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Page 18 April 2016 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
Mount St. Mary’s University Looking to Recover from Controversy and
Return to the Status Quo
Nicholas DiGregory
To the typical wandering traveler, attention from such sources as Newman was selected primarily for decisions were originally lauded
cruising up or down U.S. Route The Washington Post and several his financial experience, although by the majority of those at the
15, the little town of Emmitsburg scholarly societies from across the communication skills and Catholic university, he came under fire for
does not appear to be a major country. identity also played a part in the one particular decision in October
attraction. While the town’s tourism The resignation of university hiring. 2015. On October 29, 2015, Mount
landmarks—such as the stately president Simon Newman, whose At the time, Mount St. Mary’s St. Mary’s administration notified
National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann policies were at the center of the was dealing with considerable its employees of the elimination of
Seton and the picturesque Grotto dispute, indicates that the school debts; Newman’s financial expertise the university’s long-held retiree
of Our Lady of Lourdes—do draw desires to move past the controversy; was a necessity for the struggling health care benefits. Prior to this
a crowd, Emmitsburg itself can however, the decision has come university. A fifty-one-year-old from announcement, retired employees
easily be overlooked on maps and too late for many members of the the United Kingdom, Newman held of the university that had served
guides dominated by more popular Emmitsburg community. Lack of almost thirty years of experience in before 1996 were allowed to remain
destinations in cities like Gettysburg straightforward communication the financial sector, specifically in on the university’s health care plan.
or Frederick. To an unknowing from the university, coupled with private equity, strategy consulting, After Newman’s adjustments, these
tourist, the little town of Emmitsburg sensationalized reports in local and financial operations. During that employees were removed from
appears to be just that—a little town. and national media, have left the time, he led several businesses from the program, as well as spouses of
However, looks can be deceiving. community of Emmitsburg with few the brink of bankruptcy, coordinating current employees. Retirement fund
Beneath the quaint, small-town facts and many wounds. for more than $200 million in profit benefits for current employees were
look and feel of Emmitsburg is a We, at The Catoctin Banner, improvement. also cut in half.
tightly knit community of friends hope that the information that Newman took charge of the While many retired and current
and neighbors, many of whom have follows helps to resolve many of the university on March 10, 2015, employees of the university
lived in the area for their entire lives. questions that may remain regarding five months earlier than expected. acknowledged that these benefits
It is the strength of this community the whirlwind of allegations and In an editorial piece, the editing could not be funded forever, they
that gives the town of Emmitsburg a accusations that have poured out of staff of the Mountain Echo student criticized the way that Newman
uniquely vibrant character. Mount St. Mary’s University over the newspaper welcomed Newman to and the university administration
While the quality of the past few months. It must be noted his new position. While the authors went about implementing the
community has always been the that The Catoctin Banner does not of the article cited that Newman changes. In a letter from three retired
primary motivating factor for support any involved party other would have “his work cut out for professors addressed to members
Emmitsburg’s prosperity, the strength than the community as a whole; our him” in improving and increasing of the university community, it was
and unity of that community has efforts to present what transpired at the campus’ living spaces and other stated that the retired professors
been challenged over the past Mount St. Mary’s University are not facilities, they also affirmed that there were “shocked” by the “very abrupt
few months by an unexpected intended to harm, but to encourage was “utmost faith” in his ability to termination of the retiree health
controversy, which arose from healing among the embittered parties “guide the university through these benefit.” The letter also stated that
Emmitsburg’s own Mount St. Mary’s for the good of the community. times of concern.” Newman implemented the changes
University. What follows is a documented Newman’s program for improving behind the backs of many of the
In the early autumn of 2015, account of the events that transpired the university, deemed Mount retirees.
disagreements between the at Mount St. Mary’s University over 2.0, outlined several key changes “We were also shocked by the
university’s administration and its the past few months. in the university’s programs and way we were informed—by receiving
faculty reached a breaking point, In the fall of 2014, the Mount functions. Newman, with the a letter in the mail or an email, and
with the then-president Simon St. Mary’s University met with support of the Board of Trustees, in some cases, not being informed at
Newman pioneering for changes that three candidates for the university implemented several changes to the all,” the letter read.
