Carbondale Bytelife

Via FreeU, the US Grant association moves the Grant collection of papers from SIUC to Mississippi State University, thus ending the 45 year association with SIUC with a whimper instead of a bang.

Labels: John Simon, siuc

Since grabbing a faculty member by the wrists hand enough to leave a bruise, causing her to file a harassment claim, wasn't enough to cause Dean of Library Affairs David Carlson to step down from his position while it was investigated, Profesors Emereti Cal Meyers and John Simon must have done something horrible to warrant being removed from their positions and banned from campus while the claims again them are investigated. But it's apples and oranges to compare the two cases. Dean Carlson says so:

"I see no similarities whatsoever to the single event five years ago with Ms. Callahan and the more recent issues with Dr. Simon," he wrote.

Labels: Cal Meyers, John Simon, siuc

The DE has more on the Simon affair. Chancellor Goldman say taht Prof. Simon was never relaly fired:

"He was never fired," Goldman said. "You know the line, 'Until the fat lady sings, nothing happens.' Well, until I render a decision, nothing matters really. Then that decision stands."

However, this statement by interim Provost Don Rice sounds pretty clear to me:

In the letter, Rice wrote, "As Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor, I am responsible for making assessments that affect the University as a whole. I understand and accept that you will be disappointed by my decision and, of course, I regret having to communicate the outcome of my review to you. However, please know that I wish you well in your future endeavors."

According to the article, if SIUC's faculty union had not filed a grievance on Prof. Simon's firing within 10 days, Provost Rice's decision would have been final. The references to offers and counteroffers made at the June 10th hearing sure don't sound like "working through a good, amiicable resolution", nor does it indicate there was "no question Simon would continue teaching on campus".

Labels: ethics, John Simon, siuc

Chancellor Sam Goldman did a 20 minute interview on WSIU this morning. Saluki Way, declining enrollment and the rise of the community college and the Simon affair were all touched on. You can listen to it here.

Labels: John Simon, Saluki Way, siuc

Much like Sarah Palin, more information keeps coming to light regarding the sexual harassment charges against John Simon. Today's DE has a full page story including including disputes between SIUC and the Grant Association over ownership of documents, allegations of inappropriate behivious by Dean of Library Affairs David Carlson and forgery:

The association's attorney, James Williams, wrote to Carlson April 9, raising concerns that someone had forged Simon's signature on payment documents from the association.

"We expect your prompt attention to this matter because someone is signing Dr. Simon's name without his authority," the attorney wrote.

In an April 14 response, Carlson said he asked two association employees if they forged Simon's signature. Both said no, and one indicated that she had watched Simon sign the documents in question.

Harriet Simon said her late husband denied signing the documents. She said he was not satisfied with Carlson's investigation into the matter.

Labels: John Simon, siuc

The DE has quietly launched a blog of its own. There are a couple of interesting posts already, one from Sheila Simon about her experiences at the recent Democratic convention and the transcript of the DE interview with Chancellor Goldman about the Simon affair.

Labels: Daily Egyptian, John Simon, Sheila Simon

Apparently the chancellor was about to reinstate John Simon, when the professor threw a spanner into the works by dying. Of course, this announcement does come out over a month after Dr. Simon's death. I found this quote about the allegations interesting:

"Some people went public when they shouldn't have. It's kind of holier-than-thou - 'the world has a right to know.' No they don't. Not on situations like that," Goldman said.

One of the best known men at SIUC, a nationally known scholar, is accused of sexual harassment after a 40 year tenure at SIUC and ordered to stay off campus and Chancellor Goldman expected it to stay quiet?

Here's a nice tribute to Prof. Simon by a former student. Too bad no one every writes these things until after you pass away.

Labels: John Simon, siuc

about this and this is that I can't come up with a good reason for the university to act this way. I've heard some accusations of anti-Semitism and a desire for the university to gain control of the multi-million dollar endowments Simon and Meyers directed, but, given the number of years each professor had been at SIUC without a hint of trouble, those reasons don't make much sense. However, given that charges of harassment were brought against both professors at approximately the same time, it makes me wonder what the backstory is. Maybe the administration is really that ham fisted when when dealing with such sensitive topics as harassment charges.

Labels: Cal Meyers, John Simon, siuc

Did anyone else notice that the obituaries for John Simon in both the DE and the Southern failed to mention the problems he was having with the university in the last few months of his life? It took a less local source to bring up the dispute he was having with SIUC and that the Ulysses S. Grant Association had voted to sever ties with SIUC in support of Dr. Simon:

In the last months of his life, Mr. Simon was embroiled in a campus controversy when he was accused of verbally harassing three women employed by the Ulysses S. Grant Association and the university library, where the association has its offices. Mr. Simon was the executive director of the association, which seeks financing for historical research and provides research services for the Grant project.

He disputed the accusations, and in support of him, the association’s board voted to sever its ties with Southern Illinois and seek another university partner. A reconciliation that would have allowed Mr. Simon to return to teaching at Southern Illinois was being negotiated at his death, said the association’s president, Chief Justice Frank J. Williams of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Labels: John Simon, siuc