A word from a PBA alumnus

PBA alum Steven Demmler recently wrote an opinion piece for our friends at the Palm Beach Post. In order to reach a broader alumni readership, he's allowed us to post it here as well. Thanks, Steve.

Palm Beach Atlantic University's mission statement, "Enlightening minds, enriching souls, and extending hands," expresses the guiding telos of the university. Students hear this for the first time at "Fish Week," the school's take on freshman orientation. They hear it through four years of chapel services, and they are reminded of it one last time at commencement.

Therefore, the news of President Lu Hardin's resignation and guilty plea to federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering during his time as president of the University of Central Arkansas raised an important question in the mind of this alumnus: Did the board have PBAU's mission statement in mind when accepting the independent committee's recommendation to hire Hardin? Additionally, just how bad was the candidate pool that someone under federal investigation was the best choice?

Either PBAU's board of trustees was informed of Hardin's alleged fiscal misconduct, or it was not. If not, the committee formed by the board - whose recommendation the trustees accepted - was negligent. A simple Google search two years ago would have led to numerous articles about the "Lu Hardin/Central Arkansas Scandal."

Conversely, if the trustees were informed of his alleged involvement, then Hardin's financial achievements at the University of Central Arkansas outweighed any concerns, federal or ethical, that the board may have had. As leaders of a university bound by the above mission statement, they failed. If Hardin was the right man to lead the university toward enriched minds and souls, what material is the board attempting to enrich the students with?

Instead of seeking a president promising the accrual of status symbols - what a sad commentary that Chick-fil-A's arrival is considered a status symbol - they should have invested in someone who has shown integrity in this position. They should have invested in a president who better embodies the university's faith and mission. Financial strides and upticks in reputation ought to have been of ancillary concern. Of what benefit is it to gain the whole world and forfeit one's values?

The trustees are detached and aloof from the student body and the majority of faculty and staff; they answer to no one. And if they do attempt to be forthcoming, it is often only through short news releases detailing the board's many victories. PBAU's home page has two releases on the topic of life after Lu Hardin without mentioning why we are suddenly living a life after Lu Hardin. But don't worry, our head baseball coach is a World Series winner!

To err is human, and, thankfully, with Hardin's resignation, the board immediately has a chance at redemption, a chance to show that the university's highest leaders have not lost sight of their announced mission. There must be transparency on the part of the trustees. Would they have appointed Hardin if their students, faculty, staff and benefactors knew the truth? There must be a desire to see PBAU as a campus actively seeking to enlighten minds, enrich souls and reach out their hands without devaluing the faith to which the entire university is dedicated.

This means not dissolving, but creating staff positions focused on outreach and missions. This means investing more in students and the infrastructure. Finally, this means selecting a leader who first strives to be an impeccable embodiment of the university's mission, not an educational and fiscal visionary. If we (the school and myself) believe that faithfulness is rewarded, then let us be faithful to the mission and standards we declare worthy.