My Assessment Of The Situation At The Maxwell Institute

[ERayR]

Lacking management skills is a far cry from the allegation of being complicit in a cowardly, spineless, sleezy coup.

I don't believe you can point to where I said any of those words. Please retract.

[Ares]

But the topic of Will is off topic for this thread.

Correct. Everyone please stay on topic.

[mfbukowski]

I find it fascinating the degree of melodrama that this has raised. I mean, really? Is this really that epic? It's the change in emphasis in publications from one institution on Mormon Scholarship, the results of which will probably not be apparent to the vast majority of those who read it.

It will lose a few angry subscribers, and gain some more that it didn't have before. Maybe some new ones just because of this highly-niche publicity.

Life will go on. The Church will go on. This isn't another Great Apostasy. It's not a Great Reformation. It's the change in management and emphases for a series of magazines.

Some people hate the idea. Others love the idea. Most couldn't care less.

Oh yeah. It's perfectly OK to leak personal, confidential, documents to anti Mormons and it's definitely something the church should condone.

This is not about some academic department change.

Why can people not see this for what it is?

[wenglund]

Someone mentioned earlier about liberal Mormons winning big with the firing of Dr. Peterson. I am wondering if they are "winning" in the same sense that Charlie Sheen figured he was winning?

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[mfbukowski]

I still think it wasn't the best way to handle it--but there are two sides to the story and unfortunately, we don't hear Bradford's explanation.

The only explanation that I care about is how he explains the leaks. Good luck on that one.

Now that this is settling in, it seems people are ignoring that aspect of this more and more. The mind fog of "it can't be true" is settling in. "Surely there must be an explanation"

Where is it?

[KevinG]

If I were in HR at BYU I would be most concerned about the leaks of personal correspondence. That is legally actionable and a terrible lapse on the part of the Institutes management. This is the latest example of nonsense I have heard from BYUs internal politics. A few of them I witnessed personally as a graduate student, and while not much different from the nonsense that went on at the state school I attended quite a shame for the expectation I had for a church sponsored institution.

It is no wonder that the brethren decided in the 90s that opening up another BYU type institution was not something the church was going to do.

[KevinG]

The only explanation that I care about is how he explains the leaks. Good luck on that one.

Now that this is settling in, it seems people are ignoring that aspect of this more and more. The mind fog of "it can't be true" is settling in. "Surely there must be an explanation"

Where is it?

Even if there is a good one we are not privy to it. That is for Dr P, the institute and the BYU HR lawyers to discuss.

[mfbukowski]

You are assuming Bradford had any knowledge of the leakage.

In other words, he is an incompetent administrator who doesn't know the politics of his own office. Much better.

[Nemesis]

Ok I can't keep up with all the reports. Guys just keep it off speculation and what facts have been given. Also please knock off the derails and personal squabbles.

Nemesis

[Senator]

Do I need one? Or is it commonly accepted behavior to fire someone via e-mail? I'm not aware of any explanation, which speaks volumes in and of itself. Since this method of firing is typically spineless in nature, and since no explanation is forthcoming, then I have no qualms drawing some very reasonable conclusions about Bradford.

Knock yourself out, jwhitlock!

[mfbukowski]

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship is continually striving to align its work with the academy's highest objectives and standards, as befits an organized research unit at Brigham Young University.

so we canned Peterson.

That is really what this says. That was incredibly poorly written.

[Senator]

I don't believe you can point to where I said any of those words. Please retract.

I didn't say you did.

[Calm]

while not much different from the nonsense that went on at the state school

Too true.

[Nemesis]

Ok I can't keep up with all the reports. Guys just keep it off speculation and what facts have been given. Also please knock off the derails and personal squabbles.

Nemesis

Just thought I would get this on the other page. Ever felt like you were drowning?

Nemesis

[Senator]

In other words, he is an incompetent administrator who doesn't know the politics of his own office. Much better.

Any other tabloid like vilifications anyone else would like to make towards this fellow brother and faithful member of the church.

It's ok, it's open season right now!!

[ERayR]

so we canned Peterson.

That is really what this says. That was incredibly poorly written.

And that Dan's contributions were not up to the highest standards.

[ERayR]

I didn't say you did.

Then please don't associate them with my posts.

Thank you.

[KevinG]

Any other tabloid like vilifications anyone else would like to make towards this fellow brother and faithful member of the church.

It's ok, it's open season right now!!

Nah. Too easy to do with BYU professors.

[ERayR]

Any other tabloid like vilifications anyone else would like to make towards this fellow brother and faithful member of the church.

It's ok, it's open season right now!!

Something about "if the shoe fits...".

[Cobalt-70]

If I were in HR at BYU I would be most concerned about the leaks of personal correspondence. That is legally actionable and a terrible lapse on the part of the Institutes management. This is the latest example of nonsense I have heard from BYUs internal politics. A few of them I witnessed personally as a graduate student, and while not much different from the nonsense that went on at the state school I attended quite a shame for the expectation I had for a church sponsored institution.

How is it legally actionable? I don't see it.

[wenglund]

I think that season ticket holders and fans have a right to be concerned when their team's franchise player is suddenly traded or let go along with other all-star players.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Calm]

Just thought I would get this on the other page. Ever felt like you were drowning?

Nemesis

On days like these I just love to sit back and think "thank goodness I am not a mod!"

[Freedom]

Contributors should care because, if this simple function of management is mishandled to this degree, what kind of management mishandling can be expected on other issues?

In your opinion, they should care. I asked this before, do you know who your surgeon general is and what qualifications this person has? You pay the salary after all. Also, should and do are completely different things.

[Freedom]

His mandated vision? Whose vision are we talking about? Bradford appears to be driving his own vision for the MI, from what I'm reading.

You have read the same material I have and from what I have read, there is no evidence that Bradford is acting alone. He is the director, it is his mandate to determine the direction of the institute. If not him, who exactly do you suppose should it be?

[why me]

Just thought I would get this on the other page. Ever felt like you were drowning?

Nemesis

I feel sorry for you and the other mods because now there is a new OP about dan's dismissal. All mods on deck. All mods on deck.