Dan Peterson Booted From His Meti Office

[Scott Lloyd]

His "benevolent stalker"...say no more I get it. Sorry Dan...

Would that it were only his malevolent stalker who is feeding the ill-founded gossip.

Frankly, I've been surprised at the behavior of some individuals the wake of this whole sorry episode.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[DavidB]

Seems a private matter...unless he is posting this to the world.

Papa it is a private matter. Dan set the record straight already. He has been asked to vacate a second office, which has nothing do with his critics. The office I assume belongs to a group which no longer requires Dans services....so it is only natural that he would vacate a space that was essentially a privilege for him and not a right.

Edited September 18, 2012 by DavidB

[ERayR]

Papa it is a private matter. Dan set the record straight already. He has been asked to vacate a second office, which has nothing do with his critics. The office I assume belongs to a group which no longer requires Dans services....so it is only natural that he would vacate a space that was essentially a privilege for him and not a right.

A group called NAMI headed by a fellow named Bradford. Oh, Oh wait a minute wasn't that the chief player in the earlier episode. Hmm wonder if there is a connection.

Edited September 19, 2012 by ERayR

[Jude2]

I’ve wanted to climb into his suitcase for years.

[Daniel Peterson]

I've just noticed this thread. Here are some clarifying comments:

I think it is time to admit that this goes higher then the NAMI as Dan is too high profile and too well known for the Church to sit back and allow him to be "side-railed"

I know for an absolute fact, on the highest possible authority, that "this" doesn't go beyond the University. It definitely doesn't go to Salt Lake City.

The office I assume belongs to a group which no longer requires Dans services....so it is only natural that he would vacate a space that was essentially a privilege for him and not a right.

Not quite. The Maxwell Institute still expects me to serve as editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, or METI. And I will do it. (I conceived and founded METI.) The daily work of METI is done in the Maxwell Institute building. (I brought METI into the Institute's predecessor organization many years ago, entirely on my own initiative.) I will no longer have a space there in which I can work on METI. This makes things rather difficult for me, and makes my continued serious involvement in the project considerably harder.

Incidentally, the decision to take away my office was not made recently. It dates back to the time of my dismissal as editor of the Mormon Studies Review. For various reasons, I simply haven't been able to get to it until now. (For instance, I was, until late Saturday night, in the Middle East on a last fundraising effort -- a tour, for major donors, of Turkey -- on behalf of the Maxwell Institute. Monday was the first day we could get in to begin complying with the eviction notice.)

he created his own blog to complain about his treatment;

My blog was created long before Jerry Bradford's mid-June email dismissal of me. It deals with many topics, and has only occasionally mentioned recent Maxwell Institute politics.

Even so, my main concern with recent developments at the Maxwell Institute isn't personal. I'll survive. I strongly disagree with the "new course" evidently being taken by the Institute. To the extent that I can figure out what it is, I think it a betrayal of the intentions of those who founded the organization and guided it for many years (I was one of them for a quarter of a century), of the wishes of its principal donors, and of the clear mandate given to it by President Hinckley, President Packer, and Elder Maxwell himself.

and allegedly by his own words he purposefully acted to divert donations away from Maxwell institute...

I have absolutely not sought to divert donations away from the Maxwell Institute. I simply resigned as the Institute's fundraiser. I have no moral obligation to raise funds for the Institute.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Daniel Peterson

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I've just noticed this thread. Here are some clarifying comments:

I know for an absolute fact, on the highest possible authority, that "this" doesn't go beyond the University. It definitely doesn't go to Salt Lake City.

Not quite. The Maxwell Institute still expects me to serve as editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, or METI. And I will do it. (I conceived and founded METI.) The daily work of METI is done in the Maxwell Institute building. (I brought METI into the Institute's predecessor organization many years ago, entirely on my own initiative.) I will no longer have a space there in which I can work on METI. This makes things rather difficult for me, and makes my continued serious involvement in the project considerably harder.

Incidentally, the decision to take away my office was not made recently. It dates back to the time of my dismissal as editor of the Mormon Studies Review. For various reasons, I simply haven't been able to get to it until now. (For instance, I was, until late Saturday night, in the Middle East on a last fundraising effort -- a tour, for major donors, of Turkey -- on behalf of the Maxwell Institute. Monday was the first day we could get in to begin complying with the eviction notice.)

My blog was created long before Jerry Bradford's mid-June email dismissal of me. It deals with many topics, and has only occasionally mentioned recent Maxwell Institute politics.

Even so, my main concern with recent developments at the Maxwell Institute isn't personal. I'll survive. I strongly disagree with the "new course" evidently being taken by the Institute. To the extent that I can figure out what it is, I think it a betrayal of the intentions of those who founded the organization and guided it for many years (I was one of them for a quarter of a century), of the wishes of its principal donors, and of the clear mandate given to it by President Hinckley, President Packer, and Elder Maxwell himself.

