Tiffin University NOT a Democracy?

Tiffin University governance - of employees and students - is NOT an exercise in Democracy.

Nor should it be.

When faced with opposition to its own mission and policies from within, No University President will deny that a more "heavy-handed" approach is necessary. To allow dissidence within Tiffin University's campus could result in yet another Ohio College going defunct.

At independent colleges, such as the Tiffin University, long term survival is often dependent upon bold, deliberate, and decisive action to carry out their mission. The mission is usually stated in a formal Strategic Plan that, if not substantially executed. can result in bad things happening. For example, the University could lose accreditation, loss of revenue from students who won't come to an unaccredited college, and the President, along with some staff will certainly be fired from their jobs for their lack of effectiveness! In the higher education industry, it is considered fair, necessary, and just that Universities are NOT Democracies.

If you are not familiar with this basic University governing philosophy, here's a link that gives a very rare look into the ongoing NON-DEMOCRATIC governing philosophy and practices of Tiffin University Officials:

http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/protect/academicfreedom/investrep/2002/Tif.htm

Although I do NOT agree with the methods he has chosen because they hurt Tiffin University neighbors, with the abusive aspects of the Miami Street Project, I can sympathize with TU President, Paul Marion's "rock-and- a- hard-place” situation.

He is on a mission. He has a Board-approved plan that he MUST carry out to keep University accreditation, his job, and that of other high-paid staff members. All of this is VERY STRONG motivation to do everything possible to ensure Tiffin University's Institutional survival...even if it means "bending the rules; or giving up your personal sense of integrity. Dr. Marion and company are very effective in ensuring their survival and prosperity BECAUSE they carry out their mission and plans in a much focused way, without consideration for any issues they are known to call "irrelevant". Herein lies the rub.

Nothing about governing Tiffin University's resources is Democratic. If you are employed here, you either "tow the company line" (and don't oppose any University policies), or it is quite clear that you
will be fired from your job. If you don't believe this, you haven't spoken to enough of Tiffin University’s 180+ employees, or their relatives who will quietly tell you some version of their own fears that their loved one can loose their job, if they "speak-up" about any TU related indignity. [Why else would nearly every TU employee who was asked, say to us, "No, I work for Tiffin University, I would be fired, so I can't sign the Referendum Petition!” ].

If you are a student, please don't assume that the $25,000+ you bring to the University gives you any license to proclaim your objections to important indignities you might notice on campus or off. You too will have to suffer silently, or you will quickly get a lesson in dark power-politics that will scare out of you any trust and esteem you might have accorded your institutional Officials. If you are intent on having your young innocence thus violated, you might be best-served to patiently wait for other dark University-inspired events to take their toll on you. In this way, probability suggests you will be spared most indignities. The link above, gives but one account of how this affects would-be activist students at Tiffin University.

Remember, through the energetic, fresh and smiling faces of TU students, this “fear” dynamic quietly permeates the Tiffin University's campus. Do you think Dr. Marion and his key subordinates, such as Dr. Grandillo, are also subject to it? If you are highly paid, or highly compensated in some other way, it is easier to rationalize or encourage the indignity. If you know anyone not-so-privileged who has ever been out of a job, this is tough to take in an economically depressed city like Tiffin, Ohio. It can change your values and re-order your priorities in a way that most of us are not proud to admit.

TU Officials are extremely effective at governing this NON-Democracy known as Tiffin University, with its attendant dynamic of silent fear and oppression among their own rank-and-file…as well as their own fresh and smiling young students.

Why do TU Officials act like they have a right to subject Tiffin, Ohio Citizens to the same abusive methods of governance?

What makes them act like they actually expect our Tiffin City Council and Mayor to act as a cartel on their behalf?

Why do we allow the pervasive influence of Tiffin University Officials to virtually "dictate" abusive actions of more than just one or two Tiffin City Officials?

We need to separate this currently confused mission of Tiffin, Ohio governance from the governing philosophy and self-interested influences of Tiffin University Officials. Encourage and allow the University to survive and prosper on its own merits. The abuses should NOT be subsidized at the TAX expense of regular Citizens. Responsible Citizens for Tiffin objects to subsidizing publicly disputed TU projects with Citizen tax dollars...or with Tiffin Citizen’s neighborhood streets...or with our homes.

