Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Smatrick constantly politicizes UNLV with his threats to cut (or raise fees for) serious academic programs while he defends ridiculous majors for jocks, scholarships even for OUT-OF-STATE jocks who couldn't care less about education, high salaries for coaches, Offices of Left Wing political goals, and all the rest.
If the UNLV baseball team were composed of applied science majors then win or lose, I would be its biggest fan. The Coach could be a member of the Chemistry faculty; assistants her graduate students. The pay is $75/game. Anyone who can teach Physical Chemistry should have little difficulty explaining how to turn a double play.
Showing posts with label Smatresk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smatresk. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Smatresk Con Job
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Two years ago, the bachelor's degree in University Studies was eliminated. The program had about 400 students in it, but Smatresk, then the provost, didn't believe it fit with the university's mission.
Pure spin. The reason University Studies was phased out was because of an embarassing USA Today article which revealed that some huge percentage of majors were JOCKS.
Yeah, all but 50 of them have "finished", but that just means they've dematriculated from UNLV, not that they completed their degree. Probably fewer than 15% of them *ever* went to class, much less graduated.
"Interdisciplinary", AKA Jockology.
Two years ago, the bachelor's degree in University Studies was eliminated. The program had about 400 students in it, but Smatresk, then the provost, didn't believe it fit with the university's mission.
Pure spin. The reason University Studies was phased out was because of an embarassing USA Today article which revealed that some huge percentage of majors were JOCKS.
Yeah, all but 50 of them have "finished", but that just means they've dematriculated from UNLV, not that they completed their degree. Probably fewer than 15% of them *ever* went to class, much less graduated.
"Interdisciplinary", AKA Jockology.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
NSHE Is Certainly Not A Benevolent Institution
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Lots of confusion out there.
Pro sports leagues are private, for-profit businesses. Profits accrue to the Owners. Players work for the highest bidder. Nothing wrong with that.
True charities are non-profit benevolent organizations. Money leftover after (very low) expenses ("net income") gets distributed to the nominal beneficiaries. I am aware of exactly ONE charity like that.
Most charities are non-profit businesses. There is relatively *little* (~5%) net income because expenses are very high. The money goes to pay for executive salaries, wine-&-cheese parties, and condos in Ft Lauderdale. Even then, distributions are not very discriminating. NSHE comes to mind. Where's its executive retreat?
I hope to influence people, especially those inclined toward small government who've never really thought about NSHE before. It's working.
Hey Klaich, Smatresk, Kruger, Hauck, Livengood, Sandgren et al. We're on to you!
Lots of confusion out there.
Pro sports leagues are private, for-profit businesses. Profits accrue to the Owners. Players work for the highest bidder. Nothing wrong with that.
True charities are non-profit benevolent organizations. Money leftover after (very low) expenses ("net income") gets distributed to the nominal beneficiaries. I am aware of exactly ONE charity like that.
Most charities are non-profit businesses. There is relatively *little* (~5%) net income because expenses are very high. The money goes to pay for executive salaries, wine-&-cheese parties, and condos in Ft Lauderdale. Even then, distributions are not very discriminating. NSHE comes to mind. Where's its executive retreat?
I hope to influence people, especially those inclined toward small government who've never really thought about NSHE before. It's working.
Hey Klaich, Smatresk, Kruger, Hauck, Livengood, Sandgren et al. We're on to you!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
NSHE: The Future of Nevada. NOT!
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
A main criteria for figuring out which programs to cut is how much they cost.
That's very advantageous for the potentates who run UNLV. The state subsidy is the same for each undergraduate. Smatresk has an incentive to enroll as many warm bodies as he can (until marginal cost exceeds marginal benefit) and to direct them into the most vapid programs he can. Huge lectures on video. Sections taught by part-timer ESL instructors or graduate students; online courses, etc.
