25 responses so far ↓

• 1 wc // Jan 4, 2010 at 6:08 pm

  75 years sounds about right. 10 for the money and 65 for the abuse of faculty. If he doesnt live that long maybe Jim and Shirley and other aiders and abetters could do a few of those years.

• 2 Flag // Jan 4, 2010 at 6:41 pm

  Stamford got it right “[Felner] wasn’t operating in a vacuum.” The real b.s. is “As a result of those claims, the university revamped its grievance process, reviewed its faculty governance procedures and established an Ombuds Office to address faculty concerns and complaints.” They are still up to their same old games.

• 3 le gardien de but // Jan 4, 2010 at 7:36 pm

  I agree w/Flag totally…
  IMHO there was nothing wrong with the grievance process except one little thing–SW & JR did not follow recommendations in many cases…

• 4 Novena // Jan 4, 2010 at 7:37 pm

  “Will There Be Justice?”

  What a damn shame we won’t be seeing the little beast squirm during a trial. I hope the plea bargain doesn’t cancel out most of the at least 20-odd years the Monster of Belknap would have normally gotten. And UofL is up to its old hypocritical tricks, hoping Felner “will be held accountable for his actions.” What about Jim, Shirley, and the Board? When will they be held to account for all the lives they shattered?

• 5 Bob // Jan 4, 2010 at 7:55 pm

  They don’t call it a deal for nothing. The creep will get away with most of what he did. A real loss will be the opportunity to hear what really went on at UL with folks on trial and under oath. Must be lots of sighs of relief out there these days.

• 6 brotherroy // Jan 4, 2010 at 9:19 pm

  Prediction: Sentence will be light, little or no jail time. Felner will pay back most or all of money, and is probably rolling on his partner in crime.

• 7 ed // Jan 5, 2010 at 10:16 am

  I’m not an “I told you so” kinda guy, but I said since they charged him that there would likely be no trial. They had him cold. He’s a beast, but not totally stupid.

  I agree with Novena. It will be a loss not to see him squirm at trial. We deserve that.

  My biggest fear now, is that he will get off too easily. If he doesn’t serve time, for me, no justice will have been served. Poor Bubba. Felnus interruptus.

  And when brotherroy says, “(he) is probably rolling on his partner in crime,” I’m left wondering if he means that literally.

  This sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 8 Davi // Jan 5, 2010 at 10:59 am

  Felner is a typical con artist criminal type, only he is sophisticated, educated.

  Hopefully he won’t be able to flim-flam the judge and jury, and get a light sentence. The bottom line is that he stole from programs he claimed were for the benefit of children. Now we know they were for the benefit of Robert Felner, who lived so large that he rolled with the highest high-roller.

  I sincerely doubt the man has money left to pay anyone back.

  BTW does anybody know the answer to this question: Is there ever a lawsuit filed (and won) against a previous employer for a positive reccomendation when it was known by the previous employer that the employee was under suspicion of criminal activity (or criminal activity was known for certain)? I’d think an institution which has lost funds at the hands of such an employee yet never formally charged them should bear some of the damage?

  Unfortunately in education, the bad egg is “kicked upstairs” most of the time, for the previous employer just wants the bad egg to go away, and takes no responsibility for stopping them.

• 9 Novena // Jan 5, 2010 at 11:57 am

  “The Rise of the College Honchos”

  Davi, you make good points. It is indeed ironic and sad that college administrators are typically “kicked upstairs” or get even bigger jobs elsewhere–no matter how incompetent, unethical, or even criminal they’ve been in their past positions. Blobby is a real case in point. Yet I know of countless other examples (it’s the rule, not the exception). Incompetence and immorality more common than criminality, but still the case. I beg that the next “academic domicile” for the Blobster is the “Big House”–where he can teach inmates how to pass the GED (since he bragged so much about his own damn GED).

• 10 Davi // Jan 5, 2010 at 12:47 pm

  Novena, it is beyond common sense, duty, honesty for these people to be able to move from job to job, with each past employer afraid to give even a hint that things may not be wonderful for fear of a law-suit. Usually these guys get a lawyer, get some kind of paid settlement to go away, then go on to a new, better position, only to get the same deal the next time.
  It’s an upgraded flim-flam operation common in educaton and there needs to be a precident set for protecting public institutions when unfavorable references are made on past employees. It may take law-suits from those who suffered damages after hiring because of the less than truthful recommendation.

• 11 ed // Jan 5, 2010 at 12:54 pm

  Any lawyers out there? (There usually are!) Anyone care to take a stab at what his sentence might be????

• 12 MS // Jan 5, 2010 at 1:47 pm

  Scott Cox’s record and reputation as a defense attorney in Federal Court is amazing. I’m sure he got the best deal possible for this guy.

