University of North Dakota Provost Thomas DiLorenzo, a controversial figure during his years at the school, finds himself mired in controversy yet again. In 2015 the student government at UND considered a resolution calling for DiLorenzo’s resignation (along with then-UND President Robert Kelley) over rather vicious verbal attacks from supporters of the administration (it was…
North Dakota University Presidents Get “Reminder” About Policies Prohibiting Retaliation Against Whistle Blowers
Earlier today I wrote about a state lawmaker Emily O’Brien, a former University of North Dakota employee who feels she was treated unprofessionally by superiors there because of political biases. Specifically she says Provost Thomas DiLorenzo made disparaging comments about Republican lawmakers, generally, and was upset that O’Brien specifically defeated former lawmaker and North Dakota…
Leadership in the North Dakota University System Means Pretending Like Nothing Is Wrong
Last month the State Board of Higher Education released a glowing evaluation of North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott and voted 7-1 in favor of extending his contract through 2020. Not mentioned in that evaluation is a complaint filed by former Vice Chancellor Lisa Feldner alleging sexist behavior from Hagerott, as well as unequal…
Due Process for Me but Not for Thee Says the State Board of Higher Education
I recently published a statement here on SAB from Don Morton and Greg Stemen, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education respectively. While they don’t mention Chancellor Mark Hagerott and the scandal around him specifically, they’re clearly writing about it, and in their minds Hagerott has been treated unfairly.…
Morton and Stemen: Get Both Sides of the Story on the Chancellor
“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” – Oscar Wilde “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” – attributed to both Winston Churchill and/or Mark Twain “In seeking truth you have to get both sides of the story.” – Walter Cronkite What do…
Did the State Board of Higher Education Make Another Bad Hire for Chancellor?
At this point the question needs to be asked: Are certain members of the State Board of Higher Education standing behind Chancellor Mark Hagerott because they’re convinced he’s still the best man for the job? Or because they want to avoid admitting they made another mistake in hiring for the Chancellor position? Either way, it…
The University System Has Been Underhanded in Their Handling of Chancellor Problems
Earlier this year I broke a story about a 2016 staff survey which accused North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott of using inappropriate language as well as engaging in gender bias and inappropriate behavior. The response from the university system was to order a new survey, the results of which my colleague Andrew Haffner…
Chancellor Hagerott Blames Republican Politics for His Problems, but That Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test
Last week Chancellor Mark Hagerott was stung by the revelation of an unflattering performance review from 2016 – one alleging gender bias and inappropriate behavior – as well as an accusation claiming fired Vice Chancellor Lisa Feldner to make room in his budget to hire a former colleague of his from the Navy. This week…
Podcast: Chancellor Hagerott Defends Himself and Hiring Choices
I’ve written some pretty negative stories about North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott in recent days, and I’ve had trouble getting him to comment on them, but today he agreed to come on my radio show and talk. The full audio is below. We covered his decision to hire an acquaintance of his from…
Lawmaker: Chancellor Fired Vice Chancellor to Make Room for “Navy Buddy”
“It’s pretty obvious that Dr. Feldner, who’s had 20 plus years of dedicated service to the state, was fired in part because the Chancellor needed budget money to hire his former Navy buddy,” state Rep. Roscoe Streyle, a Republican from Minot, told me yesterday. Streyle is not alone in his opinion. In recent weeks I have received…