Smatresk can't be bothered with a task to train the next generation of applied scientists. That's just too costly. Meanwhile, 90%+ of students (who stick around to graduate) earn worthless diplomas. Staffers at all levels earn money they could not make in the private sector -- especially those wacky liberal arts professors. Administrators make $200K+ for lording over the empire and shmoozing with bigshots (or whatever it is they do).
Now what's all this talk about higher education being key to the future of this state?
A main criteria for figuring out which programs to cut is how much they cost.
That's very advantageous for the potentates who run UNLV. The state subsidy is the same for each undergraduate. Smatresk has an incentive to enroll as many warm bodies as he can (until marginal cost exceeds marginal benefit) and to direct them into the most vapid programs he can. Huge lectures on video. Sections taught by part-timer ESL instructors or graduate students; online courses, etc.
Smatresk can't be bothered with a task to train the next generation of applied scientists. That's just too costly. Meanwhile, 90%+ of students (who stick around to graduate) earn worthless diplomas. Staffers at all levels earn money they could not make in the private sector -- especially those wacky liberal arts professors. Administrators make $200K+ for lording over the empire and shmoozing with bigshots (or whatever it is they do).
Now what's all this talk about higher education being key to the future of this state?
Smatresk Threatens Informatics (Politicians AlwaysThreaten Parks)
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
President Smatresk ($300K) most certainly will NOT cut Division 1 sports. Sports is UNLV's #1 priority. Basketball coach makes $1M/yr. Football Coach makes $450K. Athletic director makes $280K. FF's eat your hearts out!
Smatresk knows that if he eliminates BIG sports popular support for his institution would wane. Legislators might then decide that UNLV is not worth funding at all. Smatresk is a politician. He'll do whatever it takes to build and maintain a constituency large enough to protect his own sinecure.
Communications is a complete joke. The program exists only to provide academic cover to jocks who are not dumb enough to qualify for that remedial University Studies undegree program. Any degree program unusually popular among jocks should be summarily abolished.
Won't happen. In fact, Smatresk will EXPAND jock programs.
What are jocks supposed to major in? Nuclear Physics? Smatresk needs to give jocks every possible opportunity to coast through their four years of NCAA eligibility. It looks really bad when jocks are concentrated in one or two degree programs which nobody can describe. He needs to give them *plenty* of choices. Basketweaving. X Studies. Sociology. Kinesiology. Management. X Education. Sports Counseling. Blah blah blah. Anything you can think of which sounds cerebral and sophisticated but in reality has no standards and wouldn't challenge a third grader.
The numerous nonjocks in these programs are just wasting their parents' (and taxpayers) money. The Athletic Department appreciates it, though. It allows Smatresk to defend them as low cost.
President Smatresk ($300K) most certainly will NOT cut Division 1 sports. Sports is UNLV's #1 priority. Basketball coach makes $1M/yr. Football Coach makes $450K. Athletic director makes $280K. FF's eat your hearts out!
Smatresk knows that if he eliminates BIG sports popular support for his institution would wane. Legislators might then decide that UNLV is not worth funding at all. Smatresk is a politician. He'll do whatever it takes to build and maintain a constituency large enough to protect his own sinecure.
Communications is a complete joke. The program exists only to provide academic cover to jocks who are not dumb enough to qualify for that remedial University Studies undegree program. Any degree program unusually popular among jocks should be summarily abolished.
Won't happen. In fact, Smatresk will EXPAND jock programs.
What are jocks supposed to major in? Nuclear Physics? Smatresk needs to give jocks every possible opportunity to coast through their four years of NCAA eligibility. It looks really bad when jocks are concentrated in one or two degree programs which nobody can describe. He needs to give them *plenty* of choices. Basketweaving. X Studies. Sociology. Kinesiology. Management. X Education. Sports Counseling. Blah blah blah. Anything you can think of which sounds cerebral and sophisticated but in reality has no standards and wouldn't challenge a third grader.
