We’re about to find out the truth about Art Pope’s ambition and power. For months, rumors have circulated around Raleigh that Pope wants to be president of the University of North Carolina. Now, according to news sources, current UNC President Tom Ross is being forced out of office.
Ross has been a fierce advocate of the system and has occasionally bumped heads with a legislature determined cut the University’s budget. Ross comes with a solid resume and a long history of public service. He was president of Davidson College before taking the helm at UNC. He was head of the administrative office of the courts, a superior court judge and director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. He’s been part of the political establishment and, while a Democrat, is a pragmatist, not an ideologue. He’s a public servant.
In contrast, Art Pope is an ideologue who wants to leave his mark on the state. Friends say he sees himself as a conservative Bill Friday. He’s not. Bill Friday was committed to helping people better themselves and saw the university as vehicle for building up the state. It’s part of why North Carolina developed a reputation as a beacon of light in an otherwise dark South. Our university system became an engine of economic progress that has made the Triangle a leader in the information age and one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.
Pope doesn’t believe in any of that. He believes that the free market is the key to success. Higher education should be little more than job training and critical thinking skills learned in a liberal arts curriculum have little place in his world. Pope is neither a manager nor a deep thinker. He’s an ideologue born with a silver spoon in his mouth who has spent his life forcing square pegs into round holes.
Pope and his ilk judge success in terms of economic growth with little concern for who benefits from that growth. They routinely ignore the health and welfare of the state’s poorest citizens because free market magical thinking will lift everyone. In their world view, we should be striving to be more like the Deep South. When they say, “Thank God for Mississippi” they are aspirational, not condescending.
This month, John Hood left the John Locke Foundation to replace Pope as head of the John William Pope Foundation. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Maybe Art Pope just wants to spend more time with his family. But if it’s not and Art Pope becomes head of the University system, we’re in trouble. He’s a man determined to tear down what 50 years of moderate, progressive leadership built.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Art Pope is no Bill Friday is a bit of an understatement. He’s not even a Pee Wee Herman.
FYI — if y’all haven’t figured it out, and so that you all might better follow this and other threads— very sure that “Gregorious Collo-Rosso” and “Thuaidh Cearuilin” are the same poster.
Apparently, the original persona “Gregorious Caroline du Nort” has been retired. I’ll hazard a guess that there will be an additional posting FB persona from this same source soon enough…..
The Republican National committee came out with a plan to use the views of the “libertarianism right,” saying “they have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do. Government should keep our taxes down and keep our regulation low and that we shouldn’t get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn’t get involved in cultural issues, you know, people should do whatever they want. to”
indoctrinate college youth gradually using libertarianism knowing that college students are usually poor making them pro-tax cuts, as ‘do anything you want’ platform into hard core right wing views like the tea-baggers have
Pope is a Card carrying Koch Libertarian….
It will be like a merger of UNC and Bob Jones University – what could go wrong?
The ultimate triumph of Wowserism!
Winter is coming
Such a sad day, watching the system being dismantled this way.
Please see the ‘Powell Memo’ below (drafted in 1971). It laid the foundation for conservative strategies that continue to today. The entire memo and accompanying recommendations should be read, but in relation to this discussion, scroll down to page 4 and read the section called ‘The Campus’ (which goes to page 6):
http://law2.wlu.edu/deptimages/Powell%20Archives/PowellMemorandumPrinted.pdf
While drafted in 1971, that Powell memo is akin to those offered up by the witch hunters of the McCarthy era of the 1950’s. Its narrative reflects a paranoia over conspiracies that didn’t (and don’t) exist, and is more a political manifesto from the business/corporate class than anything else.
But one can see how it certainly would gain traction with today’s Ayn Randian-worshipping GOP’ers and conservatives, and how it could be used, even with its contemporary irrelevance, as a guide for our UNC system BoG today.
And Bobby Kennedy was one of the primary “witch hunters” being as he was McCarthy’s right hand man. Tell me “Mick” have you ever heard of Alger Hiss or Harry Dexter White or have any inkling whatsoever as to the communist infiltration of the American government during the Roosevelt and Truman administrations? Now don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, Russian archives proved it after the old USSR imploded.