• 13 Novena // Jan 5, 2010 at 8:51 pm

  “In Re ed’s request”

  ed, I’m no lawyer; however, I did do some Google research on your query (for what my search is worth, I know not). Here is what I found out about federal guidelines for sentencing:
  –embezzlement: not more than 10 years
  –money laundering: average of 6 years
  –mail fraud: up to 20 years
  Blobby had quite a few counts. But he also made a deal to mitigate his sentence. We can hope justice will prevail, but don’t forget that the rich and powerful usually end up on top in U.S. “justice” (especially when they have the best lawyers money can buy–remember OJ, while typical West Side Louisvillians get “justice” on a stale bun).

• 14 SheWho // Jan 6, 2010 at 1:20 am

  When will the trial commence for Ramey, Shirley, the Board of Trustees and others complicit? Individuals such as Roneau, Karp, Horwath, Pentecost, Carson, etc. How will these nefarious actions be addressed? Why is the Courier Journal referencing the grievance process as changed when only slight procedural changes have been put in place? The ‘Ombudsman’ position is in place but there does not appear to be any specific role or duties that are independent of the power brokers. It appears that the Board of Trustees, Ramsey and Shirley have no interest in righting the wrongs. Indeed, they would have to conceptualize the actions of the upper echelon as improper and complicit. They would have to own up to their own leading roles in this horrific mess. There is absolutely no evidence of any interest on their part in doing so. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of remorse, contrition or responsibility on the part of the Board and Administration. Indeed, they evidence a haughty and self satisfied level of contempt.

  Apparently Ramsey and Shirley both missed the lessons in Kindergarten where students learned to take responsibility for their actions and misdeeds and appropriately make amends for their despicable transgressions and evil deeds.

  Abuse of power is an issue in any large organization. UofL has taken this to new heights. This ‘University’ should be nominated for the Most Duplicitous Board of Governance, Heinous Morals, Nefarious Actions, Fiendish and Atrocious Faculty/staff Treatment, Most Preferential Nepotism and Best Manipulation of Media designations from the Board of Ethical, Moral and Humane Treatment within Colleges and Universities. They will win in a landslide. But….they’ll never say they’re sorry!

  I think OJ had more of a moral compass than the aforementioned slime…..

• 15 ed // Jan 6, 2010 at 7:09 am

  Thanks, MS and Novena. I guess we wait and see. I’m thinking that after he pleads on Friday we should begin to know more. When I think about what he did, the relative high profile the case had, the amount of FEDERAL money involved, and the fact that he stole an entire No Child Left Behind Grant, I very much want to believe he HAS to serve time. Maybe not a long sentence, but the Feds must want/need to send a clear signal to anyone even considering this kind of theft.

  I suppose I should take some solace in the fact that the only place he’ll be able to get a job after this is at Taco Bell. I’m also pretty sure he’ll have not a cent left, between repaying the stolen money, fines and legal fees. All of which pretty much relegates him to picking up 80 year old “blondes” in Florida from here on in.

  Still, because of the amoral monster that he was…is….there was something so very perversely satisfying about the idea of this piece of shit waking up for years spooned up with Bubba while the big guy cooed in his ear.

  I guess we’ll see.

• 16 Novena // Jan 6, 2010 at 7:09 am

  “Cardinal Rule”

  SheWho, you make a forceful case for UofL’s honchos being the “OJs” of academe. They killed the spirit of a university and its people–only they did it more quietly, more invidiously, and more gutlessly. They did it mostly by inaction (never righting wrongs and keeping the same administrative monsters in place), they did it by malfeasance, and they treated their “underling” faculty, staff, and students with utter contempt. When in absolute power, college honchos lives by this Cardinal rule: never admit mistakes, cover them up, and live into eternity because you know the Board of Cadavers is forever asleep. RIP, UofL.

• 17 Belknap Banquo // Jan 6, 2010 at 10:12 am

  Folks, folks, folks. Jimbo and Shirl are happy, and that’s all that really matters. It’s the new Cardinal rule. Hell, even our basketball team sucks anymore. Up to average, y’all!

• 18 HarryFTP // Jan 6, 2010 at 7:42 pm

  Average – are you kidding? There’s no way that joint is within spitting distance of average.

• 19 Flag // Jan 6, 2010 at 8:48 pm

  Things at UofHell will not change unless and until a hard message is sent via the money pot of the university and the administration is shown to be responsible. Several lawsuits are needed that achieve judgments with punitive damages in the seven figure range and with findings of collusion and conspiracy among the administrative officers. And, where is AAUP? Why isn’t there an investigation of this place? Write to the organization representative in the home office and express your opinion and request an investigation of the university. The national publicity that could result would have some effect.

