"Chapman's Mansion Way Over the Top"

[Oxbow6]

The cause was lack of oversight, plain and simple.

When people don't have oversight, they make decisions that they feel are acceptable when they may in fact not be acceptable to the governing body. It's the SBoHE's fault for not keeping a watch on the project.

With that reasoning, it was Best Buy CEO's fault that the Fargo store got taken by a bunch of SU goons!

[homer]

With that reasoning, it was Best Buy CEO's fault that the Fargo store got taken by a bunch of SU goons!

Well if the stuff just wouldn't have been sitting on the shelves. They where practically begging for someone to take it.

[darell1976]

Yah, well I wouldn't start feeling so high and mighty.

Everyone knows (at least on some message boards) the only reason NDSU suffers in this audit report is because of the vast UND conspiracy out there to smear NDSU. The problem is that no matter where you look in this state -- law, government, medicine, education -- there seems to be some damned UND grad in charge of things, twisting the "truth" to make NDSU look bad.

Robert Peterson, North Dakota State Auditor

BS, University of North Dakota, 1974.

UND doesn"t need to make NDSU look bad the audit and police reports already do that.

[iramurphy]

The cause was lack of oversight, plain and simple.

When people don't have oversight, they make decisions that they feel are acceptable when they may in fact not be acceptable to the governing body. It's the SBoHE's fault for not keeping a watch on the project.

That is a sad reflection on a serious problem. I would hope the NDSU supporters would be outraged. This guy ran the budget into the ground ($11,000,000 below ground) and the reserves are used up. He got caught lying by the Attorney General of the State of N. Dak. who had him shaking and stammering and stating he couldn't remember things when the proof was shown that it was he who lied not Potts or the staff at SBoHE. It was Chapman and his stooge Paulsen who didn't think they needed to answer to the Chancellor or the SBoHE. Don't forget Chapman blamed many others at NDSU (who got crap on their noses whenever Chapman stopped suddenly) for all of the problems and sent his attorney to the SBoHE to try and take legal action agains the NDSU Foundation when they cut his $260,000 expense account. If you don't see the serious charcter flaw by now you never will.

Bison folks don't believe what is on this board, ask Dick Hanson about the $11,000,000 shortfall and depleted reserves. Ask officials on the SBoHE to review minutes of Chapman's comments and conversations. If you just want to blame someone else like Chappy did, then it doesn't do any good to point out the obvious. The board would have excercised proper oversight on this guy a long time ago but Paulsen covered for him and Hoeven sent word to the board they needed to do whatever it took to keep this guy, thus the loss of Potts. Potts and Larry Izaak both saw this guy for the crook and liar he was, but Paulsen and Hoeven protected him. Things happen at UND too, but at least most of us get mad at the perpetrator of the problem rather than blame the piss ants.

[MplsBison]

With that reasoning, it was Best Buy CEO's fault that the Fargo store got taken by a bunch of SU goons!

Your analogy only works if members of the SBoHE knew about the condition of the project at NDSU and purposefully looked the other way to allow it to happen.

That didn't happen and thus your analogy fails.

[Oxbow6]

Your analogy only works if members of the SBoHE knew about the condition of the project at NDSU and purposefully looked the other way to allow it to happen.

That didn't happen and thus your analogy fails.

Does the name Paulsen ring a bell? Geeeeeeez...

[UND1983]

That is a sad reflection on a serious problem. I would hope the NDSU supporters would be outraged. This guy ran the budget into the ground ($11,000,000 below ground) and the reserves are used up. He got caught lying by the Attorney General of the State of N. Dak. who had him shaking and stammering and stating he couldn't remember things when the proof was shown that it was he who lied not Potts or the staff at SBoHE. It was Chapman and his stooge Paulsen who didn't think they needed to answer to the Chancellor or the SBoHE. Don't forget Chapman blamed many others at NDSU (who got crap on their noses whenever Chapman stopped suddenly) for all of the problems and sent his attorney to the SBoHE to try and take legal action agains the NDSU Foundation when they cut his $260,000 expense account. If you don't see the serious charcter flaw by now you never will.

Bison folks don't believe what is on this board, ask Dick Hanson about the $11,000,000 shortfall and depleted reserves. Ask officials on the SBoHE to review minutes of Chapman's comments and conversations. If you just want to blame someone else like Chappy did, then it doesn't do any good to point out the obvious. The board would have excercised proper oversight on this guy a long time ago but Paulsen covered for him and Hoeven sent word to the board they needed to do whatever it took to keep this guy, thus the loss of Potts. Potts and Larry Izaak both saw this guy for the crook and liar he was, but Paulsen and Hoeven protected him. Things happen at UND too, but at least most of us get mad at the perpetrator of the problem rather than blame the piss ants.