You’re either ignorant or a liar, which is it?
By the way, in case you haven’t heard, the Rosenbergs did it!
UNC-CH just completed a multi-million dollar investigation of its academic program based on allegations of fraud and cheating, and you Progressives are worried that Art Pope is going to destroy the institution?
Allen, the presidency we are talking about here is NOT the chancellorship at UNC-Chapel Hill but the overarching leadership of the entire UNC system (17 schools).
Big difference between a cheating scandal and tearing the entire the apart. Raleigh has started the decline of the UNC system (and the state will follow) and this would kill it. Who can think being more like Miss and Alabama is a good idea? Pope and the nuts in Raleigh.
They might as well resurrect Ole Jesse Helms to be the president of the UNC system. Bet he would love to get his conservative, ideological claws into what was his nemesis for so many years. Now, it seems to fall to his latter-day descendents to do his bidding.
Not to make light of a very serious threat, this just might be apropos:
The fix is in!
Back the man for Gov with your $$$. Become the Budget Chairperson for the State of N.C. Aspire to lead the University system. It has been a process. What comes next? Whatever his $$$$ will buy. N.C. is For Sale.
Jane Mayer’s excellent profile in the New Yorker should be “required reading” for every citizen of North Carolina….
God help us all!
And then watch as the Koch brothers “foundations” pour the money into the University to preach their philosophies.
I’m not particularly religious, but I’m gonna pray this never happens.
Oh, and now we believe Art Pope? This idea is too depressing for words.
Wealth is not the equivalent of intelligence, but some seem to think so.
Esp
Especially when you inherit the wealth
Agreed wholeheartedly. Art Pope is like a box turtle who wakes up on top of a fence post and thinks he got there by himself.
Thank goodness for that! However, he could change his mind….Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
Art Pope has sent out an email saying that he is not seeking the position.
“Not seeking the position” is not the same as “he would not take it if offered.”
He is not seeking it, but if he is sought out…would he decline?
Sorry Main Street. Your comment was not displayed when I posted, otherwise I wouldn’t have made such a redundant comment.
But cannot doubt be “persuaded”….let the farce and pandering begin in earnest…..
Big Education has NOT done their jobs in recent decades. Colleges too often indoctrinate rather than educate. They bow to the latest PC whim up to and including restrictions on Constitutionally protected free speech. They do not pass on American values of tolerance, forbearance and respect for the rule of law. They do not teach a love of liberty by act or deed. There are virtually zero conservative/libertarian instructors apart from perhaps a few in the hard sciences. Why I myself would be thrown off campus in this day and age simply for being a conservative and voicing my opinion. Their minds are closed! Now I’m sure many of you think this is a good thing, but I do not. UNC is not Universidad de La Habana however much you leftist dolts wish it to be.
Besides, with Carolina’s problems who would want the job?
Clearly you have spent little or no recent time on university campuses. I am a student and teach at one of the biggest in the NC system, where our last undergraduate student government president was an unabashed member of the Young Republicans club and a delight to watch and hear speak. The Political Science department in which I worked for several years did have its share of liberals but some of the most intriguing libertarians around and a few serious Republicans as well. One of the primary roles of the university is to teach students at all levels how to think in relation to how thinks are and how they can be improved for the entire population. This is, by definition, the crede of the liberal end of the spectrum and an attitude that contributed to NC rising far above other southern states in the lastter half of the 20th century in most economic and equity measures. Those successes began to erode following elections in 2010 and worsened in 2012…and not by accident. The GA and now the governor targeted reversing equity gains as an unstated but inevitable strategic goal.
You’re certainly right there Keith, I haven’t spent a lot of time on campus in a good while as I’ve been too busy contributing to that “rising far above” standard of living we enjoy here in North Carolina (thanks NCSU, couldn’t a done it without you). It’s quite a success story I must say, even with people like Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin (and now McCrory) working overtime to destroy the UNC system. I will admit that perhaps, perhaps I did tar our wonderful state universities with the same brush as the academy in general (http://townhall.com/columnists/ashleypratte/2014/06/02/liberals-recognize-conservative-suppression-on-college-campuses-n1845467). But do tell, how many conservative professors at your school? How many in the political science department? Don’t be afraid to name names.
