. If you think he might have had some trouble with faculty, students, alum etc at SVC, reactions in time at CUA would promise to be remarkable indeed. As was shown on this forum some time ago (one my research the archives) the student press there was quite clear in defending Notre Dame's invitation of Obama and clear in the criticism of the CUA administration.</p>
<p>Here's the thread from the forum containing the CUA comment on Obama/Notre Dame. We all know what Towey and company did with the Review that came out during the SVC Bush visit. One can only wonder what would happen at CUA if he became president there and tried that sort of thing. One might also check out the list of student organizations at CUA. There's an Amnesty International, for one. What did they have to call the one at SVC under Towey's Terrible Tenure?</p> <p><a href="http://svcalum.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=523">svcalum.com/comments.php</a></p> <p>But there is hope elsewhere. There's Ave Maria in Florida. And there's, I believe, a legionairres for Christ school, University of Sacramento, that gets money from the Careys and Donahues. These would seem to be better fits, no so?</p> <p>It will be fun to see how thinks work our for the former SVC Prexy.</p>
<p>This is probably all just an exercise in the improbable, but just for fun, here are the criteria set forth by CUA in December 2009 for their presidential search... Towey might qualify for one or two of them... he was a profound failure at the rest.. SVC's credential list was essentially the same in 2006, but they didnt' mean a fart in the wind.</p> <p>But what is interesting is what the search committee distilled from its discussions with faculty etc at CUA... interesting, eh? We can give Towey a mark or two for the Churchy thing.. but only a fool would accept JT's self-described fund raising acumen as truth.</p> <p> But first, here's what the search people distilled as "most important" to the job.</p> <p><span> </span>Decision-making and executive skills, <span>o<span> </span></span>A commitment to Catholic education and identity; <span><span> </span></span>Communication skills;<span><span> </span></span>Fundraising and resource building.</p> <p>You can check this out here:</p> <p><a href="http://presidentialsearch.cua.edu/E-Survey-Results.cfm">presidentialsearch.cua.edu/E-Survey-Results.cfm</a></p> <p>The following you can check out here:</p> <div> <a href="http://presidentialsearch.cua.edu/CUA-President-Position-Specification.cfm">presidentialsearch.cua.edu/CUA-President-Position-Specification.cfm</a></div> <p><strong>Major Responsibilities</strong></p> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>The next President of The Catholic University of America will be expected to succeed at</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>the following:</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Develop, enhance, and advance a distinctive vision and strategy for CUA’s future that</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>is faithful to its identity and mission and draws on the University’s rich history, values,</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>and relationships;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Serve as CUA’s spokesperson and advocate, positioning the University as the leading</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>Catholic academic institution in the United States and one that sets the standard for</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>others;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Enhance CUA’s academic reputation as a means of attracting high caliber faculty and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>a broader source of student applicants;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Create a compelling and vibrant campus experience characterized by exceptional</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>academic and co-curricular programs and the financial resources to attract the very</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>best faculty and students to CUA;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Build and maintain the community and engagement among CUA’s schools and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>constituencies that are imbued with a sense of respect and a commitment to the</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>advancement of knowledge;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Significantly enhance the financial strength of CUA by developing a more robust</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>institutional advancement agenda, significantly improving the endowment, and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>strengthening relationships with alumni and other supporters;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Strengthen CUA’s engagement and leadership in the political, cultural, religious, and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>intellectual life of Washington for its own purpose and as a platform for national and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>international involvement; and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Continue to develop CUA’s campus, with particular emphasis on the investment and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>development of the South Side to enhance student life and the surrounding community.</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong> </strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>Ideal Experience</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>The Catholic University of America seeks a high-energy, visionary leader and advocate of deep faith and commitment to the tenets of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, who has the capacity and passion to lead its distinctive community. As such, candidates should ideally have</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>demonstrated:</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Superb strategic, organizational, and managerial skills in an environment that places a</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>premium on institutional and academic excellence;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Executive presence and dynamic communications skills, having created engagement</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>among an organization’s internal constituencies and raised its visibility as the</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>organization’s face and voice;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Proven experience in elevating an institution’s academic profile, with a particular</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>emphasis on identifying, attracting, and retaining top talent among faculty and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>administrators;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Skills as an institution builder, having developed and executed a sustained and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>distinctive strategy for success in an organization;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• An understanding of the importance of fundraising and a willingness and interest in</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>building new relationships on behalf of the University;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• An ability to make meaningful change in an institution characterized by collaborative</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>decision making;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• A strong sense of personal integrity and resiliency to chart a clear course for CUA;</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Experience and success in working with a board of trustees; and</strong></div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><strong>• Outstanding academic credentials, including a terminal degree.</strong></div>
Ya know what, guys, if I block out Towey's hatchet job on my alum volunteering for admissions, I actually can find myself in a state of mind where I wish him no ill. I hope he and his family find a comfortable place in which to live and function. My only reservation would be that it must be completely unattached to SVC, which it obviously will be. As the creators of West Side Story might say, there's a place for Jim Towey. I just can't see it as being academia, especially in a setting that operates on collegiality and open discussion.