I have absolutely not sought to divert donations away from the Maxwell Institute. I simply resigned as the Institute's fundraiser. I have no moral obligation to raise funds for the Institute.

Just sad all this need to going on...my no understanding it all makes it seem even more the puzzle .

[Robert F. Smith]

I don't know Dan personally and I wish him the best, but must also acknowledge something bigger is happening here. It is time to admit on some level that whatever Dan stands for, is something the institution feels a dramatic separation and change is desired.

I think it is time to admit that this goes higher then the NAMI as Dan is too high profile and too well known for the Church to sit back and allow him to be "side-railed"

What you are saying here is sheer nonsense. You know nothing about NAMIRS or how it functions, and you are anthropomorphizing both it and the Church. A fallacy. And a fantasy.

[Damien the Leper]

Exactly right. But it is unfortunate when it happens inside the church. We should expect better from those who claim to hold the priesthood or who are active in church promoting brotherly and sisterly love in talks and classes.

This is still not surprising. Politics have and will always affect the church governance and policy making. In fact, the church is a great example of corporate politics. I mean no disrespect.

[Damien the Leper]

Saturday night's game as evidence.

Go Ute's!! Even though the U played like crap and the Y played even worse...it was an aweful game in which my uncle (a Y fan) and myself (a U fan) took turns cussing at both our teams throughout the entire game.

[why me]

That is correct he did not go to YouTube, instead he created his own blog to complain about his treatment; .

I don't think that this is the purpose of his blog. I do believe that there were other reasons for creating his blog. However, since he has just recently (whatever recent may be) been treated horribly by certain fellow academics at BYU he needed to vent a little. He is not a groundhog down in his whole licking his wounds whimpering. He is a human being who has feelings of injustice and a voice to express that injustice.

Edited September 19, 2012 by why me

[why me]

This is still not surprising. Politics have and will always affect the church governance and policy making. In fact, the church is a great example of corporate politics. I mean no disrespect.

I think that the point is: the feeling of hurt to empty out an office, placing books in boxes, and knowing that life will be just a little more difficult. Now I can only guess why this is happening. But it seems to me that by telling dan to vacate his office, it was disigned to make his life just a little more difficult. Now I could be wrong about this but it does seem so. Hopefully that wasn't the case.

[ANACO]

I feel really awful for this recent predicament at BYU and Dr. Peterson being ousted from his office or offices. (I've lost track.)

Imagine the concern felt by members of the Church worldwide - especially by those who live in corrugated aluminum shacks sans utilities in the narrow neck of land identified as the Land of Promise by FARMS / NAMI / BAMF / FAIRLDS or LDSFAIR. Which shacks are the size of an office belonging to a BYU Professor. You would think the members of such groups would actually reside in their Land of Promise - if not to get away from the awful admins at BYU - who use emails to send out pink slips.

Being a BYU grad, I was oblivious to BYU politics and infighting while a student, other than the occasional professor who bragged about rubbing shoulders with General Authorities. Wonderful ! So we were to live by every word of his mouth to obtain a 4.0. If not, we were heretics, even if the topic dealt with Just-In-Time-Inventory to build corrugate aluminum shacks for export to the Land of Promise. I also have an older cousin professing at BYU, that I'm a right-wing nut - but I didn't discover this until recently - and this after many get-to-know you family reunions - the first being when I was in grade school and he on his way to "Havaad."

But most professors there are Saints in its truest definition. One, I can't recall his name, had just transferred from Chicago, started the semester, then lost his wife to an accident caused by black-ice. I had fallen behind in some assignments, and despite his sorrow, had actually located my phone number, called and gave me some additional time. I can't recall his name, but the nicest person there never was. I don't believe he's now trying to make a name for himself with blogs or books. He doesn't need to.

[ANACO]

This is from a Sept. 16 blog post by Dr. Peterson:

The unwarranted speculation that the deplorable events of this past summer at the Maxwell Institute were ordered by general Church leadership is nothing more than unkind gossip.

Are you claiming that if this had been ordered by the general Church leadership, that this would have been an unkind action by our church leadership?

Interesting attitude for one employed by desnews. I'm just saying...

[volgadon]

especially by those who live in corrugated aluminum shacks sans utilities in the narrow neck of land identified as the Land of Promise by FARMS / NAMI / BAMF / FAIRLDS or LDSFAIR.]

I bet you feel really big now.

[why me]

I feel really awful for this recent predicament at BYU and Dr. Peterson being ousted from his office or offices. (I've lost track.)

Imagine the concern felt by members of the Church worldwide - especially by those who live in corrugated aluminum shacks sans utilities in the narrow neck of land identified as the Land of Promise by FARMS / NAMI / BAMF / FAIRLDS or LDSFAIR. Which shacks are the size of an office belonging to a BYU Professor. You would think the members of such groups would actually reside in their Land of Promise - if not to get away from the awful admins at BYU - who use emails to send out pink slips.