many at the university believed to presidency, which was set to be university’s academic development While the administration was
be unethical. When the arguments vacated by Thomas Powell after and marketing. Among other major assured that the benefit cuts were
boiled over into the community, eleven years of service. Upon changes were a re-evaluation of the necessary for the continued operation
many local faculty members, staff reviewing the candidates, the core curriculum and the addition of the university, members of the
members, students, and alumni university’s Board of Trustees selected of two new financial programs: university community began to
picked a side in the increasingly Newman as the 25 president. Enterprise Resource Planning and distrust Newman’s methods. This
th
vociferous debate. The debacle at Trustee member and Mount Customer Relationship Management. distrust reached its climax on January
Mount St. Mary’s gained national alumnus Francis W. Daily said that While Newman’s financial … Continued on page 19
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T MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
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Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
1 Creamery Way
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
301-447-3718
FAX: 301-447-1722
Mount St. Mary’s University Looking to Recover from Controversy and
Return to the Status Quo
Nicholas DiGregory
To the typical wandering traveler, attention from such sources as Newman was selected primarily for decisions were originally lauded
cruising up or down U.S. Route The Washington Post and several his financial experience, although by the majority of those at the
15, the little town of Emmitsburg scholarly societies from across the communication skills and Catholic university, he came under fire for
does not appear to be a major country. identity also played a part in the one particular decision in October
attraction. While the town’s tourism The resignation of university hiring. 2015. On October 29, 2015, Mount
landmarks—such as the stately president Simon Newman, whose At the time, Mount St. Mary’s St. Mary’s administration notified
National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann policies were at the center of the was dealing with considerable its employees of the elimination of
Seton and the picturesque Grotto dispute, indicates that the school debts; Newman’s financial expertise the university’s long-held retiree
of Our Lady of Lourdes—do draw desires to move past the controversy; was a necessity for the struggling health care benefits. Prior to this
a crowd, Emmitsburg itself can however, the decision has come university. A fifty-one-year-old from announcement, retired employees
easily be overlooked on maps and too late for many members of the the United Kingdom, Newman held of the university that had served
guides dominated by more popular Emmitsburg community. Lack of almost thirty years of experience in before 1996 were allowed to remain
destinations in cities like Gettysburg straightforward communication the financial sector, specifically in on the university’s health care plan.
or Frederick. To an unknowing from the university, coupled with private equity, strategy consulting, After Newman’s adjustments, these
tourist, the little town of Emmitsburg sensationalized reports in local and financial operations. During that employees were removed from
appears to be just that—a little town. and national media, have left the time, he led several businesses from the program, as well as spouses of
However, looks can be deceiving. community of Emmitsburg with few the brink of bankruptcy, coordinating current employees. Retirement fund
Beneath the quaint, small-town facts and many wounds. for more than $200 million in profit benefits for current employees were
look and feel of Emmitsburg is a We, at The Catoctin Banner, improvement. also cut in half.
tightly knit community of friends hope that the information that Newman took charge of the While many retired and current
and neighbors, many of whom have follows helps to resolve many of the university on March 10, 2015, employees of the university
lived in the area for their entire lives. questions that may remain regarding five months earlier than expected. acknowledged that these benefits
It is the strength of this community the whirlwind of allegations and In an editorial piece, the editing could not be funded forever, they
that gives the town of Emmitsburg a accusations that have poured out of staff of the Mountain Echo student criticized the way that Newman
uniquely vibrant character. Mount St. Mary’s University over the newspaper welcomed Newman to and the university administration
While the quality of the past few months. It must be noted his new position. While the authors went about implementing the
community has always been the that The Catoctin Banner does not of the article cited that Newman changes. In a letter from three retired
primary motivating factor for support any involved party other would have “his work cut out for professors addressed to members
Emmitsburg’s prosperity, the strength than the community as a whole; our him” in improving and increasing of the university community, it was
and unity of that community has efforts to present what transpired at the campus’ living spaces and other stated that the retired professors
been challenged over the past Mount St. Mary’s University are not facilities, they also affirmed that there were “shocked” by the “very abrupt
few months by an unexpected intended to harm, but to encourage was “utmost faith” in his ability to termination of the retiree health
controversy, which arose from healing among the embittered parties “guide the university through these benefit.” The letter also stated that
Emmitsburg’s own Mount St. Mary’s for the good of the community. times of concern.” Newman implemented the changes
University. What follows is a documented Newman’s program for improving behind the backs of many of the
In the early autumn of 2015, account of the events that transpired the university, deemed Mount retirees.
disagreements between the at Mount St. Mary’s University over 2.0, outlined several key changes “We were also shocked by the
university’s administration and its the past few months. in the university’s programs and way we were informed—by receiving
faculty reached a breaking point, In the fall of 2014, the Mount functions. Newman, with the a letter in the mail or an email, and
with the then-president Simon St. Mary’s University met with support of the Board of Trustees, in some cases, not being informed at
Newman pioneering for changes that three candidates for the university implemented several changes to the all,” the letter read.
many at the university believed to presidency, which was set to be university’s academic development While the administration was
be unethical. When the arguments vacated by Thomas Powell after and marketing. Among other major assured that the benefit cuts were
boiled over into the community, eleven years of service. Upon changes were a re-evaluation of the necessary for the continued operation
many local faculty members, staff reviewing the candidates, the core curriculum and the addition of the university, members of the
members, students, and alumni university’s Board of Trustees selected of two new financial programs: university community began to
picked a side in the increasingly Newman as the 25 president. Enterprise Resource Planning and distrust Newman’s methods. This
th
vociferous debate. The debacle at Trustee member and Mount Customer Relationship Management. distrust reached its climax on January
Mount St. Mary’s gained national alumnus Francis W. Daily said that While Newman’s financial … Continued on page 19
T T T T T T T T T T T T &
T MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
1 Creamery Way
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
301-447-3718
FAX: 301-447-1722
