Dear Editor,
We who care about American University have a sinking, embarrassed feeling these days.ÿ We have been through this kind of thing before. The only hope now is that the Board has the guts to make Mr. Ladner a generous offer -- perhaps two years pay and other inducements -- on the condition that he leave the university now, quickly, forever.ÿ
There is no reason for the Boardÿ to debate firing a president who exhibits greed and no commmon sense.ÿ That necessary action is a no brainer.ÿ Then the Board should just as quickly install a president, perhaps a university insider, with instructions to move this wonderful institution forward and at the same time observe common sense rules about the charging of expenses to the university. Any other course of action will harm the reputation of the institution and interfere with the many fine academic programs now underway.
Arnold S. Trebach, J.D., Ph.D Professor Emeritus, SPA
Dear Editor,
As an alumnus of American University (May 2002) who is currently struggling to meet the obligations of my student loan repayment program, I am deeply disturbed by the allegations against suspended President Ben Ladner. ÿ
While I was attending AU, rumors circles about improprieties at the President's House, or rather, his other house, but I never paid much attention to them.ÿ However, with the benefit of hindsight, and the cold reality of the heavy financial burden that I now carry, I wish that the student body during my years paid more attention to the rumors when we heard them.
For my part, I apologize for doing nothing more than booing Mr. Ladner at basketball games.ÿ If we had acted in 2002, perhaps other generations of AU students wouldn't be forced to spend nearly as much of their monthly income paying off high student loans. ÿ
Rising college costs are a well known problem in the academic community.ÿ Certainly Mr. Ladner could have considered students like me, who we forced to borrow heavily to attend school, when he allowing his wife to spend 5,000 dollars on a party for her friends.ÿ After the interest on my student loans, after all, that party actually cost a lot more. ÿ ÿ
William Hensley Class of 2002
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regards to the recent scandal that has rocked the proverbial world of AU. I'm speaking, of course, of Ben Ladner's recent spending habits.
While I've heard some suggest that such crooked money management is to be expected from a person of Mr. Ladner's status, I think that argument is stupid. It's comparable to telling a puppy that he didn't know any better when he soiled your new carpet. That doesn't let the puppy off the hook!
Soon after word of the investigation got out, Ladner did the right thing (or more likely, he was forced to), and stepped down with the impending inquiry.
However, Ladner needs to now go a step further. He must resign. At this point in time, given the amount of information implicating Ladner that has come to light since this investigation began, the only way for our university to save face is to have him leave his office permanently.
While people often say that all publicity is good publicity, I don't believe that applies when the Washington Post has a front-page story about the President of our university misappropriating funds. This does not help us improve our academic or social environment, nor does it attract new students. The simple fact that Ladner has not resigned as of this writing reflects poorly on each and every one of us.
Ben Ladner must resign immediately if he cares at all about this school or the students who attend it.
Sincerely, Alex Bonwit
Dear Editor,
Ladner-gate, as this current affair is referred to, is an indicator of a larger problem with the way that AU operates, specifically with its Board of Trustees. There are two models for how Board of Trustees operates.
The first is where the board consists of prominent volunteers who have an interest in the institution, some alumni, and some great people. The second is a board consisting of those same great people, but also university representatives, for example, the student body president, chair of the faculty senate and perhaps a parent of a student.
Some institutions feel that the first model is ideal for it avoids a conflict of interest. Interests among rational actors cannot be avoided, and no one fully puts aside their self-interest.
What we need to have happen, as Madison suggested in Federalist #10, is competing interests. Every student at AU knew that Dr. Ladner was practicing questionable financial practices, and probably faculty and staff as well. The reason it never reached the highest levels is because AU wanted to avoid a conflict of interest because students, faculty and staff could not be trusted. Their model has failed, and AU is getting national attention.
How then should American University attempt to right the ship of the university? First, the Board of Trustees should finish the investigation. Regardless of the outcome, Dr. Ladner should create a scholarship with an initial endowment of no less than $50,000. Then reform is needed on the Board of Trustees. Make President Taylor and the Faculty Senate President trustees of this university. Review all decision making bodies at this university, from the boards who decide what library books to buy, to professorial tenure committees, and ensure that all of them have students, faculty and staff on them as full voting members.
American University Students are bright, intelligent and dedicated if they are here. After all, if an AU education should prepare us to change the world, should it not prepare us to change AU?
Name withheld by request