The numerous nonjocks in these programs are just wasting their parents' (and taxpayers) money. The Athletic Department appreciates it, though. It allows Smatresk to defend them as low cost.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Smatresk Will Protect UNLV Jock Majors
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Smatresk is blustering. He is a politician. He will most certainly NOT cut "Recreation & Sports Management". That is a jock major. Smatresk will do everything in his power to maintain and even EXPAND jock programs. Without sports popular support for UNLV would sharply decline. Legislators might then conclude that UNLV was expendible.
Jocks need to be able to coast through school. Smatresk's job is to ensure that jocks have academic cover, at least until their four years of NCAA eligibility have elapsed. He can't afford to reduce the number of jockology majors. What else are they going to major in? Nuclear Physics? It would look really bad if 97% of the student-athletes were majoring in a single degree program.
Smatresk is blustering. He is a politician. He will most certainly NOT cut "Recreation & Sports Management". That is a jock major. Smatresk will do everything in his power to maintain and even EXPAND jock programs. Without sports popular support for UNLV would sharply decline. Legislators might then conclude that UNLV was expendible.
Jocks need to be able to coast through school. Smatresk's job is to ensure that jocks have academic cover, at least until their four years of NCAA eligibility have elapsed. He can't afford to reduce the number of jockology majors. What else are they going to major in? Nuclear Physics? It would look really bad if 97% of the student-athletes were majoring in a single degree program.
UNLV President Neil Smatresk
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum
Smatresk makes $300K and lords over a nice-sized empire. He'll do whatever it takes to maintain his power and bureaucracy.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk's solution is to raise taxes (tuition) rather than eliminate waste.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk supports all the "goals" of UNLV. Unionism, cronyism, diversity, awareness, egalitarianism, redistributionism, affirmative actionism, pride, expansionism, and so forth.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk is just another lying politician, appointed by those political hack Regents for political purposes.
Smatresk makes $300K and lords over a nice-sized empire. He'll do whatever it takes to maintain his power and bureaucracy.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk's solution is to raise taxes (tuition) rather than eliminate waste.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk supports all the "goals" of UNLV. Unionism, cronyism, diversity, awareness, egalitarianism, redistributionism, affirmative actionism, pride, expansionism, and so forth.
Just like a politician.
Smatresk is just another lying politician, appointed by those political hack Regents for political purposes.
A Mission for the University of Nevada
Originally posted in a LVRJ forum
If a public university is to have any mission at all, it should only be to train the next generation of applied scientists, not future sports Hall-of-Famers. So which group does Smatresk propose to hit with higher fees? Which group does Smatresk think deserves free rides?
The applied science professors bring in the federal grant money. UNLV takes its "cut"; ~50%. Research is a profit center. That's right. But the primary mission of a professor is supposed to be teaching, not sales. Nobody wants to pay higher taxes create a sandbox for eggheads. Unless you expect X-Ray Crystallographers to teach The Short Stories of Vladimir Nabakov, that means UNLV must offer science courses and LABS. No way around that.
In contrast, the Liberal Arts programs are pure burden. Their professors bring in NO grant money. Students in *those* majors should pay full fee. $800/credit sounds about right.
For that matter, eliminate Division 1 sports. Field teams from the strapping ranks of the science students. Their professors can coach. $100/game. Graduate students assistant. Put the "student" back in student-athlete.
If a public university is to have any mission at all, it should only be to train the next generation of applied scientists, not future sports Hall-of-Famers. So which group does Smatresk propose to hit with higher fees? Which group does Smatresk think deserves free rides?
The applied science professors bring in the federal grant money. UNLV takes its "cut"; ~50%. Research is a profit center. That's right. But the primary mission of a professor is supposed to be teaching, not sales. Nobody wants to pay higher taxes create a sandbox for eggheads. Unless you expect X-Ray Crystallographers to teach The Short Stories of Vladimir Nabakov, that means UNLV must offer science courses and LABS. No way around that.
In contrast, the Liberal Arts programs are pure burden. Their professors bring in NO grant money. Students in *those* majors should pay full fee. $800/credit sounds about right.
