BYU Professor Now "Former" Professor....

I would have to say that the writing was on the wall here... Announced this morning, BYU Philosophy professor Jeffrey Nielson has been informed that his teaching contract will not be renewed for September. This is in response to an Op/Ed piece that was published in the Salt Lake Tribune. I noted it here for its clear exposition of the problems with the LDS Church's POLITICAL position it took with regard to the proposed Constitutional amendment regarding gay marriage. There was some speculation on the web that the tribune piece was a "bait" piece, set out to attract BYU signatori, in hopes of flushing more holders of this opinion from the bushes among the staff at BYU.

It was not always this way for Nielson... he has been in good stead with the University, and has even received awards for work he authored regarding organizational leadership. His book "The Myth Of Leadership" garnered praise from his colleages as well as natinal critics.

Colleagues call him a good inquirer; he says the love of wisdom manifests itself in asking questions.

Now asking questions of leadership norms is giving Professor Jeffrey Nielsen a chance at two national book awards.

The BYU philosophy professor’s book, “The Myth of Leadership: Creating Leaderless Organizations,” has been nominated for the Independent Publisher’s Book Award and the Foreword Magazine Book Award. The awards will be presented Friday at a trade show in New York City.

The book states that modern leadership is rank-based, that is, focused on position in a hierarchy. This system wastes human potential and supports corruption and secrecy, Nielsen said.

“It’s that rank-based context that lead us to surrender our intelligence, our freedom and wisdom to the select few that make all the decisions,” he said. “Not only does it lead to more inefficient organizations, it also leads to less meaningful ones.”

BYU NewsNet ("Let There Be Light") [but not too much] - June 3, 2005

I have stated many times over several years, and here as well, that the Church has no business in the pursuit of offering a so-called rounded educational experience at BYU. That is not what that is. It's a private college, and that is great, it is what it is, but it is not a well-rounded education, and they should not be touting it as such. They also have no business in the NCAA, but that's another rant for another day.

For their efforts, BYU gets my weekly "Golden WTF Holy Grail Award", a new distinction that is implimented starting this week.

Incidentally, this Nielson is the guest on Radio West today on KUER at 11 AM.