<p>Yeah, I can't say I have ill will for him, or his family. I would however like to see him go to a nice safe place far away, where he won't be a danger to himself and others.</p> <p>Hey, he can stay at our house. We have electric socket protectors and no readily accessible sharp objects.</p>
I'd take him to a Lake Erie Monsters hockey game (Top farm team of the Avalanche) and get him loose. After the first period, it's off to the Quaker Steak outlet off the concourse for our hot stove league meeting with my fellow season ticket holders, aka harmless borderline psychotics, and feed him a Molson's. Oh, I almost forgot--I'd require him to wear one of my 22- piece collection of off-the-wall hockey jerseys, like the South Carolina Sting Rays of the ECHL. I'd wear my 1992 Pens black with gold trim.
If summertime, it'd be an Indians game, where he might want to call down the spirit of Mother Teresa on this team, assuming even she could help their pitching. There is a joke circulating that Jesus told the manager in a dream that "if I can handle 40 days in the desert, you can handle a season with bad starting pitching."
I really don't harbor ill will. As a matter of fact, I like to think that very little of my criticism could be labeled as anything other than chagrin regarding policy, campus events, and morale. SVC was just not the place for JT, all wondrous commentary at his departure notwithstanding.
<p>The Sting Rays? I saw them in action down here, when the Raleigh IceCaps were also part of the ECHL. (Of course, that was before the Hartford Whalers relocated down here in '97.)</p> <p>I understand your psychosis. I was a Canes fan during the lean years when they played in Greensboro, while the RBC Center was being built. Man those years were bad. It was to see Ronnie Francis come to town..</p> <p>Ah well. If you find yourself down here (for whatever reason), Canes tix are still pretty cheap. Then maybe a pub crawl in the Glenwood South area is in order.</p>
I saw my first game at age 10 at the old Cleveland Arena, seating capacity 9700. It was February of 1952, and the Cleveland Barons were playing the Cincinnati Mohawks, who stayed two years in the AHL and slinked back to their lower league after being dumped on during that time. NHL hall-of-famer Johnny Bower, now 84, was 26 at the time. My biggest mistake as a hockey fan was in not going home for the final Calder Cup playoff game in 1964, when the Barons swept through the playoffs undefeated and won the final game in front of a crowd well over capacity.
The ECHL now avoids the name "East Coast..." what with eight or so franchises in places like Alaska, Bakersfield, Idaho, Victoria, B.C., and other western locales. I have a Bakersfield Condors jersey also. My wife may be thinking of having me put away, but I'm having fun. I was at SVC from 1961-1965 when the Pittsburgh Hornets played in the early days of Mellon Arena when it seated 10,500.
I wouldn't trade my time for anything. As it is, season ticket holders for the Monsters are invited to player-fan gatherings. We had three this year, and these guys are good guys overall. They enjoy the interaction with the fans.