When I was traipsing the halls of State College we had folks like Sandy Kessler, the Vasus (husband and wife tagteam), John Gilbert and Abe Holtzman; all very fine and competent (sometimes brilliant) instructors, but nary a conservative/libertarian in the bunch. Apparently times have changed and I’m wallowing in ignorance. So, tell us Keith, we are waiting.
Why are the personal politics of professors so important to you with regards to higher education? This is a public university system we are talking about here. It’s open to all. Or supposed to be, anyway. The goal is to attain a well-rounded education that will prepare you for a career in your chosen field, NOT to indoctrinate into a particular political ideology. Are there classes offered at any of the UNC system schools currently that indoctrinate? I am not aware of any…
A true leader displays balance, integrity, honesty and a passion for education. A true leader recognizes that each student has something unique to offer, and strives to maintain an environment to which all students have the opportunity to learn and grow in the ways THEY see fit. How has Ross failed in those ways? Even the BOG had no explanation for his departure besides a vague “need for change..”
You by no means have been contributing to that “rising far above” standard any more than any of the rest of us have. I, myself, am an equal contributor and have been busy doing so for years now. (Thanks UNC undergrad and UNC graduate studies, by the way, for that…)
Teaching a curriculum that does not edit out information that make conservatives uncomfortable is not some liberal plot to destroy education. It’s an attempt to teach our young people the whole story, and then let THEM decide what to do with it…
Wow, I hadn’t seen that documentation that the 4000 or so universities in the US are driven not by desires to educate students and conduct important research/pubic service, but rather by the personal politics of faculty, political correctness, indoctrination aims, the muffling of free speech and opinion, and the teaching of closed-mindedness, intolelance and disregard for the law. Man, I had no idea, but am willing to read up on it! Please post those studies?
You don’t know what you’re talking about, TC. Conservatives, libertarians particularly, abound on UNC campuses and do good work. There is no evidence that faculty anywhere hate “liberty.” You’re just repeating what you heard on some wingnut radio show.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=6020
Wingnut? I know what a wingnut is (bet you don’t) but I’m not sure what exactly you mean by wingnut. Would these folks be considered wingnuts in your view?
You are missing the point! What the heck is BIG education? Liberal education is indeed about perspective and we DO pass on the values of tolerance, forbearance and respect. You are making broad sweeping statements without knowing what you are talking about. I love how folks blow smoke when they have real clue. The very fabric of your comment is a closed minded and narrow view, where common stereotypes take the place of understanding or constructing your own knowledge. Wow. Just. Wow.
Mr. Cearuilin,
On what do you base your rather extreme opinions? I happen to work on a UNC campus, and the caricature you describe looks nothing like the environment I exist in every day. I’ve seen and participated in many respectful and thoughtful arguments with faculty and students more conservative, more libertarian, and more liberal than myself, and nobody was thrown off campus. We have more tolerance and “forbearance” for diverse opinions than I see in politics or mainstream media. Most of us are quite suspicious of “the latest PC whim”. I think you are conjuring up a fantasy in place of reality, and perhaps being manipulated by political operators seeking their own gain.
Well at least you’re not biased.
Let the GOP keep pushing to hang their rightwing-neanderthal agenda around the necks of the people of NC. and eventually the Laws of Physics will take hold and return to them their just deserts.
I sure hope it is just rumors. No way could Pope be good for the UNC system. But now that the UNC BOG is majority GOP appointees it could happen. Sad is an understatement.
Suspect it’s gonna happen.
It would be one thing to have the UNC system presidency in the hands of a non-academic or someone whose career was spent outside of academe. That can work; see Erskine Bowles.
It’s a whole ‘nother smoke if that leader is a very partisan political ideolog.
Sad days ahead for a once great system……
I can just imagine the curriculum changes if Pope becomes pres. I can see things like “Slavery as a viable business model -202” and “Consumption Strategies for the General Population – 315” and “Popular Protests: The Disruption of the American Fabric – 382” and “Medicaid and Foodstamps: Business Externalities that Prevent Progress – 423.”
God help us, everyone, if Art Pope becomes UNC president. It will be devastating to students… and to the state of North Carolina.