As previously reported here, former (thankfully) RSU president, Joe Wiley, has orchestrated a “reorganization” at Freed-Hardeman University, a Church of Christ university in Tennessee. It boils down to creation of his seemingly favorite “one-stop-shop,” previously instituted at RSU—which one former RSU staffer poignantly remarked to me ends up being one, long line instead of five, shorter lines, especially when you cut staff; elimination of eighteen positions (one faculty and seventeen staff) just days before Christmas; and, creation of eight new positions (info about which is not forthcoming).

This has certainly not shocked Oklahomans who have seen Wiley’s (mis)management style up close. Frankly, I hate to say I told you so, but we did. The public record is full of evidence about Chairman Joe’s misdeeds, yet I was told by someone at FHU that the elders who met with him during the hiring process where impressed by his godliness and Christ-like spirit. Yeah, I know, shocking to many of you who actually saw the Wiley Cartel up close and personal.

But, it is gratifying not to be the lone voice in the wilderness forever. There are numerous comments about the FHU issue on the Jackson Sun’s article about the layoffs.

And Joe, if you are still reading my blog as you told me you do the last time we bumped into each other (at the courthouse with a whole crew of RSU administrators for the Tywone Parks bond hearing, though he was “officially” no threat to RSU), thanks for confirming my previous criticism. You’re a piece of work, you know that?

Former RSU-Prez Joe Wiley is just now beginning to make his mark on his new institution, the private Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee. Having recently been lauded in a week-long inauguration, Wiley’s office has now released his plans to “restructure” FHU, code words for someone’s getting fired from a Christian school just before Christmas—when the release itself says the university is just fine financially. Of course, they’re getting severance, so it’s OK. Eighteen positions will be eliminated (some as early as yesterday) and five positions will be created (wonder if anyone has schedule the U-Haul from Durant yet?).

At the center of Wiley’s plan is a one-stop-shop for prospective students (where have we heard that before?).

Frankly, the FHU website URL, presumably created by someone in the FHU press or website office,  for the release says it all: http://web.fhu.edu/News/Home.htm#ouch. Prepare to be called on the carpet if you made that URL; the tally may be 19.

[Update: Well, it only took about a day before the FHU website link to the release has been changed to http://web.fhu.edu/News/Home.htm#restructure. Saw that coming. The old link still works, though. LOL!]

[Also, a friend of mine who also happens to be Church of Christ, FHU's denominational affiliation, tells me that FHU employs only Church of Christ folks. No problem there. However, I just wonder if any of Chairman Joe's old cronies have converted from, say, Baptist to Church of Christ in the last few months...]

I jumped on the WordPress 2.7 bandwagon as soon as it was available, but the upgrade is causing my server to freak out a little. You may notice some slowness to the site until my computer dude can get my server upgraded and/or I move to a new host.

I am on the Board of Trustees for Green Country Baptist Camp in Disney, Oklahoma. It’s an encampment for the use of the 60+ churches in the Craig-Mayes and Rogers Baptist Associations. I grew up going to day camp, pre-teen, and youth camps there, and it’s a privilege to now serve on the Board.

We’ve been making improvements as we can, and we’re making progress. But, as the saying goes, there’s many miles to go before we rest. I’d like to ask your help, if I might, and don’t worry, it costs you absolutely nothing but about three seconds of your time.

When you search the web, if you will use www.goodsearch.com and designate Green Country Camp of Disney, OK as your charity, Good Search will make a contribution to the camp for every search you initiate. And maybe even more importantly, if you’re making any online purchases this Christmas season, if you will use the Good Shop feature on Good Search, the camp will receive a percentage of purchases made through online merchants ranging from Amazon to Zappos. Click here for the entire list. They have lots of the most popular online retailers.

Thanks so much, and I appreciate your help.

I only watch the Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay when my TV still happens to be on Food TV after my Tivo has recorded something else (likely Good Eats), but I have seen a few episodes of Throwdown lately.

If you’re not familiar with the show, Bobby Flay—one of my least favorite Iron Chefs and Food Network personalities—seeks out someone who is a relatively famous for a certain dish, takes a week to come up with his version of their specialty (usually containing his trademark outlandish spices and in all probability utilizing a grill), surprises them when they have typically been led to believe that the Food Network is taping them for some other reason, and challenges them to a “throwdown,” wherein they each prepare the dish and have it evaluated by two judges.

Aside from coming across as a total egomaniac—you know, mastering someone’s specialty in one short week—Bobby Flay also comes off as a horrible chef on this show. I have yet to see the judges select his creation as a winner. Sure, it’s some exposure for a few amateur chefs, but you’d think his win/loss ratio might humble Flay the next time he rolls into town under false pretenses to take on someone on their own turf and with their specialty. Then again, maybe I’m just a nut.