For that matter, eliminate Division 1 sports. Field teams from the strapping ranks of the science students. Their professors can coach. $100/game. Graduate students assistant. Put the "student" back in student-athlete.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
N$HE Roll Call
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
No more Division 1 sports.
No more athletic scholarships.
No more NFL/NBA/MLB payscale coaches.
No more junk departments (like Interdisciplinary) maintained to provide jocks with academic cover.
No more staffers paid more than the Governor.
No more liberal arts programs at less than full fee ($800/credit).
No more buildings and roads named after Raggio.
No more NSHE lobbyists.
- UNLV Basketball Head Coach Kruger makes $1M/yr.
- UNLV Football Head Coach Hauck makes $450K.
- UNR President Glick makes $400K.
- Thienhaus (Med School) $395K [best guess]
- White (Boyd) $339K
- NSHE Chancellor Klaich makes $330K.
- UNLV President Smatresk makes $300K.
- UNLV Athletic Director Livengood makes $285K.
- NSC President Maryanski makes $250K.
- Harter (BMI) 248K
- West (Dental School) $218K
- VP Smith $192K.
- Provost Bowers $189K
- Division 1 assistant coaches make $125K.
- Unionized professors overpaid.
- and on and on and on.
No more Division 1 sports.
No more athletic scholarships.
No more NFL/NBA/MLB payscale coaches.
No more junk departments (like Interdisciplinary) maintained to provide jocks with academic cover.
No more staffers paid more than the Governor.
No more liberal arts programs at less than full fee ($800/credit).
No more buildings and roads named after Raggio.
No more NSHE lobbyists.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Townhall With Smatresk
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Nobody asks Smatresk the obvious questions.
Nobody asks Smatresk the obvious questions.
- Why do you deserve to be paid $300K/yr? Are you worth >twice what we pay Gibbons?
- Why do you pay your head football coach $450K/yr and his assisants $125K? Is UNLV a NFL farm team?
- Why do you pay your head basketball coach $1M/yr and *his* assistants $130K? Is UNLV a NBA farm team?
- Isn't true that the decision to phase out "University Studies" was made a few YEARS ago, after critics and media noted that only JOCKS majored in it, that it had no objective standards, and yet few completed it?
- Isn't it true you simply RENAMED "University Studies" as "Interdisciplinary Studies"?
- Why do you preserve *that* JUNK department? Isn't it true that Interdisciplinary only serves to provide academic cover to jocks?
- What percentage of your football and basketball players ever graduate? Isn't it significantly < non-athletes?
- How much do your sports marketing partners -- t-shirts, posters, TV, etc -- make off your teams?
- Why do you fund a law school? Are there too few laws and lawyers in this state?
- How many UNLV buildings named after state politicians?
- How many of your employees are related by family or marriage to current or ex state legislators?
- How much money does UNLV spend on lobbyists?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Smatresk Sets Speed Record For Sports Hires (Other Depts Frozen)
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
On Tuesday, [Smatresk] froze all [UNLV] hiring
Notice how Smatresk put out (and filled) a RUSH ORDER to hire a new Athletic Director ($295K) and Head Football Coach ($450K). The latter then rushed to round out his assistant coaching staff (~$125K each).
Smatresk himself makes ~$300K.
The only departments which are SAFE from cuts are the ones that provide academic cover to dunderhead JOCKS. Departments like Sociology, Kinesiology, and University (AKA Interdisciplinary) Studies.
The idea of charging higher tuition to science students is perhaps most outrageous of all. The mission of the University is to train the next generation of applied scientists. Indeed, as UNR was set up, applied science majors were supposed to pay ZERO (or maybe just nominal tuition). Liberal arts majors -- if there was even a place for them -- would be the ones required to pay the full, unsubsidized cost of their educations. Of course, the political ideology of egalitarianism led to both groups paying the same.
But *now* the redistributionist scheme is to make science majors pay the *most*. And only the JOCKS ride for free.
