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Remind me to never ask WIU to negotiate on my behalf

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Down goes another university president in Illinois, the fourth such casualty since 2015. […]

The latest casualty is Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas, who submitted a shotgun resignation June 30.

WIU has a lot of problems, and Thomas apparently had to make tough decisions that alienated various university constituencies. […]

Get this — he will be on leave from WIU for two years at his full annual pay of $270,528 plus benefits.

When he returns, he’ll teach two classes a year (one per semester) at a salary of far above faculty salaries — “either 75 percent of the fiscal year 2021 salary paid to his successor university president but not less than $300,000,” according to the contract he negotiated with trustees.

Further, he’ll be allowed to teach two classes a year at that generous salary for as long as he wishes as well as pursue outside employment at any salary he can negotiate.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 12:53 pm

Comments

So, sort of the opposite of “Bye Felicia”?

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:02 pm
This is why people are irate when college presidents go to Springfield with their hand out. It’s absolutely ridiculous! UIUC has a couple of these hanign’ around. I’m embarrassed to work in higher ed.

Comment by Ryan Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:03 pm
And they wonder why alumni don’t donate more.

Not exactly related, but is Joe Petry from UIUC collecting his pension?

Comment by Al Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:09 pm
Sickening but typical.

Always a golden parachute for the big boys/girls at the top of the heap.

Particularly interesting is that he had the last two steps on the salary minima schedule for Full Professors ‘negotiated and eliminated.”

And that was far, far, far less that anything he has ‘negotiated’ for himself.

And this does not include the issue of his firing employees- including some tenured faculty.

But typical of BOD’s to succumb to this farce.

If there is any loyalty among employees it would be unexplainable at this point.

P.S. Thanks for keeping this in the headlines.

Comment by Nonbeliever Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:11 pm
===The latest casualty is Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas===

Can I be a casualty too?
That’s not a firing, that’s a serious upgrade in working conditions.

Comment by Ebenezer Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:12 pm
This is exactly why I won’t donate to my public university. Too many people pushing paper for $150,000 a year while I had to pay $20 just for that entity to send my transcript from one building on campus to another. What a joke.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:12 pm
In fairness to WIU, any person interviewing for the position is aware of the enrollment issues, the funding issues, and the exceptionally high cost of tuition before they sign.

Similarly, any competent administrator also knows that once they start attempting to change or reform things that they will immediately face opposition, regardless of how good the idea is.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:20 pm
“In fairness to WIU….”

How do you define WIU? Perhaps I am mistaken and reading you wrong but it sounds to me that you define WIU as the administration and its BOD’s.

If that is so, then I would strongly disagree and would suggest that is only a part of ‘WIU’.

And if I am interpreting you incorrectly, please explain.

Comment by Nonbeliever Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:35 pm
With a contract like that, anyone could afford to be a failure.

Comment by Tequila Mockingbird Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:36 pm
Lots of “Fire Jack” signs up around Macomb during the last few weeks of his tenure. People are deservedly mad about President Thomas’ severance package. However, none of the people in Macomb who were loudly shouting “Fire Jack” were shouting “Fire Norine” during the state budget impasse.

The state budget impasse caused more damage to WIU, by orders of magnitude, than Thomas’ golden parachute ever will. Thomas made some difficult decisions, several of which were not likely the right decisions at the time. But which university president has ever lead a public university through two years without a budget? Again, he likely made some wrong decisions, but it is hard to say what alternatives were available.

The broader point, however, is that he would never have been placed in this position if Governor Rauner, Rep. Norine Hammond and Sen. Jil Tracy had not put him in that position by refusing to support the state budget for two years.

We need to see the full picture and assign blame to all relevant parties. There is lots of blame to go around, including blame that should be shouldered by Norine and Jil, who have never apologized or been contrite about the damage they caused to WIU and the region.

They would rather sweep their role in damaging WIU under the rug. The focus on Jack Thomas and his severance package conveniently deflects attention away from their larger role in damaging WIU.

In fact, the “Fire Jack” signs were created and disseminated by the leaders of the local Republican party, including the owner of a local farm supply store. This supporter of the “Fire Jack” movement was featured in a “vote for Norine Hammond” TV commercial last fall. The local Republicans are trying to create a narrative that bad management at WIU caused the problems in Macomb rather than the political behavior of Norine Hammond, who chose to stick by Rauner’s side rather than stand up for WIU.

Lot’s of people missing the bigger picture here.

Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:41 pm
- Scamp640 -

You’re on it…

The reality is Ms. Hammond *is* and was a Raunerite.

