Governor McDonnell responds to letter

I was glad to receive a response from Governor McDonnell to my letters. I appreciated Mr. Robinson's discussion on the limits and structure of authority of JMU and the Governor.  The JMU Board of Visitors is appointed by the Governor and that is one of the more direct ways for the Governor to intercede in decisions about the governance system at JMU.  Mr. Robinson suggest that the safety risk of a negative alcohol culture could be a topic for the agenda of the 2011 Governor's Campus Preparedness Conference.  I will send a follow up letter to encourage this as an agenda item.

Letter to JMU Board of Visitors 1/18/11

Below is a letter I sent to the JMU Board of Visitors: 

 

Joseph G. Lynch

P. O. Box 1171

Harrisonburg VA 22803

January 18, 2011

Mr. James E. Hartman

Rector JMU Board of Visitors

235 Wynnwood Lane

Harrisonburg VA 22802-8323

Dear Mr. Hartman:

               I am writing to you regarding the recent announcement that President Rose is resigning and a search process for his replacement has been established.  I know there are many criteria that the search committee must consider in selecting a new President.  I would like to encourage that one of the criteria be that the candidate have a demonstrated track record of successfully changing a negative alcohol culture at a University.  I see this as a very clear need for JMU and a priority for the new President.

               I continue to be concerned about the Negative Alcohol Culture at JMU and have started a blog at this link: http://jmualcohol.blogspot.com/  and I encourage you to visit the blog to see the data that JMU already has gathered about its alcohol problem and my position that JMU needs to change its judicial policies and implement real consequences, such as suspension, in order for the culture to change.

                                                                                                         Sincerely,

                                                                                                         Joseph G. Lynch