----- Original Message -----
From: "Kyle Cassidy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Glenn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Elizabeth F Campion"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 2:46 PM
Subject: RE: [UC] Reality check
Not having been to the meeting, I'd like to ask those who were -- in
light of the Councilwoman's testimony, does it appear that no crime was
comitted? That John Fenton and his crew were in fact, not setting up a
political rally, and the students were either exaggerating or confused?
I see Glenn's account here as a reasonable possiblity.
Kyle, I don't believe anyone ever claimed a crime had been committed. The
UCD action, participating in political activity, violated IRS laws. These
are real laws but a violation of these would probably not be considered to
be a criminal action by any of the known individuals in this occurence.
But I don't think the students accounts are refuted by the Councilwoman's
beliefs about the event or her denial of wrongdoing. Councilwoman Blackwell
was only there a short time and it seems very unlikely she would have been
heavily involved in organizing these events. Her personal claim of not
knowing about any inappropriate or illegal activity seems very believable so
I can certainly take her at her word. We have no idea who gave the orders
to break out the Knox stuff and if that person should be held more
accountable or also made a simple mistake.
From my experiences with UCD, I've suspected and openly asserted on the
listserv that I believe John Fenton was never provided appropriate
guidelines in several areas. I worked with John when I was organizer of the
Clark Park festivals. He's a great guy and I don't believe he would do
anything intentionally wrong.
If I remember correctly, John had a background in security. UCD wants to be
involved with community court, "homeless outreach" and has this special
service policy. In all of these areas, it was the responsibility of Mr.
Fenton's superiors and the board to provide him with clear written
guidelines. Does UCD have a social worker to advise John on the issues of
handeling community court or homeless outreach?
Do you see why UCD needed to immediately provide these guidlines at the very
beginning of this internal investigation? At the meeting, I said something
like; it's outrageous for UCD to treat Mr. Fenton like this when they
haven't released the policy guidlines he was operating under. Is it fair of
UCD to place this responsibility on Mr. Fenton without guidlines that would
have prevented the occurence?
John probably should have caught the error since it was a matter of law,
but I hold his superiors responsible until they show that they had clear
guidlines on the special favors he was told to do. You see, with this right
to secrecy demanded by UCD throughout their history, we never can do
anything but speculate and go by past experience. The Penn people are not
that dumb and if this was all John's fault, there would have been clear
written guidlines posted on the web site before the announcement of an
investigation and suspension was made.
UCD is screwing John because the big shots never designed UCD as an
accountable special service organization. You've seen me call the special
favor policy, cronyism, and that was highly unfair to John. Now that the
shit hits the fan, a disreputable organization like UCD pins everything on
one person. As Councilwoman Blackwell said, this is wrong wrong wrong.
I hope you better understand my critiicism of the UCD cover-up while
defending John and Councilwoman Blackwell? Not publishing clear written
guidlines cannot be justified in light of Mr. Fenton's treatment if UCD
wants any respect as a responsible trustworthy agency. I personally think
some people made some mistakes without malice which led to this scandal.
But it is perfectly reasonable of curmudgeons like me to demand the
guidlines and a real investigation so that we can find out what else is
going on. UCD has been operating like this in our community for years.
That needs to stop and this incident shows that.
And I can see UCD having a freakout if an exaggerated or mis-aimed story
hit the newspaper and jeapordized their 501c status.
I, like most other people, find it difficult to believe that John Fenton
does anything other than lay golden eggs wherever he goes, and I can't
see him intentionally doing something illegal.
kc
-----
"Even before the Thursday meeting from the reports, it was obvious that
it was a short stop for her on a long day. Examining the UCD policies
and procedures is what is indicated after this event; not trying to make
Mr. Fenton a scapegoat and unfairly accusing the Councilwoman of
intentional wrongdoing. Both of those directions are mean and should be
exposed for what these are."
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