Just like any private enterprise, Tiffin University Officials are legally allowed to fire their employees and to dictate the rules every employee (and student) is required to follow. If employees don’t obey Tiffin University rules, or protest them in public, Tiffin University Officials have a documented history of silencing them into the ranks of the unemployed. This is the punishment for speaking up!.. even if employees would have a family, a modest mortgage on a home, and are now headed for certain financial ruin.

However, I am hard-pressed to find any Responsible Tiffin Citizen who does not clearly condemn the same philosophy and practice when applied to the governance of Tiffin Citizens. Even though a few Seneca county businesses will benefit financially, the resulting abuses to the rest of us are nothing short of outrageous!

If YOU vote ‘NO’, TU will NOT suffer in any way,. The simple act of voting ‘NO’ will be a powerful show of citizen action that will mark Tiffin Ohio Citizens as vital patriots of our country, protectors of our constitution, and protectors of those among us who would be abused because they have been declared “irrelevant” by TU’s top official. These are civic principles that will also save $800,000 in TAXES that would otherwise hurt some individual citizens.

Responsible Citizens need to take back our City and place it into the hands of those elected council members and the Mayor who represent us! This is one example of where your “NO’ vote can make an immediate difference! It does NOT cost you one additional penny. Your ‘NO’ vote does NOT cost the Tiffin University one additional penny either!

Please mobilize with the Responsible Citizens for Tiffin on November 4th, and vote "NO" on the Tiffin University's Miami Street Project Referendum Ordinance 07-70. Your employer is probably NOT a Tiffin University Official, so YOU can't be fired for voting "NO". All others, when you are alone in the voting booth, practicing your constitutional right as an American Citizen, please consider voting "NO", too!

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter

Vote 'NO' to agree with Advertiser-Tribune Editorial

I agree with the Advertiser-Tribune on the principle of protecting the use of our TAX DOLLARS.

In his recent editorial entitled: "Bailout shouldn’t protect profits, salaries" (http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/509337.html?nav=5006) the A-T Editor reminds us that TAX DOLLAR decisions "...must not cross the line to protecting the profits - or the salaries - of companies and executives that will benefit."

Unacceptable behavior is permitted by government officials, and encouraged by big business, whenever the big financially successful institutions are subsidized by our tax dollars. Remember what the A-T Editor wrote:

"Taxpayers who probably will be on the hook for $700 billion to fund the bill are reluctant enough to spend that kind of money to keep financial institutions from sinking. If they learn anyone, either personally or corporately, actually has made additional profits as a result of the measure, they will be furious. They should be."

Thank you, Mr. Editor, and everyone else at the Advertiser-Tribune who supports this line of responsible thinking! It is clearly in every one's best interest that NO single person, business or institution profiteers from TAX SUBSIDIZED decisions that are supposed to benefit ALL of us...but would abuse us, instead. I agree with the A-T that we should all be "furious"!

Do you notice the civic-minded principles the Advertiser-Tribune espouses, and to which nearly all Tiffin Citizens agree?

Did you notice that these principles clearly explain what has gone wrong with the financially powerful Tiffin University and their Miami Street Project? Did you notice TU Officials are trying to get TAX MONEY to pay for their Miami Street Improvement project, even if it would harm every Tiffin Tax Payer in the neighborhood, while it benefits a select group of businesses?

Tiffin University continues its march as the most financially powerful and influential business in Tiffin, Ohio. They don't need the tax subsidy from financially struggling taxpayers, but every private business person in line for a contract is "drooling". The financial drooling of these private businesses is based on the hope that Tiffin University Officials, along with the Chamber of Commerce Board, will be able to confuse Tiffin Taxpayers into abusing each other from the voting booth.

I agree with the Advertiser-Tribune when the Editor said,

"That is human nature. It is understandable. But it is not acceptable."

So, get furious! The right thing to do is to vote 'NO' on the Miami Street Project Referendum from Ordinance 07-70.