Well, ANACO, no matter what injustice we may feel we can always find someone else in a worse circumstance. Is that your point? I suppose that you are right. However, even the examples you give above those people should not feel any injustice at all because there are people in the world who are worse off than that. So, what we need to do is to find those people who are in the worse situation possible, no one on the earth is as worse off as those people...then tell these people they have a right to feel that they have been treated unfairly by life. Would that be okay?

But the rest of us will need to keep quiet about experiencing injustice because we will sound ungrateful.

Edited September 19, 2012 by why me

[why me]

Are you claiming that if this had been ordered by the general Church leadership, that this would have been an unkind action by our church leadership?

Interesting attitude for one employed by desnews. I'm just saying...

Well, I don't know ANACO, I think that it shows a person who stands up for what one believes. The lds church is not a cult after all. We have ideas, viewpoints, opinions and independence. And yes, I would think it unkind if it were done by the general church leadership. What is wrong with that?

[Storm Rider]

It surprises me to see so many that have a problem with seeing a wrong and calling it such. We get all kinds of evidence why wrongs exist in the world, why other wrongs are so much more significant, and why no wrong should be discussed. To me it is the simple, "This is wrong; I feel for you." is what is needed. Dan is not an idiot; he is not wallowing in self-pity, nor is he looking for pity from others.

The new media of today allows for all kinds of ways for individuals to share their thoughts. He shared his thoughts. If you are not interested then I invite each of you to go on with your life. Enjoy your family, enjoy your job, enjoy what is happening. However, on that day that you feel like you need to share, then share. Until then, shut the....I am a sinner; it is so easy for me to think vile things and want to say them. I invite you to just move along and not be concerned with Dan or anyone else. Sound fair?

[Daniel Peterson]

It is time to admit on some level that whatever Dan stands for, is something the institution feels a dramatic separation and change is desired.

Ah. I missed this one.

"The Institute" as such doesn't exist. People affiliated with the Institute do. They work in different capacities, with different authority and different spheres of control. "The Institute" as such didn't make this decision.

[Calm]

I bet you feel really big now.

Feels big, looks small.

[Calm]

Are you claiming that if this had been ordered by the general Church leadership, that this would have been an unkind action by our church leadership?

Interesting attitude for one employed by desnews. I'm just saying...

He is saying the gossip is unkind. If you are going to criticize someone, you should read with more care. Edited September 19, 2012 by calmoriah

[TAO]

Not quite. The Maxwell Institute still expects me to serve as editor-in-chief of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, or METI. And I will do it. (I conceived and founded METI.) The daily work of METI is done in the Maxwell Institute building. (I brought METI into the Institute's predecessor organization many years ago, entirely on my own initiative.) I will no longer have a space there in which I can work on METI. This makes things rather difficult for me, and makes my continued serious involvement in the project considerably harder.

Hmmm... well... it isn't the worst thing in the world. Look at it this way; the MI is (unintentionally) granting you the capability to work on your texts wherever you please (except in their building). Couldn't that be... say... a bit advantageous, so to say? After all, this may be an opportunity to obtain a place better than your old room, perhaps?

Edited September 19, 2012 by TAO

[zerinus]

I was reading Dan's blog and discovered that he has been booted from his METI office. The episode he related on his blog is rather thought provoking and a little sad. It seems that even at BYU, there is much imperfections among human beings. Sorry Dan. You deserved better. Keep up the good workk and don't let this get you down.

http://www.patheos.c...cut-of-all.html

I think he is soon going to be excommunicated from the Church, declared persona non grata at the Church headquarters, and de facto son of perdition.

Edited September 19, 2012 by zerinus

[Calm]

Hmmm... well... it isn't the worst thing in the world. Look at it this way; the MI is (unintentionally) granting you the capability to work on your texts wherever you please (except in their building). Couldn't that be... say... a bit advantageous, so to say? After all, this may be an opportunity to obtain a place better than your old room, perhaps?

I assume Dan isn't the only one working on the Meti projects. If so, not having an office where the work is going on for ease of communication and cooperation is not going to be more effective, but I am sure Dan will adapt and make the best of it. Edited September 19, 2012 by calmoriah

[why me]

Hmmm... well... it isn't the worst thing in the world. Look at it this way; the MI is (unintentionally) granting you the capability to work on your texts wherever you please (except in their building). Couldn't that be... say... a bit advantageous, so to say? After all, this may be an opportunity to obtain a place better than your old room, perhaps?

Perhaps. But lets look at it this way: he was mistreated. And that has been the problem. One can always look at the bright side or even see the benefits one or two years down the road. But that doesn't change the feelings of hurt from people that one has known. And I think that this is the problem.

[Robert F. Smith]

This is still not surprising. Politics have and will always affect the church governance and policy making. In fact, the church is a great example of corporate politics. I mean no disrespect.

This has nothing to do with the LDS Church, but is rather an excellent example of the Machiavellian maneuvering and machinations typical of any university campus.. Several observers (including me) predicted that this sort of thing would occur as a direct consequence of FARMS being brought into the formal BYU structure, and that is why we advised against it.