Michael Schoenfeld Says Goodbye...Again
In his 12-year career as the flack-in-chief for Vanderbilt University, Michael Schoenfeld kissed a lot of asses, many of whom paid their farewell respects to him at an event at the school last night. The goodbye gala, one of approximately 56 since Schoenfeld announced his departure in February, featured the usual list of nebulous schmoozers, along with a fairly impressive gaggle of notables in politics, media and law. The last two mayors, Karl Dean and Bill Purcell, were in attendance, although I missed Purcell and would have missed Dean had I not ventured into the tiny area of the ballroom that he occupied quietly. Also there were former Tennessean editor and publisher John Seigenthaler, USA Today editor Ken Paulson and Tennessean publisher Ellen Leifeld. Some of the top lawyers I spotted were Lee Barfield, Paul Ney, Keith Simmons, Byron Trauger and his wife U.S District Judge Aleta Trauger. Pith's own Bruce Barry was in attendance rocking a ratty pair of jeans and a gray sweatshirt—his standard uniform—as was former Scene hitman John Spragens, who now toils for Rep. Jim Cooper and probably was the best-looking guy in the room. (Which I don't say as a compliment to Spragens.) ACLU honcho Hedy Weinberg and Hillsboro Village activist and attorney Jayne Gordon rounded out the guest list. Incredibly, I didn't spy Lucius Carroll.
New Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos, still sporting an "I can't believe they picked me" grin, said a few nice things about how great Schoenfeld is. Schoenfeld, in turn, said a few nice things about the greatness of Vanderbilt, which apparently isn't great enough to keep Schoenfeld away from Duke, where he'll work as the school's vice president for public affairs and government relations. The next time a Duke Lacrosse player is accused of raping a stripper, you'll probably see Schoenfeld on CNN spinning the story in his employer's favor.
Mike, we'll miss you and your expense account. But we're looking forward to ridiculing Vanderbilt again. If only the Gees were still in power.
Comments
You embarrass yourself. This is tasteless, crude and unwarranted. I've worked with Mike Schoenfeld for the last 11 years. He is recognized locally and nationally as a class act, a highly skilled professional and an incredibly effective advocate for Vanderbilt University. Could THAT be why so many people organized and attended events to wish him and his family well?
Posted 05/29/2008 at 04:28:02 PMWe love Mike and he knows it.
Posted 05/29/2008 at 04:34:42 PMJeff, this is our way of saying the same. Mike knows our language, so he no doubt feels the love from this post.
Posted 05/29/2008 at 04:36:21 PMJeff is my friend and colleague, and trust me, you'd want him on your side when things get nutty in DC (I know, never happens, right?). Besides, Matt is right -- take Noshville at 7:30 on any Tuesday morning, add shrimp and a band, and, voila, that's the perfect going away party for a certified member of the chattering class.
True, Lucius wasn't there, but neither was Dobie. Come to think of it, have you ever seen the two of them together? What if...
Posted 05/29/2008 at 05:54:04 PM"But we're looking forward to ridiculing Vanderbilt again"
This is journalism?
Posted 05/29/2008 at 09:38:33 PMNo. Public service.
Posted 05/30/2008 at 11:04:15 PMWhat a stupid article. Seems to be a small-town attitude, even in the Scene (surprisingly--hey aren't you supposed to be the progressive paper?), that requires sniping about those who choose to leave town. FYI, the cultural and academic landscape of Vanderbilt improved rapidly under the leadership of Gee, particularly in the area of diversity. Read on:
>>During Gee's tenure, Vanderbilt enjoyed significant success in a number of areas, including:
* Completing a $1.25 billion capital campaign two years ahead of schedule and raising the goal to $1.75 billion – with an emphasis on endowed scholarships and faculty chairs.
* Growing the university’s endowment by almost 50 percent, to more than $3 billion.
* Leading the country in the rate of growth for academic research, with external funding increasing from $232 million in 2000 to more than $450 million today.
* Doubling the annual budget for financial aid from $30 million to $60 million, and reducing significantly the debt burden for graduating students.
* Launching the $100 million Academic Venture Capital Fund to seed new research centers in life sciences, social sciences, humanities and culture, which have led to important discoveries and insights and new educational opportunities for undergraduates.
* Increasing applications for admission, from 8,000 in 2000 to more than 13,000 in 2007, and becoming one of the most selective institutions in the country, with average SAT scores rising almost 100 points and with more than 90 percent of incoming students coming from the top 10 percent of their high school classes.
* Renewing Vanderbilt’s commitment to being one of a small number of private universities that admit applicants regardless of their ability to pay and that meet the full demonstrated financial need of all students so that a Vanderbilt education is affordable to all.
* Leading one of the most rapid changes in diversity, with a 50 percent increase in minority students.
* Completing or beginning construction of more than $700 million new facilities for medical research, student services, studio arts, engineering, law, children’s health, diabetes care, performing arts, interdisciplinary work in arts and sciences, tennis, baseball, Jewish life and African-American culture.
* Becoming the most-preferred provider of health care services in Middle Tennessee, with the opening of the most advanced children’s hospital in the country and new clinical services in a number of areas.
* Starting construction of The Commons, a $150 million investment in the undergraduate experience that will transform student life by creating a “campus within a campus” for first-year students beginning with the entering class of 2008.
* Restructuring Vanderbilt’s athletics program, which resulted in unprecedented success with seven of Vanderbilt’s teams ranked in the top 25 during the Spring 2007 season.
What have you done lately?
Posted 06/18/2008 at 03:03:54 PM