The post below is taken from the comments section of an article recently written by the Winston-Salem Journal on the hiring of Harold Martin by NC A&T State University.
They chose the right man for the job. Anyone who criticizes Dr. Martin for the job he did with WSSU simply has no foundation at all from which to judge. Think of it like this: If you inherited a broken down 1978 Ford Pinto, and you managed to get enough credibility to secure a running, fully operational (with air) 2004 Ford Taurus (ok ok…so two of the hubs are missing and there is a big crack in the windshield) wouldn’t you feel like you accomplished something significant? In fact, wouldn’t you HAVE accomplished something significant? Well, that’s WSSU immediately before Harold Martin vs. after Harold Martin. Broken Pinto vs. beat up (but running) Ford Taurus. He had the school lined up for a lightly used F-150, and then, well…you know the rest of the story. We’ll be posting more from the comments as well as more news comes in. Deacon 1 is a feisty (if ill informed) poster in the comments section but I like that!!! All opinions are welcome.
This comment is from the WSSU faculty, staff, and students. A&T, you are fortunate to have Dr. Martin at the head of your university. Dr. Martin we are happy for you. President Bowles, Dr. Martin did bring stability to WSSU after Alvin Schexnider’s turbulent tenure. “That university experienced a transformation that is nothing short of remarkable,” you said. This is also true: President Bowles, WSSU must return to the momentum that we had before you moved Dr. Martin.
If you know about the turbulent years under Dr. Schexnider’s tenure then you must know what we are going through now. Those years were nothing compared to the last 2 years. Everything that you can imagine is taking place.
1. Cover-ups. Please review the internal audit that was scheduled to be presented to the BOT December 2007. The Chancellor and the BOT chairman covered this misuse of funds (a member of the chancellor’s office forged signatures). Please also examine the forged documents that relates to this cover-up.
2. We are being ruled under threats and bribes. Some faculty, staff and community people have been asked by the Chancellor and his Executive Vice Chancellor to conduct illegal acts and many have said that they were offered money or other favors to tell or spy on other employees.
3. Illegal firings and hirings: There is a total disregard for state polices and GA policies and guidelines. Please examine the search processes used to employ the Executive Vice Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor for Administration, the head of HR, the Consultant that is being paid 150.00 an hour, the new Provost, and the new iterim director for marketing (PR). These are a source for many (potential) lawsuits.
4. Please examine the reasons why a white coach was fired for saying the N word (Nigger) to his team and nothing was done when the vice chancellor for administration called his employees the N word (nigger) . This sounds like discrimination.
5. The financial competence of our leader is not what you thought you were getting. The Administration has wasted much money on unnecessary activities and often have to go back and clean up many problems that they have caused within the past 2 years. Please examine the RIF plan. There is a reason that individuals have not been told that they will be leaving employment. No one trusts our chancellor in this respect. Academics is falling into the joke status. Our Chancellor has no respect for T&P procedures, SACS, nor research and has made open statements in this regard.
On July 1st he will bring a Provost who has had no experience as a dean, provost, nor administration in academia. He speaks about retention and graduation rates as if they are not related to the other problems within academia and those beginning to show up in business, nursing and education. President Bowles this may not be the place for us to tell you about our concerns. However, we find it necessary to speak about this issue where we can. Please help us!!!
Firedonaldreaves Blog 
I love how people refuse to address my concerns and elect to refer to me as “ill informed.” Ok! Fine! Don’t address the graduation rate. I know, as either you know or are too ‘ill informed’ to know, that it is a losing battle. If there are forged documents and financial cover-ups then he should be fired. It wouldn’t be the first chancellor of a North Carolina HBCU to suffer a similar fate.
I don’t work at WSSU and have never attended a class at the institution so I don’t know about working in a military state. But, is the issue that he is looking under the rock or is there a real fear of what he may find if he looks? You say he and his administration are asking people to commit illegal acts. Well, put it out there. Strengthen your argument. Let skeptics like me know exactly what he is doing. No need to be vague now.
As for the use of the “N” word, I have befriended/worked around/socialized with minorities enough to know that the “N” word flows out of mouths like water from a well. I find it amusing that people are offended that an African American used the word when I am sure that word has been used in that office by staff and personnel at least five times a day. Go ahead, get on your high horse now, but everyone knows better. You look silly, as a culture, to cry wolf now when you advocate that it is different for a white person to say it opposed to a minority.
You are right, the academics are a joke… but isn’t the football team and Division I more important? Oh, wait, I am “ill informed.” Sorry for reminding you of your own words and acts. And, how long as the Chancellor been there? Clearly, he has not been around long enough for the academics to be like they are at WSSU. You want honestly, look at the prior chancellor and realize that Reaves inherited the academic problem. It just didn’t go wrong when he got there.
No, just blame everything on Reaves. That’s what you want to do anyway.
I love how people refuse to address my concerns and elect to refer to me as “ill informed.” Ok! Fine! Don’t address the graduation rate. I know, as either you know or are too ‘ill informed’ to know, that it is a losing battle.
Is it a losing battle to think that WSSU will match the 4 year graduation rate of schools like Wake, Virginia, Richmond, or UNC? Absolutely!!! Is it a losing battle to think that WSSU can rise from a 13% 4 year rate to a more “respectable” 30% – 40% rate (yes, I am aware that 6 year rates are the standard for measuring)? No, I don’t think that it is, especially when it is clear to all but the administrators at WSSU that they are, quite literally, 15-20 years behind in their obligation to mentor, counsel, advise, and transition those freshmen who enter the school ill prepared to succeed. I know FOR A FACT that many profs at the University don’t take this duty for advising seriously and that the students who care suffer as a result. It can be done, but it must start first with a whole lot of truth telling and soul serching by and within the black community in WS and beyond. Leadership is the key.