On Tuesday, [Smatresk] froze all [UNLV] hiring
Notice how Smatresk put out (and filled) a RUSH ORDER to hire a new Athletic Director ($295K) and Head Football Coach ($450K). The latter then rushed to round out his assistant coaching staff (~$125K each).
Smatresk himself makes ~$300K.
The only departments which are SAFE from cuts are the ones that provide academic cover to dunderhead JOCKS. Departments like Sociology, Kinesiology, and University (AKA Interdisciplinary) Studies.
The idea of charging higher tuition to science students is perhaps most outrageous of all. The mission of the University is to train the next generation of applied scientists. Indeed, as UNR was set up, applied science majors were supposed to pay ZERO (or maybe just nominal tuition). Liberal arts majors -- if there was even a place for them -- would be the ones required to pay the full, unsubsidized cost of their educations. Of course, the political ideology of egalitarianism led to both groups paying the same.
But *now* the redistributionist scheme is to make science majors pay the *most*. And only the JOCKS ride for free.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Nevada System of Higher Waste
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
This demagogue Klaich is too much. The Univ of NV was established as sort of a public charity. Mining, Engineering, and Agriculture students were meant to be the "beneficiaries"; FREE (or nominal) TUITION. Yep.
Well *that* modest mission could not stand! The applied science students now have to pay full fee. Can't discriminate against liberal arts students (who had NO place in the original university). Welcome to the "new" UNV charity:
Make the UNV a small A&M (+mining) school once again. Those students pay NOTHING. No more Division 1 sports. Teams can be recruited from the >2m tall applied science majors. Coaches from their faculty; assistants their grad students. No more athletic scholarships. No more liberal arts, or at least make THEM pay full (user) fee. $800/credit sounds right. No more research-driven (politically funded) faculty. Research is an uncertain activity best left to the private sector. No more expensive career professors. If need be recruit emeritus professors who have retired here to work for token honoria. Teaching the next generation is sort of a sacred duty which Phd's took upon themselves the moment they accepted their Black Belts.
No more GM pay scale university administrators.
This demagogue Klaich is too much. The Univ of NV was established as sort of a public charity. Mining, Engineering, and Agriculture students were meant to be the "beneficiaries"; FREE (or nominal) TUITION. Yep.
Well *that* modest mission could not stand! The applied science students now have to pay full fee. Can't discriminate against liberal arts students (who had NO place in the original university). Welcome to the "new" UNV charity:
- Klaich ($335K)
- UNR Pres Glick ($435K)
- UNLV Pres Smatresk ($300K); other top officials slightly less
- new UNLV Head Football Coach Hauck ($450K); his assistants $125K
- new Athletic Director Livengood ($300K)
- Head Basketball Coach Kruger ($1M); his assistants $125K
- Clinical professors ($400K)
- unionized Basketweaving professors -- some of whom are related to Legislators ($80K)
- JOCKS get free rides.
Make the UNV a small A&M (+mining) school once again. Those students pay NOTHING. No more Division 1 sports. Teams can be recruited from the >2m tall applied science majors. Coaches from their faculty; assistants their grad students. No more athletic scholarships. No more liberal arts, or at least make THEM pay full (user) fee. $800/credit sounds right. No more research-driven (politically funded) faculty. Research is an uncertain activity best left to the private sector. No more expensive career professors. If need be recruit emeritus professors who have retired here to work for token honoria. Teaching the next generation is sort of a sacred duty which Phd's took upon themselves the moment they accepted their Black Belts.
No more GM pay scale university administrators.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Klaich Takes Tax Consumers Down Memory Lane
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Klaich said he remembered when UNLV was a small campus, and he marveled at how it had grown.
If you subsidize it, they will come. Why should Raggio's district get all the booty?
Did any of the academic welfare queens show up to ask $300K Smatresk why he pays $1M/yr for a hoops coach, or why he maintains all those junk departments for jocks?
