BusinessReport.com

Ousting O’Keefe

To the publisher:

I have yet to see anything on why Sean O’Keefe is deemed unfit for the LSU chancellorship [“Publisher’s View,” Jan. 15 and Daily Report, Jan. 16-17]. This whole issue must boil down to LSU Board of Supervisors and politics at its worst! Perhaps those who oppose Sean will be ousted by our new governor. The issue of Sean’s performance surfaced after Bobby Jindal was elected. Ironic?

Jonathan E. Martin, Chairman, Roy O. Martin

To the publisher:

When Sean O’Keefe was unanimously selected as chancellor at LSU, our family was ecstatic. Having known him and watched his stellar career, we knew he was a world-class leader and would do amazing good for LSU. Sean had started his career at Penn State, where he was a faculty member and quickly moved into administration. He served in the highest administrative positions at the Office of Management and Budget. Sean O’Keefe made Louisiana proud when he was selected as Secretary of the Navy and then as Administrator of NASA. He has been asked to serve on the boards of some of the most prestigious companies in America.

Less than six months after he took over as chancellor, Hurricane Katrina hit. Under his leadership, LSU was recognized around the country for the way it met so many challenges to help displaced and injured people. In the midst of it all, the university kept going with some sense of normalcy in a very abnormal situation. Sean called in some of his international connections for help. Millions of dollars came to LSU because he asked for help. Many major universities asked if LSU could write a book to give them guidelines to handle disasters should they be called upon. The book was published in August 2006.

Raising standards, raising money for bricks and mortar as well as programs, creating a vision that LSU could not only be this state’s flagship university but one of the nation’s flagship universities, Sean O’Keefe has worked tirelessly for LSU.

When Dean Taylor of Tidewater Marine recently announced that he was moving the company back to New Orleans from Houston, he said he was doing it because he approved of the leadership direction that the city and state were taking. I have always believed that people are amazingly generous to causes if they understand the plan for spending and trust the people doing the spending. There are many people poised to give huge amounts of money to LSU because they are so impressed with the plans for the university and the man leading the charge, Chancellor Sean O’Keefe.

It is time to stand up for this man, our chancellor. If the new president of the university system thinks that he or the board would like to change this chancellor for a new one, I think it is grave mistake. I am standing up to say “No, we like the chancellor we have very well, indeed!” Please join me in voicing your opinion to the LSU Board of Supervisors.

Charlotte Bollinger, Executive vice president, Bollinger Shipyards Inc.

To the publisher:

O’Keefe is the best thing to happen to LSU in quite awhile.

Justin Collett, Baton Rouge

To the publisher:

Lombardi needs to go! He has come in to the area with a contorted sense of the reality in our community. His comments regarding TOPS are hugely off base. As a parent currently spending $15K a year on tuition in order for my children to have a chance of success in college, having tuition subsidized helps real working families. His comments regarding tax monies appropriated for traffic woes and infrastructure are another example of his glass-tower views. Being intelligent does not make someone qualified.

Jill Jordan, Baton Rouge

To the publisher:

Even 20 years ago when I moved to Baton Rouge, people were rabid Tiger fans, but the school itself had major problems. Buildings were in disrepair, leaking classrooms, talented faculty was difficult to obtain and/or retain and high school graduates were continuing their education out of our state. The school’s financial situation was bleak.

It has been encouraging to see the dramatic progress made by LSU over time. TOPS has been a major factor in exceptional students’ consideration of LSU for college. I know that personally it is a factor in my son’s college decision-making process. Also, as a mother and as a member of the business community, I have been impressed by Sean O’Keefe. He is a man of deep faith and action. His fundraising achievements have been outstanding. His character and conduct represents our university well, and we should be proud to have such a leader in place.

I have no doubt as to Dr. Lombardi’s intelligence; however, intellect alone does not make a great leader. I hope that the decision-makers of LSU consider the type of person that we as business people, parents and future students will support and follow. Arrogant, abrasive behavior does not equate to great leadership.

Mary Garner DeVoe, Baton Rouge

To the publisher:

I do not think that the Baton Rouge business community elected BRAF or the two Johns to represent us in the selection the LSU chancellor. Also, I do not think getting involved with individual positions at LSU is a function to BRAF.

Norman Deumite, Baton Rouge

The wrong guy

To the publisher:

After years of supporting you 1,000% and agreeing with almost everything you stand for, I’m devastated that you would chose John McCain as your presidential candidate [“Publisher’s View,” Jan. 15]. McCain is definitely a war hero and one of the toughest men in America, but president? If he ends up running against “the first woman” or the “first serious black” to run for president, I think it will be another Bob Dole defeat. How you could pass up Rudy, Mitt or Fred for John is truly amazing to me. Don’t even try to change my mind.

Michael J. DeFelice, Zachary

To the publisher:

As a regular reader of the magazine, I’m frequently aligned with Mr. McCollister’s positions. However, I must take issue with his stance on John McCain as the next president. While McCain presently stands for several issues that are important to me as a conservative, I also recall his “run for the office” eight years ago. Attempting to straddle the fence as a “moderate,” McCain espoused numerous views with which I vehemently disagreed. His views appear to vacillate with the audience [now more conservative] he is attempting to attract … a regular politician! I have no recommendations at this time; however, a McCain supporter can not ignore past positions [during last presidential campaign] of a candidate that conflict with present stances.

Keith C. Armstrong, Baton Rouge

To the publisher:

I really wish that the press would do the job of reporting the news and investigating and not making the news. I am referring to the article by Rolfe McCollister regarding his support of John McCain for president. Yes, McCain is a war hero and a war hawk, but as far as dealing with the economy, do you remember the banking scandal now referred to as the Keating 5, in which Sen. McCain played a huge part? That cost taxpayers quite a chunk of change.

On domestic issues, it was Sen. McCain that nearly got the Amnesty Bill passed last year. Citizens had to fight tooth and nail to stop that in it’s tracks. Now, of course, he’s changed; he’s listening to the people now. Well, why wasn’t he listening when thousands upon thousands of letters and phone calls were coming in?

Sen. McCain is also a big proponent of NAFTA and GATT and other trade bills that he has allowed to be fast tracked that have taken away our jobs by the millions. Just ask some of the factory workers that have lost jobs here in this state how they feel about their jobs moving to Mexico. Sen. McCain doesn’t winch about this, he just says they’ll never come back and we need to educate people to do something else. Well, sir, you don’t need a whole lot of education to flip hamburgers. I suggest you start reporting the news and stop making news by endorsing politicians.

Bonnie James, Starks