News Article: Former UA President Guy Bailey finalist for New Mexico State University President

[Gibson09]

I thought he had to resign because of his wifes health issues... Now he has time to be President somewhere else?? Adds to the story that something just wasnt right about him resigning...

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruce...al-finalist-guy-bailey-talks-plans-experience

 

[deliveryman35]

His wife must have made an amazing recovery.:conf3:

 

[rgw]

He came in and put the hammer down on hazing with the fraternities before he was even unpacked. I think he got forced out by the well moneyed alumnus of those organizations he punished.

 

[Capstone46]

Bailey's stance against the Greeks was ill-advised since Greek alumni make up 80% of the individual donations to the University. He didn't make the decision totally on his own but it was a poor decision.
Bailey's wife was sick when he got here and was sick when he left. But the fact is he was not a good fit for the University for many reasons. That was discovered shortly after he got here.

Furthermore, I don't think he would have been as active and supportive of the football program in recruiting with CNS as Dr. Witt.

 

[J4Bama]

I feel like we are in better hands with Dr Judy Bonner.

 

[GrayTide]

Don't know all the facts, it could be the Fran syndrome. At least he did not hang around long enough to do any damage. Hope he does well at NMSU.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I never bought the publicly stated reason for his resignation, but I'd be shocked if the real reason was the fraternity thing. Speaking as both a fraternity alumnus and small donor to the athletic department, any thinking person understands there's just so much liability there, the University administration really has no choice but to keep those guys on a short leash.

GrayTide's possibility of Fran syndrome is the best explanation I've seen -- maybe the job's simply too big for the man.

Just as Fran's problem wasn't coaching ability per se, it was inability to handle the other aspects of the job, I don't think Bailey's problem is smarts or administrative ability...it's inability to handle the dozens of constituencies tugging on his coat every day.

Some are social, some are political, some are material, and some are laughably trivial. But the President of the University of Alabama has to be able to manage them all, and do it under the close scrutiny that comes with being the CEO of the flagship institution of higher learning in a state that worships its colleges.

Regarding Bonner, I'm undecided. She was never seriously considered for the job when Witt was elevated. Then, just 90 days later, she's the best fit in the country? Please. I think the BoT just didn't have the stomach for another search, and turned to a safe relatively short term solution.

 

[jabcmb]

Just as well Bailey left, for whatever reason. So far, I think Dr. Bonner is a good fit. She could have had a "hey, look at me" moment when Bill Battle was hired, but she didn't. We have had presidents who always had to strut and put themselves first.

 

[bamablog]

Bailey did the right thing with the hazing situation. Kids and their parents were begging the university to step in and stop those organizations from purposefully harming students. Probably a hard fight to win but necessary.

Bonner hiring on the other hand is embarrassing. Hopefully she makes plans to step down after we hired the new provost and VP of research. That will give people some time to refocus and go get a president. She never even applied for the job, think about that. A state university president, with a >1/2 billion dollar endowment, 35K students, and a president that didn't even have to apply for a job. We still have a long way to go.

 

[JDCrimson]

As with this hire and the Mike Price hire, anytime you have to cut someone very shortly after the hire, I think it speaks more to the search and due diligence than it does on the candidate himself. If you will remember the BoT identified and hired Bailey within a matter of a few weeks. I really put this on the backs of the BoT and Witt. Obviously, if they decided that Bailey should receive tenure and a full salary after his abrupt resignation that ought to tell you all you need to know about how the hiring process went...

 

[rgw]

I tend to think Bailey's quick departure is more of a reflection on the ugly parts of our own university and not the faults of the man.

 

[Capstone46]

This was not a reflection on the ugly parts of our University. It was not a failure of the search committee or BOT. Perfectly correct resumes don't tell the entire story and not all issues are discovered and addressed during interviews. The search committee took months and not weeks.
Although he resigned abruptly, it was in the best interest of Dr. Bailey and the University that he left.
I wish him well at NMSU if he lands there.

 

[bamacon]

This was not a reflection on the ugly parts of our University. It was not a failure of the search committee or BOT. Perfectly correct resumes don't tell the entire story and not all issues are discovered and addressed during interviews. The search committee took months and not weeks.
Although he resigned abruptly, it was in the best interest of Dr. Bailey and the University that he left.
I wish him well at NMSU if he lands there.

Ditto that. I'd rather a parting of the ways than a poisoning of the well.

 

[rgw]

The fact that an leader doesn't want hazing going on within or around his institution then getting pushed out through backdoor politicking for taking such a stand reflects poorly on the University of Alabama in my opinion. Of course, I'm making some inferences on the nature of his departure that nobody will ever know but it seems rather obvious.

I'm not on this "my school love it or leave it" nonsense. If it went down like it is reasonable to suspect that it did then it is a black eye on the University and the big money donors who strong armed the actions.

 

[Capstone46]

I would agree with your opinion if things had happened as you assumed. The Greeks were not the issue or the cause of his departure. Dr. Bailey brought the issues with him when he arrived. I have already said I think his position with the Greeks was ill-advised but the reason for his leaving had nothing to do it.
You can form whatever opinion you wish but this was not a failure of the search committee, the BOT, or the University of Alabama.

We are way off of football here so I apologize and will leave the topic.

 

[TheAccountant]

The fact that an leader doesn't want hazing going on within or around his institution then getting pushed out through backdoor politicking for taking such a stand reflects poorly on the University of Alabama in my opinion. Of course, I'm making some inferences on the nature of his departure that nobody will ever know but it seems rather obvious.

I'm not on this "my school love it or leave it" nonsense. If it went down like it is reasonable to suspect that it did then it is a black eye on the University and the big money donors who strong armed the actions.

People do know the circumstances of his departure and your inferences are wrong. You seem to be making things up to fit what you want to believe happened.

Suffice to say, there was a difference of opinion that did not involve the Greek or hazing.

 

[rgw]

It's rather odd that one leaves so abruptly from a high caliber job in his profession with a statement about his wife's health being the primary reason yet he is in the running for the same position at a different school less than a year later.

I agree that it is an inference on my part but the timing of how it all went down seems peculiar to say the least.