Phonies make up new narratives when they hurt who they should be supporting, and those hurt finally catch on.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:43 pm
My spouse is a long time educator. I’ve heard a lot and situations like this seem to occur far too frequently, not only at the collegiate level (NIU, COD) but also locally. If government reform will ever happen in this state, it needs to start here. I’m not the first to write this, but duplication of programs, administrators and internal services (IT, Finance, HR, Purchasing) amongst public universities and local districts has to be examined, analyzed and consolidated because the current path is unsustainable.

Comment by Boris Goodenough Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:45 pm
Very typical Illinois example, he participates in illegal closed session meetings while lying to the faculty and students about what was “already decided” versus what was “yet to be decided” and the recordings of the closed session meetings exposed him as the liar he is. A year later he floats away on his golden parachute.

Comment by JT Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:52 pm
And people call my state pension gold-plated. Hah.

Comment by Cailleach Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:54 pm
Yup another tribute to GovJunk reign. Add Terri “My Peeeps Are Crazy” Bryant to this honor roll pleeze

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 1:58 pm
Boris there is a co-op for Higher Ed.
https://www.iphec.org/

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:04 pm
Yup. No waste in Government. Not in this state. While WIU is paying this guy $278,500 plus benefits for the next two years to do nothing, someone else will be hired at a higher figure to replace him. That is not the definition of waste. Nope. Nothing to see here. When Thomas returns, he then gets to teach one single class a semester and be paid far more than other professors for this honor.

Yup. Yup. Yup. No waste here. Nothing to see here. Just good Government, just good school administration at work. Just move on and blame Rauner since it didn’t turn out to be all sunshine and lollipops for the state university, the taxpayers who support it and those paying tuitions. But when you stop and think about it, it is all sunshine and lollipops . . . for one Jack Thomas.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:07 pm
===But when you stop and think about it, it is all sunshine and lollipops . . . for one Jack Thomas.===

Your family did well under Rauner… now you begrudge… lol.

Rauner wanted to passively close state universities.

No waste when the goal is to starve them? You think we should’ve closed universities too… passively, I mean.

Bang that table.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:16 pm
==Lot’s of people missing the bigger picture here.==

And what bigger picture would that be? How about the one in which the Thomas administration had a number of unfair labor practices complaints filed against it, which the faculty union won, or had mediators rule against it in contract disputes? How about the one in which the Thomas administration began implementing program cuts before completion of a required curriculum review? Or how about the one in which the Thomas administration praised a faculty-initiated merger of two related departments, then promptly cut faculty members from one of them and wrecked the merger it has endorsed? Not to mention the BOT’s regular violation of the Open Meetings Act and other irregularities that led to the resignation of the BOT president and at least one other member.

I’m sure there was partisan influence at work in the “Fire Jack” movement, but I guarantee it wasn’t just Republicans who had those signs up. There were/are a lot of people angry about the damage Dr. Thomas did, even acknowledging what happened under Rauner. The platinum parachute he received is disgusting. I’ve watched a growing number of faculty, administrators, and staff leave because of Dr. Thomas and the on-campus climate. Finally I did, too.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:20 pm
I’d hope WIU had the good sense to get a waiver and release (promise to not file suit) from Jack Thomas in exchange for what WIU is providing.

Comment by Yiddishcowboy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:20 pm
===and would suggest that is only a part of ‘WIU’===

WIU as in the overall entity. Regardless of who negotiates the compensation package, it’s not like WIU can play hard ball with a desirable candidate.

If I were being asked to uproot my family and stake my career on an institution that needs to make drastic reform and potentially be the person proposing unpopular decisions, I’m going to want to make sure that if someone tries to boot me before the end of my contract that it secures the investment I am making.

I too am critical of the contract terms, but one of the reasons why someone negotiates a contract like that is to make it harder for their “partners” to ask for their resignation.

This isn’t like SIU hooking up kids and their spouses with sweetheart jobs on campus, it’s a reasonable demand to make and if WIU was in the corner it’s reasonable for them to accept it.

Though I would ask for the person to teach a full load and put an end date on the contract.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:22 pm
Phew. That is… just a lot of money.

Not “i’m not going to cheat my way to lower property taxes” money, but it’d sure go a long way at my house.

Comment by lakeside Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:30 pm
Kinda funny that the IPI doesnt list this as wasteful spending.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:34 pm
A friend worked in library sciences at UIUC. His office hallway was shared with about a dozen other faculty. Typically, the first person in, in the morning, would turn on the hallway lights as the passageway was nearly pitch black with out illumination.