There is a lot of interesting stuff in there. Sounds like there will be more to come.

It is pretty easy to see what happened during the transition to D1. Chapman HAD to make it a success to show everyone they did the right thing, there was no other choice. So he gave the athletic department and the enrollment office all the resources they needed whether they had the money or not. Athletics were good and enrollment went up with no regard to infrastructure at all.

Well, it worked. The transition to D1 was a resounding success. The only problem is now that it

[VMeister]

As I've said all along, it was an oversight issue.

That will be corrected. You can bet this type of thing won't happen for a long time at NDSU or UND, as all new projects will have very close eyes on them from the SBoHE.

Keep repeating that. Maybe someone will believe you.

The problem with any oversight is that people at the top of the organization can subvert it, at least for awhile.

My opinion is that oversight is more effective when a crook is not running the organization.

[The Sicatoka]

Drive 63 in a 55 mph zone yesterday and not get caught. No problem.

Drive 63 in a 55 mph zone today and get caught.

Surely the problem is oversight.

However, in the NDSU president's house matter, it's more like going 150 in a 55 mph zone.

Or would that be 2,400,000 in a 900,000 zone.

Again, oversight issues.

[SooToo]

That is a sad reflection on a serious problem. I would hope the NDSU supporters would be outraged. This guy ran the budget into the ground ($11,000,000 below ground) and the reserves are used up. He got caught lying by the Attorney General of the State of N. Dak. who had him shaking and stammering and stating he couldn't remember things when the proof was shown that it was he who lied not Potts or the staff at SBoHE. It was Chapman and his stooge Paulsen who didn't think they needed to answer to the Chancellor or the SBoHE. Don't forget Chapman blamed many others at NDSU (who got crap on their noses whenever Chapman stopped suddenly) for all of the problems and sent his attorney to the SBoHE to try and take legal action agains the NDSU Foundation when they cut his $260,000 expense account. If you don't see the serious charcter flaw by now you never will.

Bison folks don't believe what is on this board, ask Dick Hanson about the $11,000,000 shortfall and depleted reserves. Ask officials on the SBoHE to review minutes of Chapman's comments and conversations. If you just want to blame someone else like Chappy did, then it doesn't do any good to point out the obvious. The board would have excercised proper oversight on this guy a long time ago but Paulsen covered for him and Hoeven sent word to the board they needed to do whatever it took to keep this guy, thus the loss of Potts. Potts and Larry Izaak both saw this guy for the crook and liar he was, but Paulsen and Hoeven protected him. Things happen at UND too, but at least most of us get mad at the perpetrator of the problem rather than blame the piss ants.

Excellent summary of a sad situation.

[choyt3]

This isn't even a story today if NDSU had kept their radio contract with WDAY. At least that is what some people would have us believe.

[Siouxman]

So Chapman isn't at fault because the SBOHE didn't exercise oversight.

But, the SBOHE is appointed by the governor, so it is his fault since he didn't exercise oversight.

But, the people of ND elected the governor, and in hindsight (retroactive oversight) they should have known better, so it is their fault.

But, evidently the people of ND didn't know this, since they were inadequately educated, possibly by ND colleges including NDSU, which is an oversight failure of the college.

SO IT IS STILL NDSU'S FAULT

and Chapman was in charge of NDSU, so it really is his fault!

Got it?

[MplsBison]

Drive 63 in a 55 mph zone yesterday and not get caught. No problem.

Drive 63 in a 55 mph zone today and get caught.

Surely the problem is oversight.

However, in the NDSU president's house matter, it's more like going 150 in a 55 mph zone.

Or would that be 2,400,000 in a 900,000 zone.

Again, oversight issues.

Again, false analogy.

The SBoHE is like a governor on the speed of your company's truck. The engine cuts out at 55 mph.

But if the governor is broken, you might get away with going faster than the limit...or you might get caught and be fired from the job.

Point is, with a correctly functioning governor it's a non-issue.

[darell1976]

I think the big question is what is the SBoHE going to do to fix the problems. I say tell SU and UND you are on financial probation. No building of any kind without approval from the board and all invoices must go through the board first before the first nail is hit. Penalty----termination. That simple. Plus have monthly audits to make sure the schools are doing this right.

[The Sicatoka]

Again, false analogy.

The SBoHE is like a governor on the speed of your company's truck. The engine cuts out at 55 mph.

But if the governor is broken, you might get away with going faster than the limit...or you might get caught and be fired from the job.

Point is, with a correctly functioning governor it's a non-issue.