If there are forged documents and financial cover-ups then he should be fired. It wouldn’t be the first chancellor of a North Carolina HBCU to suffer a similar fate. Well, yes…you act as though we’re making this stuff up. GA has seen the documents, from the President’s Office to HR to Finance. They know what’s going on. Why they don’t act…….
I don’t work at WSSU and have never attended a class at the institution so I don’t know about working in a military state. But, is the issue that he is looking under the rock or is there a real fear of what he may find if he looks? You say he and his administration are asking people to commit illegal acts. Well, put it out there. Strengthen your argument. Let skeptics like me know exactly what he is doing. No need to be vague now. Well, what you’re asking me to do would be like me asking you to write your full name and address on this blog for everyone to see. As I said before, when you identify yourself, I’ll identify myself. Same goes for posting actual documents on this site: that would pretty put some good folks on the coals. Everyone on campus knows what’s going on and so does GA….they have seen the proof of illgality and intimidation (even though DJR’s HR/Compliance crew sit on their hands like a bunch of lumps on logs….disgraceful). Of course, they are probably scared to breath sideways so, who knows….
As for the use of the “N” word, I have befriended/worked around/socialized with minorities enough to know that the “N” word flows out of mouths like water from a well. I find it amusing that people are offended that an African American used the word when I am sure that word has been used in that office by staff and personnel at least five times a day. Go ahead, get on your high horse now, but everyone knows better. You look silly, as a culture, to cry wolf now when you advocate that it is different for a white person to say it opposed to a minority. I have never, ever, EVER, worked for a black professional in a serious professional environment where that word was rained down on the heads of subordinates. NEVER. Contrary to popular belief (and you reveal your ignorance with this argument) there is a very strong distaste for that word in the black professional community and ESPECIALLY when used in the workplace by people who are supposed to be setting the example. I’m not so naive as to say that the word is not used loosely in the community…it absolutely is. It is not, however, unreasonable to call into question the character of a man who would call black people “Spooks” repeatedly and allow subordinates to refer to their chrages as “Niggers” in what is supposed to be a professional environment (especially when a white man was fired for doing the exact same thing…why he is not suing the University for all the lint in their pockets, I don’t know). I challange you to find one person on the WSSU campus who has ever heard Harold Martin say or allow such a thing in the workplace. Find ONE and I’ll lick the double yellow line on MLK Jr. Drive from Bowman Gray Stadium to I-40!!! You need to spend more time around serious professional black people in serious professional environments.
You are right, the academics are a joke… but isn’t the football team and Division I more important? Oh, wait, I am “ill informed.” Sorry for reminding you of your own words and acts. I’ve never put football before academics on this blog. Don’t link stuff you’re getting from the comments section to my feelings. Academics should always be the first priority of the Administration…period.
And, how long as the Chancellor been there? Clearly, he has not been around long enough for the academics to be like they are at WSSU. You want honestly, look at the prior chancellor and realize that Reaves inherited the academic problem. It just didn’t go wrong when he got there. Again, he inherited a fully operational (with cracked windshield and lost hubcaps) Ford Tarus. When Harold Martin arrived, WSSU was a broken and rusted Ford Pinto. DJR is slowly allowing the University to slide back towards that Pinto. Nobody said the University was perfect or close to it. What has been said is that DJR is killing confidence, ruining morale, and trampling State procedures. That what this is about.
No, just blame everything on Reaves. That’s what you want to do anyway. No, WSSU blames it on ineffective leadership from Chapel Hill to the Chancellor’s Office. Further, they blame it on a culture (black and white) that has allowed what should be a thriving state school to be filled to the brim with a number of unqualified, uncaring, lazy administrators and professors who care more about their checks then they do about the students!!! DJR has personally broght in a few of those. The rest have been at WSSU for a number of years under a number of administrators including the great Harold Martin. Again, the difference is leadership: Harold fired any number of those bad apples and the rest knew well enough to get in line and/or at least fake it!!! There are many GREAT people at WSSU…superstars in the waiting. If DJR is allowed to stay on, they will leave and the University will be completely lost.
Keep it coming, Deacon1. I can’t give you exactly what you want but I can tell you the truth.
Thank you Deacon,
I work at WSSU and half of these idiots are just scared that they may be fired. I think the Chancellor is doing what he has to do given the situation. People want to praise Martin but what did he really do..Oh okay he grew the student population by importing a bunch of kids that wouldnt get into a community college elsewhere. Oh okay he decided to go Division I in sports..at the cost of approximately 2 million a year that the school doesnt have?
I’m down with Chancellor Reaves all the way and I pray he succeeds.
Revonda,why don’t you try and defend yourself? You did the same thing to Chancellor Vitale that you did to Harold Martin. If we have the invoices pulled during her tenue you will find the same pattern of signing her name without her approval. Dr. Vitale will probably be willing to say she wasn’t aware of what ReVonda was doing because of the trust factor.
We are in the process of asking the Anderson Center to verfy the number of AKA events that were booked by ReVonda and see how many of the events were charged to the office of the chancellor!!!You AKA members need to check this out because many of you attented these gatherings put on by RaVonda.
Reaves is aware of these things and he sanctioned them. (Comment: Can you say misappropriation of tax payer money? Can you say abuse of power? Blogger)