As a test, he would intentionally leave the lights off to identify when the first of his colleagues arrived. Rarely did another faculty member arrive before 11 am, and most days, not at all.

In my next life, I want to come back as University Professor. They normally have 3 teaching days per week with 4 months off. That equates to 96 working days per year. By comparison, a standard job normally involves 250 working days per year.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:48 pm
That’s just obscene

Comment by Morty Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:49 pm
===In my next life, I want to come back as University Professor. They normally have 3 teaching days per week with 4 months off. That equates to 96 working days per year. By comparison, a standard job normally involves 250 working days per year.===

Because *you* chose one path, and others decided to get a doctorate, spend years learning to teach others, you’re… jealous?

Maybe in your next life you’ll have the gumption, desire, and drive to teach.

Life is full of choices. Wasting time thinking of your next life probably says more than you’d want said.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:52 pm
Wonder how all the people holding the “Fire Jack” signs feel now about his permanent golden parachute? Would they have been as eager to remove him if they knew the cost?

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:58 pm
OW,
I should have put a /s/ on that comment. I spend no wishing for anyone else’s life. I’m fortunately content with the choices that I’ve made.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:59 pm
@ Flapdoodle. I am not for a second condoning the elimination of programs, the firing of tenured faculty, or any of the other painful things that happened. However, none of that would have happened without Rauner and Norine purposely starving the university of financial support.

You can blame Jack Thomas for lots of things. And you should. However, every example you mentioned of Jack’s mismanagement was ultimately caused by Governor Rauner’s unwillingness to pass a budget.

Jack Thomas was forced into making decisions to make payroll. How would have made payroll? What programs would you have cut? Given the exigencies thrust upon WIU, there is no way that the university could have made payroll without making really painful decisions.

Rauner forced WIU administrators to make these decisions. Jack Thomas was just the vector. That is what you are missing. Rauner could not impose his ideological agenda using the standard budget and legislative process. He partially imposed it by failing to implement the state budget. He is the reason tenured faculty were fired, enrollment is down, and programs are being cut. The focus on Thomas let’s Rauner and Norine off the hook. If you fall for this, the next time a Republican is the governor, he or she could try to do this again. The next WIU president will be forced to make the same painful decisions. I don’t think it matters who is the WIU president if the state does not provide funding to the university. The WIU president will still have to make really horrible, painful decisions no matter who they are.

Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:16 pm
Rent-seeking is a lucrative business.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:18 pm
This seems easy enough to eliminate legislatively. Cap contracts to one year severance. Also, if they return to regular faculty, their pay should be capped at the lesser of the next highest paid person in the department, or twice the lowest paid person of equivalent rank. The WIU board could also likely revoke tenure and let him go if the scandal were particularly bad.

Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:21 pm
===No waste when the goal is to starve them?===

$278,500 plus benefits for two years to not work is starvation in your eyes? Stay out of the deep end of the pool, please.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:22 pm
Oh, - Louis G. Atsaves -, read for comprehension

===No waste when the goal is to starve them?===

There would be no “problems” like this if you passively close them.

Your family did great under Rauner, now you begrudge? You might not be the best messenger, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:26 pm
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 2:22 pm:

===and would suggest that is only a part of ‘WIU’===

WIU as in the overall entity. Regardless of who negotiates the compensation package, it’s not like WIU can play hard ball with a desirable candidate.

If I were being asked to uproot my family and stake my career on an institution that needs to make drastic reform and potentially be the person proposing unpopular decisions, I’m going to want to make sure that if someone tries to boot me before the end of my contract that it secures the investment I am making.

I too am critical of the contract terms, but one of the reasons why someone negotiates a contract like that is to make it harder for their “partners” to ask for their resignation.”

First, thanks for responding in a forthright, nice way.

You make a good point about the hiring process.

As a matter of fact it used to be very difficult to get faculty to come to WIU. Most want an urban area.

But as to his dismissal, I disagree. He should have been fired, given a full load of classes to teach and then given one year at his present salary.- NO MORE than that.

That is what they do to faculty who have been denied tenure.

Comment by Nonbeliever Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:31 pm
This severance package is almost as bad as Thomas’ decision making while president. Those responsible for it should be held just as accountable as he was. A disgrace! And certainly not the type of media attention WIU needs right now.

Comment by Former Merit Comp Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:34 pm
===Your family did great under Rauner, now you begrudge? You might not be the best messenger, lol===

When one Oswego Willy starts losing the argument, he changes the subject and tries to make things personal.