I'm glad to hear that the Advertiser-Tribune agrees with good principles of Citizenship! This is only one more principled reason to vote 'NO' on Tiffin University's Miami Street Improvement Project. Please vote 'NO' on the Referendum for Ordinance 07-70. Your 'NO' vote is for responsible use of our TAXES. Please get furious, now!

Thank you,

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter

Eminent Domain Action by Tiffin University?

After viewing another website that is frequented by Tiffin University Officials, they confirm that University Officials have already started an eminent domain action against the Monaco Family!

According to a conversation I had with a prominent Tiffin civic leader and banker, TU wants the Monaco Family property "...really bad". TU officials are willing to do anything to get it, except pay for it after a good faith negotiation with the Monaco's!

One of the precursors to eminent domain is that the property owners refuse to negotiate with the people seeking to acquire their property. So, whether they win the Miami Street Project Referendum, or not, TU's so called "offers" of $125,000...$150,000...and now the rumored $500,000 have given Tiffin University's President, Paul Marion yet another reason to exploit our Tiffin City Government for your Tax dollars needed to "buy" the property through an eminent domain action. Dr. Marion's plan is to avoid a good faith negotiation by getting the Tiffin City Government to CONDEMN the Monaco Family Home...forcing the Monaco's to give-up their property. It would also clear the way for closing Jackson Street to neighborhood through traffic. Why is it that TU can force our Tiffin City Government to do their "dirty work" for them? Just follow the money!

Director of Tiffin University Development, Mike Grandillo and his 1/2 dozen associates, who always "post" on other websites without using their actual names, have made their sentiments clear! These Anonymous bloggers of Seneca County have NO scruples. They have publicly accused the very elderly Mrs. Monaco of being "greedy": her son is accused of "raping Tiffin University of millions of dollars": and these so-called Tiffin Civic leaders would have the Monaco Family "run out of Dodge"...because the Monaco Family opposes the idea of closing their public street, and donating their home to help Tiffin University advance their strategic plan! The Monaco's are competition that stands in the way of the private real-estate interests, as well as TU Officials...often the same people.

In the end, after the Monaco's decide to leave their property, someone will have to agree on how much the Monaco Family Home is worth to both the Monaco Family and whomever might want to purchase it. How much is it worth to acquire:

1. the ONLY private property that controls permission to have Jackson Street vacated near Tiffin University?

2. the most talked-about, written-about, blogged, and viewed private property in Tiffin, Ohio?

3. the largest home on the largest private lot in the middle of Tiffin University's campus?

4. a house that can be rented to 24 students by the Tiffin University at $4000 per bed?

5. a rental unit size that Tiffin University Officials typically exploit for revenues of $96,000 per year?

6. A Family home to 4 generations of Monaco's who have lived there starting in 1949...and will indefinitely enjoy living among and renting property to college students who need the price break?

7. a property that is considered as a nuisance by TU Officials because the elderly Mrs. Monaco and her family wants to keep their residence on Jackson Street open to through traffic?

8. a property that TU, if they played fair with their neighbors, would be required to ask permission through a "vacation" petition, so they could possibly own the street they want to capture as campus property?

9. a property that stands in the way of TU's Board-approved Strategy to acquire the whole neighborhood?

Why vote 'NO' on Ordinance 07-70 Miami Street Project Referendum? Because you are NOT one of the Anonymous bloggers from Tiffin University! Please join those of us who are Responsible Citizens of Tiffin, Ohio...and cast your 'NO vote. If you don't, you or your neighbor might be next. It is NOT a good use of our TAX DOLLARS!

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, OH Voter

Taxes Subsidize Tiffin University?

Since Tiffin is such a small town with a shrinking population, how do we justify paying taxes from our shrinking tax base to continually subsidize Tiffin University? To explain this, I was told by one of the McDonalds Breakfast Club participants to simply "follow the money!"

It may be true, but I find it hard to accept the insinuation that we have celebrated Civic Leaders who are profiteering from their close relationship with either our Tiffin City Government, or the Tiffin University. There are laws against "private inurement" as the IRS calls it, so its existence in Tiffin would probably be a criminal offense. Does this despicable practice exist in Tiffin, or not?

Follow the money?