Feb 08 2008
Archive for February 8th, 2008
Feb 08 2008
Complicity by Silence
As things unravel at our alma mater, readers might rightfully ask how the abuses went on for so long. Part of the answer is that those employees who had knowledge of wrongdoing by the trustees kept their mouths shut out of fear of retaliation. The rest of the answer is that those who were on the verge of speaking out were fired and given bribes, aka gag-order severance packages, or golden parachutes. Either way, the abuses went on largely due to this complicity by silence. While we’ve attempted to honor the few who did muster the courage of conscience, we take note that over the decades there were darn few. I guess that in itself says something.
Feb 08 2008
The Brazilian Connection
There appears to be some local media interest in the Brazilian connection at New College, and we suspect this thread might yield some leads if not results in providing the full accounting we demanded of the trustees back in July. Knowing from experience that criminal cover-ups often unravel in unexpected, sometimes fortuitous ways, we welcome anyone looking into this and other matters that might account for the cronyism and nepotism cited in the official WASC reports last spring. While there may and may not be money-laundering involved in the New College deal with the university in Brazil, given former president Hamilton’s already documented propensity to encourage bribes from foreign students in exchange for falsifying student records used to deceive the Immigration and Naturalization Service, following this thread seems like a good idea.
Many have asked how it was that a vice president from a Brazilian university — who was also a friend of the now disgraced former president Hamilton — was hired to become Chief Financial Officer for the school after it was threatened with loss of accreditation for financial mismanagement by Hamilton. Some have suggested it was one way of keeping Hamilton’s secrets secret.
Whatever the answer, I’m sure there is plenty of explaining to do, and after all, that’s why we started this association in the first place.