Dear Mark Hebert: please help Jim Ramsey with his foot-in-mouth disease. Maybe? They pay you enough and your job isn’t hard. So. Maybe just put some duct tape over his mouth and prevent him from texting and sending email, too?
Some things never change:
The budget timeline has the budget going to the Board of Trustees finance committee in May. That committee will forward it to the full board for approval in June. Ramsey drew a comparison between the university and the men’s basketball team.
“It was a challenging year for basketball,” he said. “Our team held in there and played with a lot of heart, character and determination.” In the face of continued state budget cuts that are coming despite the progress UofL is making in research, student education and community engagement, the university as a whole needs to try to be like the basketball team, Ramsey said.
Dear Jimbo: the team got its ass handed to it. We’re pretty sure the University of Louisville as a whole isn’t keen on losing.
25 responses so far ↓
1 Novena // Apr 13, 2012 at 2:29 pm
“Athletics=UofL”
So, now JR is explicitly characterizing UofL as an athletic club. We’ve known that was the case all along (right, Highlander?), but now the cat is out of the bag. PR-person Mark, expect a few airless basketballs on your next birthday, courtesy the Grawemeyer Hall coach. In the meantime, JR, do some work on the damn budget! You, too, Shirl. What are you paid so handsomely to do?
2 Matt in Lyndon // Apr 13, 2012 at 2:32 pm
“Dear Jimbo: the team got its ass handed to it. We’re pretty sure the University of Louisville as a whole isn’t keen on losing.”
Winning the Big East Championship, and losing to KY in the final four by 8 is getting it’s ‘ass handed to it’. Jeez
3 jake // Apr 13, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Losing/ass handed to it = same thing.
Maybe ass handed to it on a silver platter that Rick Pitino used to hump some lady in an Italian restaurant on.
4 The Highlander // Apr 13, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Novena: Comb-over is a complete and utter embarrassment to the city, the university and to the faculty at the ‘athletic club.’ To compare him with some of his predecessors (even Schumaker in some [but not all] respects is sickening.
He needs more than Herbert can provide. He’s a simpleton who’s so far in over his head that it’s become comical.
5 Novena // Apr 13, 2012 at 7:26 pm
“To Highlander”
Yes, indeed, to most all you said. You forgot to mention that the Board of Cadavers seems even dumber than JR (if that is possible). It never questions him–and it gave him an eight-year extension, no matter how bad he did and continues to do. Why the Board exists is questionable in itself. They do nothing but nod when JR says “nod.” (But the Board members love their athletic tickets.)
6 Bill // Apr 13, 2012 at 9:10 pm
The one thing that will never change at U of L under the tenure of Combover and Shirl is that corruption and ignorance will never been conquered. From the Felner scandal to Ricky “10 seconds” to all the missing money that has never been accounted for and continues to this day. Its absurd when someone like Ramsey complains almost monthly if not weekly in the local press about how his institution does not get enough taxpayer funds from the General Assembly. At a time when the commonwealth can barely pass a transportation budget and then have other budget issues, he’s whining about how they don’t get enough money at the Athletic Club at Belknap. However, U of L has one of the largest endowments of any University but can’t manage its own money. Isn’t that a big problem when you’re talking about needing more money for more pet projects but you can’t manage what you already have and much of it has been tucked away in corrupt associates back pockets.
Yet, this brazen individual wants to tell us all and the Board how he deserved more money and a 150k a pay raise while people in the rank and file had to pay more money out for their health insurance payments and deductibles. How do I know this? I have a close family member that works at the University and I find out a great deal of information just by talking to this person.
Yet, to hear the rantings of Combover, one would believe that all is well and just in the land of fairytales at Belknap. There is much to be seen firsthand by going down there and even talking to your average employee of the institution many of whom aren’t all that enamored of the administration to begin with.
7 Bill // Apr 13, 2012 at 9:19 pm
What amazes me is that someone like Hebert, who was a good investigative reporter, now serves as a spokesperson for a bunch of jackals that try to propagandize the rest of us regarding their great achievements and contributions to higher education in Louisville and in Kentucky as well. All the while, they are legally looting a public institution and bringing the quality of the educational process downward into an abyss. Yet, the Board chooses to do nothing as usual instead of instituting a major shakeup. Its too bad they don’t have the conscience to actually do something about the mess at Belknap. At the current rate, these people are making U of L look like another for profit university as sleazy as the ones you find online and some owned even by Goldman Sachs which should be an embarrassment in itself.
8 stadtguy // Apr 13, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Meanwhile, while the coaches make multi-millions to uneducated masses are expected to absorb another tuition hike. Is the “value” of the degree going up 6-7% every years? Have average starting salaries for communication majors doubled since 2001? I’m also curious how many students are taking high quality classes from adjuncts, lecturers, or other part-timers? So, students pay more and more for less and less while provosts and assistant to the associate to the assistant vice provost make hundreds off thousands per year. That’s better graft than state government.