The joke is his replacement will get more more money and better terms than he did. And we taxpayers and those who pay tuitions will be forced to pay for it. No waste here. Just Oswego Willy LOL nonsense.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:36 pm
===When one Oswego Willy starts losing the argument, he changes the subject and tries to make things personal.===

Nah. That was a throw-in after the fact.

Rauner wanted to passively close universities like WIU. If you agreed with that, it’s ironic now your hand wringing neglects the easy Raunerite thought, “close WIU”

If you’re upset about this and the replacement, go full Rauner, call for the closure.

Why won’t you?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 3:40 pm
===Nah. That was a throw-in after the fact.===

So you were trolling just for kicks? Stay out of the deep end of the pool.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:00 pm
===So you were trolling just for kicks?===

Your family did well under Rauner… others not so much, but…

I know you lost sleep over social services closing, the damage being done…

Still not calling for WIU to close?

Why not?

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:03 pm
WIU made a very big mistake. I would do whatever Dr. Thomas does in the future for a little less than half the money offered, saving the State big bucks.

Comment by Enemy of the State Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:05 pm
I see most people are still focused on Jack Thomas and his $300,000 per year golden parachute. It is a large sum and it is painful to contemplate.

Guess what though, Governor Rauner and Norine Hammond withheld something close to $36,000,000 from WIU in 2016. It was actually $51,000,000, but there was a $15,000,000 emergency lifeline thrown to WIU.

Do you know how long Jack Thomas will have to work to earn enough money to equal the one year loss of $36,000,000 caused by Rauner and Norine? He would have to work for 120 years.

Rauner, Norine, and Jil are the single largest cause of the damage at WIU. Don’t forget that.

Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:25 pm
- Scamp640 -

That is arguably…

The correct perspective.

Raunerism wanted to take down WIU.

Folks confused by that need to see the numbers as they are.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:30 pm
===I know you lost sleep over social services closing, the damage being done…===

OK, fine. You keep leading with your chin, a most inviting target. Here goes . . .

My wife ran a social services agency for Rauner. She cut back on the backlog. Kept it running. Kept on servicing the public in spite of numerous obstacles including an equally stubborn legislature.

So you don’t know what you are talking about when you do your wise guy personal attacks on my wife. You prefer being a wise guy troll. That’s on you. Not me. Wear it. You own it.

Stay out of the deep end of the pool when you don’t know what you are talking about.

$278,500 plus benefits for two years, then a cushy one class per semester teaching job at a gold plated salary. How many tuitions are being diverted from actual education to how many students to pay off this golden parachute? And his replacement will get more.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:46 pm
===Kept on servicing the public in spite of numerous obstacles including an equally stubborn legislature.===

You mean Rauner keeping Dunkin in NYC kinda stubborn legislature.

Or maybe “I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate” legislature.

LOL

===Stay out of the deep end of the pool when you don’t know what you are talking about.===

What, social services didn’t close, you made out on a Rauner Administration… seems quite straight forward.

===How many tuitions are being diverted from actual education to how many students to pay off this golden parachute? And his replacement will get more.===

- Scamp460 -…

===Governor Rauner … withheld something close to $36,000,000 from WIU in 2016. It was actually $51,000,000, but there was a $15,000,000 emergency lifeline thrown to WIU.

Do you know how long Jack Thomas will have to work to earn enough money to equal the one year loss of $36,000,000 caused by Rauner…===

Keep up - Louis G Atsaves -

You should own that you guys made out on supporting Rauner… unlike… WIU

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:51 pm
What pension crisis?

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:53 pm
===You mean Rauner keeping Dunkin in NYC===

Desperately seeking the intelligent Oswego Willy. Where did he go? Your cheap shots failed miserably. Time for you to get out of the deep end of the pool, bub.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 4:57 pm
You supported a man who purposely hurt Illinois.

Kept Dunkin in NYC to stop overrides.

You made out with Rauner as governor.

You want folks to forget.

I won’t.

Like passively closing WIU…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 5:03 pm
===You want folks to forget.====

No I don’t. And I haven’t forgotten your little cheap shots on my family masquerading as political debate. Unlike you, I post under my real name. You enjoy being a troll when you come up on the short end of any argument. And I stand by my words. You do throw-ins after the fact.

Big difference. Stay out of the deep end of the pool.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 5:08 pm
This is the deep end of the pool…

===Kept on servicing the public in spite of numerous obstacles including an equally stubborn legislature.===

You mean Rauner keeping Dunkin in NYC kinda stubborn legislature.

