Harkin Institute

[CyDude16]

This was 20 years ago... and yes i think leath would have made a big issue about it if we had it today, as today it could be a great asset to the university.

I dont know nearly about the issues as they stood 20 years ago though, as far as the projected value of the station then, the sale value, etc.

A lot of it was because U of I didn't have a similar station, and add in the fact, had he gotten his wish, Iowa State would be U of I-Ames.

[Trice]

I love those who blame branstad for injecting politics into this.... that happened the day the regents slipped through naming a center after a sitting senator. That was a bad idea from the beginning.

Leath was right in his decision, and i'm glad he stood up for ISU rather than caving.

The center wouldn't have existed without the sitting senator and the ability to raise funds in his name. Can you articulate why, exactly, it would be such a bad idea to name this center after him while he's still in office?

[CyDude16]

The center wouldn't have existed without the sitting senator and the ability to raise funds in his name. Can you articulate why, exactly, it would be such a bad idea to name this center after him while he's still in office?

Because it's someone of a different political ideology. So it's automatically bad, bad, bad! I mean it's not like Harkin is retiring in 2014 or anything.

[Trice]

Because it's someone of a different political ideology. So it's automatically bad, bad, bad! I mean it's not like Harkin is retiring in 2014 or anything.

I'm about 98% sure you're exactly right. If someone wanted to create a Branstad Center at the University of Iowa I'm sure the Republicans would be up in arms about that, right?

In fairness though, this center was approved before it was known Harkin was going to retire. Though I've always thought the creation of the center was a pretty big smoke signal that he would not seek another term - but nobody seemed to pick up on it.

[Cy94]

Disappointing

[alarson]

Because it's someone of a different political ideology. So it's automatically bad, bad, bad! I mean it's not like Harkin is retiring in 2014 or anything.

Nope. I wouldntve found it right to have a grassley or branstad institute either. But yes, feel free to continue. Or maybe its you that has the opposite bias- youre only ok with this because its named for someone you politically agree with.

[Trice]

Nope. I wouldntve found it right to have a grassley or branstad institute either. But yes, feel free to continue. Or maybe its you that has the opposite bias- youre only ok with this because its named for someone you politically agree with.

I don't really care for politicians as esteemed and established as Harkin or Grassley. It's not like they're two-term House members or something. You still haven't offered up any reason why this is such a bad thing.

[Trice]

This seems like a good way to quiet the controversy.

Leath statement

[Cyclonepride]

You mean the state that is now struggling to find a way to spend a surplus?

To the cave!

Surpluses are embarrassing. It means they were ineffective at blowing money.

[keepngoal]

This seems like a good way to quiet the controversy.

Leath statement

/end of thread

[acoustimac]

His professional and personal papers from time in Congress. Essentially, like the Presidential libraries, but for a career member of the House and Senate.

The idea was that the Institute would perform some sort of public policy research. What that meant was pretty vague. The idea of housing the papers was that it would attract scholars doing research into policy measures during Harkin's congressional time.

When you consider some of the landmark legislation that Harkin was responsible for - Americans with Disabilties Act for example - this is a very big deal for Iowa State. Harkin has been huge in the area of education for decades.

[uthaman]

The center wouldn't have existed without the sitting senator and the ability to raise funds in his name. Can you articulate why, exactly, it would be such a bad idea to name this center after him while he's still in office?

Why? Because you could end up getting "research" being conducted using Iowa State's good name to support some paid for position.

Look, I get it that the existing institutes on campus are funded by corporations. And thus, they are subject to research that could serve an agenda. But, they are already there, established, and bringing in $$$ that the academics love. Leath was very much right in his demand that the Harkin Institute coordinate with other entities on campus. That is the SAME demand that is in existence for all other Institutes already in operation! Leath is responsible for protecting the good name of Iowa State University.

But, Tom and Ruth Harkin are first and foremost about themselves. Always have been. I did some work for him back when he ran for POTUS in the late 80s. That experience soured me on EVER thinking a good thought about Tom Harkin. He values his name and his legacy above Iowa State. I say let his "papers" go be studied by a bunch of kids at the Drake library.

[DistrictCyclone]

Why? Because you could end up getting "research" being conducted using Iowa State's good name to support some paid for position.

Look, I get it that the existing institutes on campus are funded by corporations. And thus, they are subject to research that could serve an agenda. But, they are already there, established, and bringing in $$$ that the academics love. Leath was very much right in his demand that the Harkin Institute coordinate with other entities on campus. That is the SAME demand that is in existence for all other Institutes already in operation! Leath is responsible for protecting the good name of Iowa State University.

But, Tom and Ruth Harkin are first and foremost about themselves. Always have been. I did some work for him back when he ran for POTUS in the late 80s. That experience soured me on EVER thinking a good thought about Tom Harkin. He values his name and his legacy above Iowa State. I say let his "papers" go be studied by a bunch of kids at the Drake library.

I'm sorry, but this seems like a rather dubious claim given that he didn't run for president until the 1992 election.

[chuckd4735]

I'm sorry, but this seems like a rather dubious claim given that he didn't run for president until the 1992 election.

Because nobody starts campaigning for president 4 years before the election...

[Trice]

Why? Because you could end up getting "research" being conducted using Iowa State's good name to support some paid for position.

Look, I get it that the existing institutes on campus are funded by corporations. And thus, they are subject to research that could serve an agenda. But, they are already there, established, and bringing in $$$ that the academics love. Leath was very much right in his demand that the Harkin Institute coordinate with other entities on campus. That is the SAME demand that is in existence for all other Institutes already in operation! Leath is responsible for protecting the good name of Iowa State University.

But, Tom and Ruth Harkin are first and foremost about themselves. Always have been. I did some work for him back when he ran for POTUS in the late 80s. That experience soured me on EVER thinking a good thought about Tom Harkin. He values his name and his legacy above Iowa State. I say let his "papers" go be studied by a bunch of kids at the Drake library.

So sham research that advances the interests of major corporations is okay, but sham research that advances the interest of a politician you don't like is not? That's essentially what you're arguing here.