  I’d also advocate for a new state law of transparency that would require all meetings relating to personnel issues to be recorded and immediately placed in the public domain, including advisement from the university counsels. The public good would be served by forcing into view all of these behind-closed-door conspiratorial meetings that currently only serve to protect the guilty.

  And, oh yes, we should have a public rally to burn the Redbook. It is worse than useless given the sorry manner in which is used here. An old fashioned book burning – might make the front page in the Chronicles …

• 20 Novena // Jan 6, 2010 at 8:59 pm

  “A Different Kind of Redbook”

  I quote from it: “Our duty is to hold ourselves responsible to the people. . . . If mistakes occur, they must be corrected.”
  –A quote from the UofL Redbook? No, it is from Mao’s Red Book. Learn from it, JR & SW.

• 21 Flag // Jan 6, 2010 at 9:42 pm

  The Redbook is only a weapon used by the administration against the faculty when it suits their purposes. It is ignored by the administration when a faculty member brings an issue. There is no due process because they routinely make it impossible to effectively mount a challenge in a timely manner and within the means of most faculty. Fundamentally, this is a big part of how Felner got away with his shit for so long.

• 22 Tirnstile // Jan 7, 2010 at 11:55 am

  I hope the only deal the judge grants is for broadcast feeds from the Louisville Bats games to be hooked up to Bobby and Bubba’s love shack of a cell. What they do for the 7th inning stretch is THEY’RE business!

• 23 Disgruntled Alum // Jan 7, 2010 at 4:13 pm

  I have to agree with all of your posts. There is not enough jail time to make this all better. I already question our system of “justice” but there shouldn’t be a question on whether or not he should serve time. Isn’t that obvious? I am only hoping tonight is the last time he is a free man! How do we get the university to change…I am only one person– but I know that my money will NOT being going to that university until I know drastic changes have taken place. If enough donors hold to that… someone at the board level will have to take note at some point.

• 24 ed // Jan 8, 2010 at 6:59 am

  I like the way you think, Tirn!!! It might be the first time in history there was a grand slam during the 7th inning stretch.

• 25 Postman // Jan 8, 2010 at 9:40 pm

  So glad to see some folks r asking…… finally.. the right ?s..
  (Hey Alum- too bad donors don’t read this)

  For the rest, here it is..
  JR & SW once assumed to be responsible for this here family u see…our beloved Uof L …& then..
  One day they finally noticed more and more alarming cries, emails, grievances, face to face reports with evidence.+… mounting up..that told them their favorite son was committing sexual and other nasty types of abuse on less favorite siblings…violating their rights, ruining their lives to this day still….no?

  Well these “parents” let it go on and on and on smiled & ignored the abuse, lack of ethics, bullying ..ignoring procedures …..to save him…even when the Law first came, They almost did save him, defended him (and don’t we we have lots of his henchcowards still there earning big$$$$$ as EVIDENCE)

  So now they have favorite son Bobby on trial – guilty as hell-
  and like most cowardly bullies without the usual back up, he’s begging for mercy..,
  So while these UL parents/Trustleasts hide and pray that the bullfeces measures will cover up THEIR crime and damages inflicted. ..
  as Nancy reports in the CJ…
  Will they get away “free”? more rewarded? how about 10 million for big boy j. Ram..
  Vegas won’t take the bet against that one..

  It does not matter that after 33 grievances, pleas..
  They were told something was up with a grant not being handled right, on e-mail in 05-06 in a grievance, so guess what they did? The griever was told “you can’t have peer faculty hear this” and then, you must grieve before SW and d Ram…
  Ha!
  so guess who lost that one? and now we are focused on their bobbie? –about to let them slide and get away with it which will do even longer term harm to students and the community..(heck that is not illegal is it?)
  Chapter II
  So they disowned their Bobby and let’s see;
  …- they appointed JR’s old grade school buddy as local warden/guard and Dean of his own weak dept. & school of education that sells degrees (let’s see how many other top 100 institutions’ provosts, deans do that? or

  …Have the Bobby accomplices been rewarded? r they still enjoying those ill-gotten gains, retiring reach while those they destroyed still struggle?

  …- Have those they deliberately hurt been treated for damages, illness, renumerated? apologized to?

  Have those parents been removed for their position or will they continue ever more cleverly?

  You see, when Mao wrote about learning from errors and correcting them, like Ram, he never meant ‘His” errors or those of the team in place
  Jake, this ain’t over. Bobby may sing to save his poor soul. He’ll find a ghost writer for a new bestseller- “They Made It So Easy: How They Paid Me To Screw Their Kids”
  unless “They” somehow cut his prison time.

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