Or maybe “I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate” legislature.

LOL

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 5:09 pm
===LOL===

So you think that is funny? You are in over your head. You didn’t do your homework trollster. It shows. Stay in the deep end and keep on treading water.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 5:17 pm
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, lol

You can’t rewrite history, you made out on the deal too.

===Kept on servicing the public in spite of numerous obstacles including an equally stubborn legislature.===

The Owl refuted that…

“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”

You don’t like it, but “facts”… Sandack made clear; Rauner and Raunerites will hurt folks… “until”

Your phony rewrite is… not accurate.

Social services like Lutheran Social Services… they hurt.

WIU? EIU?… they hurt.

Your situation was different.

Complain about it now? It’s “Onion-like”.

The only way it isn’t? Say “close WIU”

Say it, then it all make more sense.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 5:26 pm
@Scamp — No question about the effects of Rauner’s reign of error, but in fact Thomas and his enablers on the BOT went well beyond the financials to undermine the fundamental academic integrity of WIU. Moreover, their own brand of managerial ineptness multiplied the Rauner effects several times over, intensifying the damage being done. WIU’s dire condition is a combination of state and local factors. Denying either leads only to a partial understanding.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 6:09 pm
@Flapdoodle. If you are implying that we should place the same amount of blame for WIU troubles on Jack Thomas as Governor Rauner, I’m going to have to respectfully disagree.

As a dues paying union member, I’m also less than impressed with how the union handled matters. The union demands for salary increases also caused junior faculty members to be laid off.

However, at the end of the day, my view is that what happened to WIU and other regional public universities rests with Rauner and his supporters. I’m not denying that many bad decisions were made locally. However, to say that WIU is responsible for half or more of its troubles is just blaming the victim. It also, as I have said above, let’s the local and state Republican Party off the hook for its dominant role in hurting public higher education.

Comment by Scamp640 Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 8:21 pm
@ Scamp — A late night response from a barstool watching the All-Star game: Respectful disagreement is the stuff of genuine debate. I’ll take it any time. In the end, I really don’t think we’re that far apart. What happened at WIU, and it’s lasting effects, is unconscionable by any standard and for any reason. Peace out.

Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 9:47 pm
I agree that we are likely not far apart at all. I do really also agree with your points that some very questionable decisions were made in Sherman Hall. It was painful to see. Best wishes to you.

Comment by Scsmp640 Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 10:18 pm
My so called phoney rewrite is a matter of public record filed with audited annual reports. Let me know when the ignorant OW is replaced by the intelligent one. Until then continue to foolishly troll away.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:38 am
===My so called phoney rewrite is a matter of public record filed with audited annual reports.===

You ignoring the 99th GA and the willful destruction reinforces…

You got yours - Louis G Atsaves -…

“…but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate.”

You made out on the deal. Others lost.

Others lost like WIU.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 7:02 am
===My so called phoney rewrite is a matter of public record filed with audited annual reports.===

- Louis G Atsaves -, *any* person who points to an “audit” because pointing to a forced 700+ day forced budget impasse… LOL

“Look here, not here”… typical Raunerite thinking.

Ya can’t say it was the Dems on that budget impasse.

Ron Sandack, Rauner’s floor leader told all the score;

“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”

You sided with Ken Dunkin to hurt social services, you didn’t feel the impact of the impasse, you got yours.

So, complaining about this deal at WIU… you sound foolish and out of touch.

While WIU struggled, you didn’t.

Now you care about WIU? Please stop.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 7:50 am
OW, your last two postings say it all about you. You don’t want to be confused with facts of record that can be easily looked up, so you make fun of them. Why? Because Rauner. A broken record isn’t like a broken clock, a broken clock will at least be correct twice.

Your trolling is quite unbecoming and replaced your former cleverness.

I won’t be bullied off these pages by a troll. Not my style, bub.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:12 am
===I won’t be bullied off these pages by a troll. Not my style, bub.===

On the contrary, I want you commenting, lol

You are the embodiment of Raunerism. You are a constant reminder.

===You don’t want to be confused with facts of record that can be easily looked up, so you make fun of them.===

“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”

You wanted to hurt folks, but you made out.

Sunshine. Love it. You can’t deny Rauner’s ways, admitted by Sandack.

You complain about WIU’s President, while you cheered the passive closing of WIU. It’s sad. It’s Rauner-like.

No, please, keep being that image of Rauner. Don’t go away.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:34 am
See you still don’t get it. Continue trolling. When you do your real homework, and not make fun of real facts, get back to me.

