Letters

It’s the Eastern way

John Blanchette’s column (May 31), “Timing isn’t anything in latest debacle,” had me in stitches.

Blanchette was obviously in over his head. He wrote that Mike Burns’ firing was “a mystifying, ridiculous, embarrassing time of dubious judgment and comical obfuscation, a veritable Olympics of butt-covering.” Wrong, John! It was just a normal day at Eastern Washington University.

Eastern is a world where “common sense” is considered a four-letter word. At Eastern, managers talk about commitment to employees the same way Dick Cheney talks about the Bush administration’s commitment to the environment. At Eastern, sycophants rule.

Even though he is relatively new to the EWU community, (interim athletic director) Mike Westfall is falling into place as a good old boy. He smiles at people. He probably tells employees how important their concerns are to him. He is transforming himself into the creature Eastern employees know as the EWU Bobble Head Manager.

A review of his area at University Relations reveals he does not manage at all. He avoids managing at all costs. The EWU Print Shop is a managerial disaster, but good old Mike ignores it. That is the Eastern way.

Sorry, John, if you want to play in the big leagues you need a PhD. It worked for Darren Hamilton.

Thomas L. McArthur

Spokane

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