The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Babs]

Yes they do. Sort of... The policy is that BYU will only hire LDS candidates unless a department can make a compelling (very compelling) case that no qualified LDS candidates are available.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Ox, I read your rational post and wondered what someone would argue against what you posted. Then I clicked on the link and saw...

Your position seems to mirror mine. Religious bigotry did not preclude BYU as much as a difference in approaches and academic "values." it is disingenuous for a BYU supporter to ignore the issues of academic freedom, staffing, upward mobility, and to a certain extent sexism in its current practices. These sorts of things turn off some schools. And reasonably so.

That being said, I just don't think those same issues are issues in the Big 12. Ironically, I think there are probably more traditional Mormon "bigots" the closer geographically you get to the Bible belt, yet BYU has a better chance of inclusion as a university there. Again, because "bigotry" really isn't at play in these decisions.

Exactly.

[TripletDaddy]

Who are the "connected" posters with legit connections? I didn't know SCougar was a player in these issues. First I have heard of it.

Apparently many consider vedderhall to be in the know. Also, shoganai? BlueHair here has some connections? I honestly didn't know Tdawg had a hook up.

It gets confusing separating the wheat from the chaff in all of this.

[shoganai]

Who are the "connected" posters with legit connections? I didn't know SCougar was a player in these issues. First I have heard of it.

Apparently many consider vedderhall to be in the know. Also, shoganai? BlueHair here has some connections? I honestly didn't know Tdawg had a hook up.

It gets confusing separating the wheat from the chaff in all of this.

Shoganai is full of it. Don't listen to him.

[Babs]

Who are the "connected" posters with legit connections? I didn't know SCougar was a player in these issues. First I have heard of it.

Apparently many consider vedderhall to be in the know. Also, shoganai? BlueHair here has some connections? I honestly didn't know Tdawg had a hook up.

It gets confusing separating the wheat from the chaff in all of this.

We all have connections! Didn't you ever play the Kevin Bacon game?

[TripletDaddy]

Shoganai is full of it. Don't listen to him.

I said "consider."

[TripletDaddy]

We all have connections! Didn't you ever play the Kevin Bacon game?

I'm talking about connections to the BYU athletic department and inside info regarding conference expansion!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Nothing secret about it, either. It always puzzles me when people act surprised by it. It has always been this way. You see fewer non-LDS faculty hired these days because it is becoming quite rare to have a position with no qualified LDS candidates. And the courts established long ago that religious organizations can use religion as a factor in hiring decisions.

Yes, BYU is somewhat unique relative to most universities with religious ties. Given the stated mission for BYU via church leadership, I can't imagine seeing hiring done any differently.

FTR, I have no problem with the PAC-10's decision regarding BYU. I think they overstate the problem, but their position makes sense.

[CardiacCoug]

Pitt has a legendary med school, as it was the site of the original polio vaccine developments, which has enriched its endowment.

Sure, and I interviewed at Pittsburgh a few times along the way -- it is an impressive medical center (UPMC).

Maybe Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic will field football teams and get admitted to the Big 10 or Big 12 -- they both have solid medical schools and medical centers, too. That's the sort of thing these conferences are looking at when considering expansion.

[CardiacCoug]

Yes, BYU is somewhat unique relative to most universities with religious ties. Given the stated mission for BYU via church leadership, I can't imagine seeing hiring done any differently.

Wouldn't it make more sense to leaven the faculty with some non-LDS people?

Why not aim for 10-20% non-LDS faculty or something like that? Seems like that would be a good thing for faculty, students, and the culture of the university as a whole.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Wouldn't it make more sense to leaven the faculty with some non-LDS people?

Why not aim for 10-20% non-LDS faculty or something like that? Seems like that would be a good thing for faculty, students, and the culture of the university as a whole.

I don't make these decisions.

[Jacob]

Wouldn't it make more sense to leaven the faculty with some non-LDS people?

A lot of people don't think so, and such people are in charge. But this thread isn't the place.

[CardiacCoug]

I don't make these decisions.

LOL. Sure, I just don't understand why people who lead a university think a religiously monolithic faculty makes sense.

I think the PAC-10 people are right to think that is a little strange.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Who are the "connected" posters with legit connections? I didn't know SCougar was a player in these issues. First I have heard of it.

Apparently many consider vedderhall to be in the know. Also, shoganai? BlueHair here has some connections? I honestly didn't know Tdawg had a hook up.

It gets confusing separating the wheat from the chaff in all of this.

I have no inside information at BYU, please take that into consideration. I am however very connected to Gilham Elementary School, at present they are not going to a new conference nor have any designs or hopes to.

[Jacob]

LOL. Sure, I just don't understand why people who lead a university think a religiously monolithic faculty makes sense.

I think the PAC-10 people are right to think that is a little strange.

You don't understand? Or you just don't agree? It's pretty easy to understand.