In the meantime, I will send out a search party for that clever Oswego Willy, who is MIA. The current OW is still treading water in the deep end.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:53 am
LOL, you do that - Louis G Atsaves -…

I’ll keep reminding you how you embody Raunerism…the hurting of others.

Mirrors and reflections can be painful, I can see why you might not like it.

I’m usually at Fox Bend, waiting for Tom Cross to take me up on “another” round of golf, one where he doesn’t throw my clubs in the pond.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 11:59 am
===I’m usually at Fox Bend, waiting for Tom Cross to take me up on “another” round of golf, one where he doesn’t throw my clubs in the pond.===

From trollster to victim to back to trolling? Yup, clever OW is gone, gone, gone.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:03 pm
===clever … is gone, gone, gone===

Nah. Like I said. Mirrors. I’m only clever to you… if I’m not pointing out your Raunerism.

Still no call for WIU to close? No? Why not?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 12:07 pm
I never saw a call to close WIU. Did you do research or make that up? Never mind, OW does no research, just trolls. My bad.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:47 pm
===I never saw a call to close WIU.===

Raunerism wanted the passive closing of state universities.

The sweet irony is you embodying Raunerism, you’re concerned about how WIU is handling this situation, when in reality, closing WIU was the desire.

Also, concerned about about money when you made out well during the Rauner Administration is just “Onion-rific”, LOL

The lone way you could make sense in this… is to call for WIU to close.

I can’t help you look silly, you had a great four years under Rauner, WIU didn’t.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 2:52 pm
Keep trolling. Passive Closing. Mirrors. Smoke. Tin-Foil Hat stuff. Let’s call it what it is: Utter Nonsense.

You want silly. Go back and read your posts. Refusing to concede to clear facts. Making up conspiracy theories that never seem to come true.

No wonder Tom Cross threw your golf clubs in the water. Allegedly, because coming from you, truthiness or truth wilt under the light of day.

Keep making up stuff and treading water in the deep end of the pool. You put yourself there. Don’t complain and just keep on paddling.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:36 pm
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -…LOL

You fund something at zero you want gone.

===Making up conspiracy theories that never seem to come true.===

Can’t rewrite the Rauner years, or Sandack’s tweet. I guess you forget things, lol

You got yours, enjoy it. Social services closed, state universities starved, but you made out. It’s ok.

===No wonder Tom Cross threw your golf clubs in the water. Allegedly, because coming from you, truthiness or truth wilt under the light of day.===

You know this is a bit, it’s comedy.

Are you that far removed from reality? You ok?

The Rauner years will be the years those wanted to burn down the state, including WIU. You cheered. Daily.

I have the receipts.

What’s next, you’ll say the Strawberries went missing .., “because Madigan”?

I’m just glad Rauner was stopped. WIU is saved for now.

Others weren’t as lucky.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 5:47 pm
Still talking past me. Still talking at me. Still not debating the issue originally posted. You seem to support this golden parachute by your passionate trolling. Trolls usually behave like that. Like the troll that you are. You have no receipts. Just insults, conspiracies and tin-foil hat nonsense. Don’t like what I have to say? Insult my wife. I get it troll. I understand you.

The clever OW is gone, replaced by this vileness of a troll. Your claim of comedy that Tom Cross threw your golf clubs in water doesn’t come close. Because, in the end, it’s all about you and only you. The prime characteristic of a troll.

You like to get the last word in even when in full blown troll mode. Not. This. Time.

Keep treading water in the deep pool. You are (and have been) out of your element. Someday you will go do your research find enlightenment. That someday will never come, troll.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 6:05 pm
- Louis G Atsaves -

I’m done here.

Truth be told, and you can look it up, I hold your workers’ comp prowess in high regard, and I know you want an alternative to Democrats.

How we see that in the past 4 years will always be different.

My hope is that the state, moving forward, including WIU, will find a place to be the best they all can be.

I hope you want that for Illinois too. I think you do.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 6:06 pm
Dear - Louis G Atsaves -

I read your response after I commented.

I still stand by my last words, even after reading what you wrote.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 6:34 pm
===trolling. Trolls usually behave like that. Like the troll that you are. You have no receipts. Just insults, conspiracies and tin-foil hat nonsense.===

I let this go.

You know who you are when it comes to Rauner. So do I.

If you think you can bully *me*, nah. I let it go. I’ll hang on to the receipts.

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 10, 19 @ 10:06 pm