9 The Highlander // Apr 13, 2012 at 9:44 pm
This place is a travesty. It’s an embarrassment to the city from a national perspective. I can’t imagine what the other Presidents and Chancellors think when they hear and see Combover at their meetings and get-togethers. He’s got to be a laughing stock among his peer group
10 Novena // Apr 13, 2012 at 10:09 pm
“UofL Is Indeed Embarrassing”
When I first came to campus, surveys indicated that only about 40% of students were satisfied with the place and about the same percentage of faculty would not want their kids going there. (I had never seen such totals in my life and couldn’t believe it.) I came to believe it rather quickly. Whenever I mentioned I worked there (e.g., to a waitress), I would get a groan. It has not improved–the only good change is that Felner is no longer around to cause even greater havoc. I guess we could be grateful for small things–but we should not be. This is supposed to be a god-damn academic institution operated by huge public funds! “Not-getting-your-money’s-worth” would be a more appropriate mantra at Belknap.
11 marie // Apr 14, 2012 at 2:27 am
Hoopla
So…”Uof L’s Great Places to Work initiative is continuing with five subcommittees to address campus climate, family friendly policies, professional development, health and wellness, and total rewards.”
…this from a place that wondered aloud if employee satisfaction was a legitimate goal!
12 The Highlander // Apr 14, 2012 at 9:33 am
I have a suggestion: Every member of the Bored of Trustees should resign and ‘at the point of a gun’ the Goobernatorial should be required to appoint the most successful UofL graduates REGARDLESS of where they live. Find out who the national corporate leaders are, top lawyers are, top doctors are, top of the crop EVERYWHERE. Put THEM on the Bored. NONE OF THEM will live in Louisville so they won’t give a crap about Fifteeno or CharlieWeak or Tommy Turtleneck or JimboCombover. They should be instructed to CLEAN HOUSE AND TURN IT INTO AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION that’s required to honor its Mission Statement.
LORD: I tried to hold my breath in writing this, but it didn’t work. Don’t hold your breath – EITHER.
13 jake // Apr 14, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Hebert had taken enough tripe from “news” managers and consultants who ruined everything they touched. WHAS has become a thread of its former self. So I can’t fault him for leaving.
He knew where the payday was and he was smart to jump at the opportunity. You can also look at the language he uses and the nuanced manner in which he speaks when it comes to UofL. It’s not like he’s totally shilling. It’s clear that he’s trying to get people to do things a bit better.
14 Novena // Apr 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
“To Jake, with Respect”
Hebert does PR (and better than the previous bozos, which is not say a lot, I admit). But PR can only go so far (and may indeed be part of the problem in that it gives the public a glossy image of UofL. The bigger issues are hugely systemic. As Highlander says, it is past time to clean house and have a thorough investigation by the Commonwealth as to how to make UofL a more academic environment. If JR goes on 8 more years (thanks to a mindless Board tied to his apron strings), the doo-doo will become even deeper and perhaps beyond hauling. After all, the people are paying handsomely for an inferior product. They deserve so much more.
15 jake // Apr 14, 2012 at 2:49 pm
For the record: Hebert is the only spokescritter at UofL who hasn’t tried to snow me or bullshit me.
16 The Tim // Apr 14, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Jimbo= clueless old man.
17 The Highlander // Apr 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I feel for Hebert, trying to support a family and put some bread on the table with a job requirement to report on a ‘shit-storm.’ A good guy riding along in a Ship of Fools that’s hit over a dozen icebergs in the last half dozen years. When your ship’s full of shit and the captain and first mate are dumber than a brick it’s hard to make any sense out of anything.
18 Novena // Apr 15, 2012 at 11:51 am
“Ship of Fools at Belknap”
The Ship of Fools has anchored in Belknap,
Leaving the Commonwealth with tons of crap.
JR and Shirl steer it madly out to sea.
They have no wisdom and hold no key.
Their denizens feel isolated, helpless, cast away.
At the helm, JR and Shirl still say all is okay.
The cargo bursts open with big loads of manure.
JR & Shirl, it seems, will never find a real cure.
19 ed haliday // Apr 15, 2012 at 4:54 pm
“Ass handed to them”,
Poor comparison,
If only U of L ‘s education program could come in as one of the top 4 schools in the country like their basketball team did, I am sure they would not considered being in the top 4 all that bad, As it is they are not even close to top 4, and indeed, seem to be striving for mediocrity
20 Novena // Apr 15, 2012 at 7:35 pm
“Off Base, Ed”
I guess you join JR in comparing academics with athletics. That is part of the problem at UofL. The equation is weighted far more to the athletic side than it should be. UofL should stand as an academic institution above all else. When someone thinks of UofL, the first thing thought of is basketball. How sad for its academic reputation. And we don’t need any more folks playing into that lamentable scheme of things.
21 The Highlander // Apr 16, 2012 at 7:50 am
Thanks Novena: Big Ed just had his own ass handed to him.
22 marie // Apr 16, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Although “striving for mediocrity” is right on target.
23 Flag // Apr 16, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Seriously, what would it take to get the Commonwealth to investigate?
24 jake // Apr 16, 2012 at 7:36 pm
Nothing.
This is Kentucky.
Quit hoping for anything to stop corruption.
25 Novena // Apr 16, 2012 at 8:36 pm
“United We Stand–for What?”
KY legislator #1: “With all that’s gone down at UofL, maybe we should investigate.”
KY legislator #2: “Nah, remember our Commonwealth motto is ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.’”
KY legislator #1: “But that institution, which we give loads of money, has been falling for quite some time now. How will the public trust us?”
KY legislator #2: “Okay, I’ll try the pragmatic approach: JR knows too many of our skeletons. Case closed.”
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