Klaich said he remembered when UNLV was a small campus, and he marveled at how it had grown.
If you subsidize it, they will come. Why should Raggio's district get all the booty?
Did any of the academic welfare queens show up to ask $300K Smatresk why he pays $1M/yr for a hoops coach, or why he maintains all those junk departments for jocks?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
UNLV Welfare Queens
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Send Hauck back to Montana. We don't want him here unless he is willing to work for $100 per game. The public sector is *not* supposed to be a place to get rich.
UNLV is taxpayer supported benevolent institution. The "charity" is supposed to benefit students, not WELFARE QUEENS like Hauck, Smatresk, Livengood, etc.
Division I sports corrupts the entire mission of higher education.
Send Hauck back to Montana. We don't want him here unless he is willing to work for $100 per game. The public sector is *not* supposed to be a place to get rich.
UNLV is taxpayer supported benevolent institution. The "charity" is supposed to benefit students, not WELFARE QUEENS like Hauck, Smatresk, Livengood, etc.
Division I sports corrupts the entire mission of higher education.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Another UNLV "Scholar" In a JUNK Department
[UNLV Professor Jennifer Livengood] tries to figure out how religious practices and beliefs influence how -- and how much -- people have fun
This is ridiculous.
Why do so many charlatan professors always want to be called "Doctor"? How many patients do they treat? I've read the titles of some of Livengood's papers. Not serious scholarship. Livengood's name also appears as an "ally" on a Celebrates National Coming Out Day brochure (LGBT related).
The original University of Nevada (now UNR) was chartered by the state constitution to provide practical in three fields relevant to this state: Mining, Engineering, and Agriculture. The constitution authorized the Legislature to create additional colleges as it deemed necessary. Does anything think a Hotel College, with a Department of Leisure, is *necessary*? Of course not! This is just politics. These Professors of Basketweaving all vote for Democrats.
Shutter this ridiculous college/department. Whenever I read about "academics" like Livengood, I'm reminded of that Dan Akroyd character in Ghostbusters. You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*.
If Livengood is so good, she should work for McDonald's University. Otherwise, UNLV should trade her to Cornell for a Physicist. We'll even throw in a $300K sweetener -- money we can get by canning Smatresk.
This is ridiculous.
Why do so many charlatan professors always want to be called "Doctor"? How many patients do they treat? I've read the titles of some of Livengood's papers. Not serious scholarship. Livengood's name also appears as an "ally" on a Celebrates National Coming Out Day brochure (LGBT related).
The original University of Nevada (now UNR) was chartered by the state constitution to provide practical in three fields relevant to this state: Mining, Engineering, and Agriculture. The constitution authorized the Legislature to create additional colleges as it deemed necessary. Does anything think a Hotel College, with a Department of Leisure, is *necessary*? Of course not! This is just politics. These Professors of Basketweaving all vote for Democrats.
Shutter this ridiculous college/department. Whenever I read about "academics" like Livengood, I'm reminded of that Dan Akroyd character in Ghostbusters. You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*.
If Livengood is so good, she should work for McDonald's University. Otherwise, UNLV should trade her to Cornell for a Physicist. We'll even throw in a $300K sweetener -- money we can get by canning Smatresk.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Smatresk & His Band of Thieves
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Smatresk and his band of derelict administrators are the ones who have to go. They craft lowered admission standards and ridiculous departments, for the benefit of jocks. They hire the Athletic Director, the fool who, in turn, hires over-rated clowns like Sanford and Kruger. Whenever I hear crooked politicians decry "excessive" executive compensation, the poster boy I think of is Smatresk.
Smatresk and his band of derelict administrators are the ones who have to go. They craft lowered admission standards and ridiculous departments, for the benefit of jocks. They hire the Athletic Director, the fool who, in turn, hires over-rated clowns like Sanford and Kruger. Whenever I hear crooked politicians decry "excessive" executive compensation, the poster boy I think of is Smatresk.
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