Why are you testing the governor of the truck at all?

Know the rules; stay within them.

[UND1983]

KFGO is discussing the topic again. I cannot believe that NDSU's own radio station is ripping them apart so bad. I thought all of the negative press was was going to end once that radio contract was signed.

[MplsBison]

Why are you testing the governor of the truck at all?

Know the rules; stay within them.

Disagree. A good leader will push the envelope, within reason, until the proper authorities tell you you have pushed too far.

Analogy: you know there is a governor on the truck but you don't know what the cut-off is, so you go as fast as you can until it cuts off. The within reason part comes into play when you're going 75 mph and no cut-off yet, you probably don't keep pushing to 90.

Unfortunately, the governor (SBoHE) was completely broken in this case and Chapman pushed it too far. But to say it's 100% Chapman's fault for pushing at all? Bulllllsh*t. Everyone pushes the envelope.

[MoreSiouxForYou]

The next one is out the door. Apparently he didn't feel oversight was the only problem.

In-fourm Story

[MoreSiouxForYou]

Disagree. A good leader will push the envelope, within reason, until the proper authorities tell you you have pushed too far.

Analogy: you know there is a governor on the truck but you don't know what the cut-off is, so you go as fast as you can until it cuts off. The within reason part comes into play when you're going 75 mph and no cut-off yet, you probably don't keep pushing to 90.

Unfortunately, the governor (SBoHE) was completely broken in this case and Chapman pushed it too far. But to say it's 100% Chapman's fault for pushing at all? Bulllllsh*t. Everyone pushes the envelope.

But the Speed limit(guidelines and procedures) were inplace and so there was no need to push the envelope. It was established.

[VMeister]

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/277730/

However, adding new policies may not be the answer because some violations were intentional, said board President Richie Smith.

The audit showed that North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota circumvented policies to avoid getting approval for president

[FargoBison]

There is a lack of oversight and then there is knowingly taking advantage of a lack of oversight. The SBoHE has some blame in creating an atmosphere that lacked accountability but the scope of this is too big for the buck to stop there and that is why heads have rolled.

[Pudd]

Disagree. A good leader will push the envelope, within reason, until the proper authorities tell you you have pushed too far.

Analogy: you know there is a governor on the truck but you don't know what the cut-off is, so you go as fast as you can until it cuts off. The within reason part comes into play when you're going 75 mph and no cut-off yet, you probably don't keep pushing to 90.

Unfortunately, the governor (SBoHE) was completely broken in this case and Chapman pushed it too far. But to say it's 100% Chapman's fault for pushing at all? Bulllllsh*t. Everyone pushes the envelope.

I think your logic is lacking. Think of it like a buisness, to pay for Project A, you take from Project B. To complete Project B, you take from Project C. At some point, you run out of money and can't complete projects. For NDSU, at what point do they start spending payroll to pay for over budget projects? The money needs to come from somewhere.

[The Sicatoka]

However, adding new policies may not be the answer because some violations were intentional, said board President Richie Smith.

Seems someone disabled the "governor on the truck".

Oversight doesn't fix that until after the violations happen.

And the violator must face the consequences.

[Dagger]

When a person reads all the stories out there about Chapman's obsession with increasing enrollments and seeing that athletics had a successful D1 transition it makes a person wonder. He was willing to sacrifice the financial future of NDSU to make himself look like a a real hero and a financial genius . When the dust finally settles on the Chapman debacle, will the apparent success of NDSU's transition be that at all. Did NDSU do it the right way after all? The King definitely fell off his throne. It is too bad he isn't being held accountable. Other people are taking the hit for his leadership. It sure would be fun if he would return to North Dakota and answer some serious questions. That will never happen. He is to busy counting his money where ever he is. I think they have stopped construction on his statue in Fargo.

[darell1976]

When a person reads all the stories out there about Chapman's obsession with increasing enrollments and seeing that athletics had a successful D1 transition it makes a person wonder. He was willing to sacrifice the financial future of NDSU to make himself look like a a real hero and a financial genius . When the dust finally settles on the Chapman debacle, will the apparent success of NDSU's transition be that at all. Did NDSU do it the right way after all? The King definitely fell off his throne. It is too bad he isn't being held accountable. Other people are taking the hit for his leadership. It sure would be fun if he would return to North Dakota and answer some serious questions. That will never happen. He is to busy counting his money where ever he is. I think they have stopped construction on his statue in Fargo.

I agree also won't this hurt recruiting. Not only athletes but students as well, why go to a school who is always in the paper for either crimes (Best Buy, and DUI's) or financial problems at the top (Chapman's house). This school went from the "model school of transition" to problems at the D1 level.