Deantini is now on Facebook
Last week, Spectator sat down with Columbia College Interim Dean James Valentini. Find out what Deantini had to say about the possibility of meeting President Barack Obama, the departure of former CC dean Michele Moody-Adams, and his new Facebook account:
- Shortly after being appointed interim dean in September, Valentini told Spectator that he planned to talk to Moody-Adams to find out why she resigned so abruptly. But eight months have gone by, and Valentini says he hasn’t spoken to Moody-Adams since she resigned. He couldn’t explain why, but he noted that “legal is the operative word”:
“If you wanted to pursue that, whether people have spoken to one another, why or why not, I’d have to send you to the president’s office. These things are decided, as they say, at a level above my pay-grade … On things like that, I’m told what I’m expected to do, and rightly so.”
- Over the course of the semester, Arts and Sciences administrators have finalized new administrative structures for A&S, including an executive committee that seems to increase the authority of Valentini and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences dean Carlos Alonso. Considering that none of the new structures suggested by McKinsey and Company were implemented, it’s hard for Valentini to say why Moody-Adams might have resigned. “Now the question really is, what was Dean Moody-Adams’ perception at the time, and how much of a factor did McKinsey play in that?” he said. “I can’t say, and it would be up to Dean Moody-Adams to answer that.”
- Valentini was invited by Barnard President Debora Spar to attend Barnard’s commencement, where he will get to hear Obama, CC ’83, speak. Valentini doesn’t think he will get the chance to meet Obama, though. “I’ve never met a president of the United States,” he said.
- A review of the Center for Career Education is nearly complete. Valentini has not had the time to review the report yet, but he’s not in a huge hurry:
“It’s not a situation where we’re facing a crisis or there’s a great deal of concern. I came into it open to the idea that examination of it was a good idea, and the project had already been underway, and I am eager to draw it to a close and get a report, and make some decisions about how we want to proceed, but I haven’t done so yet.”
- At the end of March, Valentini joined Facebook—and he’s accepting students’ friend requests. He signed up because his middle son is a Marine stationed in Afghanistan, and he wanted to have access to the Facebook group for his son’s regiment, where information is frequently posted. Of course, once he signed up, the friend requests started pouring in:
- Valentini also weighed in on the debate over renovating Lerner Hall’s Broadway Room, which has brought the Student Space Initiative—which wants to turn the Broadway Room into a lounge—into conflict with performing arts groups, who frequently use the room as practice space. Valentini said that a new space would need to be found for performing arts groups before the Broadway Room could be renovated. “We can’t eliminate a resource for one group in order to provide a resource for everyone,” he said. “We have to find a way that everyone’s needs will be met.”
These posts are an incredible opportunity for everyone to learn more about our administrators, and its great that Spec is sharing (they really should have been long before).
But what about the question we’re all dying to know? How does he feel about his portrayal in the VShow!?
I’m not Dean Valentini, but I thought it was rather silly. It’s a funny stock character (the loveable buffoon, the white wannabe-rapper), but it just felt so out of place on him.
This was the only thing I was waiting to read as I was scrolling down as well.
I imagine they haven’t talked to him since, but come on—the students demand the hard hitting facts, Spec!
Haha yes, the interview took place before the Varsity Show. Seconding what John says lower down, I was fortunate enough to get his opinion on the matter earlier today, and he said that while he couldn’t say if Gray actually represented him well since he doesn’t know, other people definitely thought that Gray did. He also thought that it was a thoroughly professional performance, and he got his program signed by the cast at the end.
Καλησπέρα cynical, Πιστεύω ότι τον τελευταίο χρόνο πολλοί άνθρωποι άρχισαν να αντιλαμβάνονται τι είναι οι διεθνείς αγορές χρήματος.Αυτό είναι το επαναλαμβανόμενο πάτερν που παρατηρείς. Τώρα αν αυτό γίνεται λόγω προσυμφωνημένης συνωμοσίας δεν ξέρω. Μάλλον όλο το σύστημα είναι μια προσυμφωνημένη συνωμοσία. Όπως σοφά έλεγε κάποιος πριν από καιρό: “Το ότι είσαι τρελός δεν σημαίνει ότι δεν δεν σε κυνηγάνε κιόλας”.Αυτό που έμαθα εγώ είναι ότι πολλοί οικονομολόγοι (ακόμη και σε πολύ υψηλές θέσεις στις κεντρικές τράπεζες και πανεπιστήμια), επειδή δεν είχαν ιδέα για το πώς λειτουργούν οι αγορές σε τόσο αβέβαια διαστήματα, βρέθηκαν να λένε φοβερές ανακρίβειες. Όσο για τους οίκους αξιολόγησης………στους παροικούντες στην Ιερουσαλήμ ήταν εδώ και πολλά χρόνια γνωστό ότι είναι καραγκιόζηδες. Σε σχέση με την Ελλάδα το πρώτο καραγκιοζιλίκι τους ήταν όταν μας ανέβασαν πολλές κατηγορίες (στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του 2000-2010). Και όχι μόνο οι οίκοι αξιολόγησης. Έχει μεγάλη σημασία να γίνει κατανοητό ότι και οι μεγάλες επενδυτικές τράπεζες και άλλοι θεσμικά εμπλεκόμενοι μια ζωή “βαρούσαν” στου καραγκιόζη τον γάμο που ουσιαστικά ή πήγαιναν με το μομέντουμ των αγορών για να μην διαψευστούν ή απλά όταν υποστήριζαν κάτι όλοι μαζί όταν αυτό γινόταν συνέβαινε επειδή πολλοί το πίστευαν (αυτοεκπληρούμενη προφητεία).Γι’ αυτό όταν βλέπω οικονομολόγους της κακιάς ώρας (κυβερνητικούς ή μη) να λένε ότι αυτά που εκείνοι υποστηρίζουν δήθεν αποδεικνύονται με στοιχεία, ξέρω ότι είναι εντελώς αστοιχείωτοι. Όσο το μέλλον των λαών καθορίζεται από τις διεθνείς αγορές τόσο περισσότερο η εξουσία καθορισμού των πολιτικών θα λειτουργεί υπέρ των μεγάλων διεθνών εταιρειών που απαιτούν μεγάλες κερδοφορίες.
“He couldn’t explain why, but he noted that “legal is the operative word”
Not surprising. It’s common practice to have both parties under some agreement not to speak to each other or to limit communication in some way.
Hi all–I’m one of the writers of this year’s show. Deantini came to the closing night’s performance and had such a good time that he stayed to help strike the set! The character was goofy, but he took it in stride.
He also spoke at length with Gray Henry, who played him in the show, and said he only got two things wrong: “I don’t wear green ties, and I don’t wear striped ties.”
John! Glad that he (and Gray) enjoyed it!
John Goodwin correctly reports what I said about the tie. But, Gray was fantastic. I enjoyed his portrayal so much that I offered him “Dean for a Day” honors on a future date.
You can’t help someone that doesn’t want to help teeesmlvhs. All you can do is be there for him and support him. Keep reminding him of his resolution, but don’t nag him. Good luck! e299a5