Master of Disaster in PR, Zimpher is 2nd to None!

[Mick Bergman]

http://www.renewhuggins.com/default.asp?id=10&mnu=10
 
I received this anonymously but I thought it was a good article.
 
Mick
 
 
Master of Disaster in PR      Zimpher is 2nd to None!
Somewhere, someplace, there has to be someone or group that hasn't been
offended by Nancy Zimpher, U.C.'s rookie prez, but we just don't know
where to look. One public relations blunder is followed by another, then
another, again another, and still another. When will it ever cease? 
For starters, in a brief span of time, she dumped the Deans of four of
the most prestigious colleges at the University. Deans of the Law
School, School of Engineering, Medical College, and College of Business,
were "moved". Faculty coined the term "you could get 'Zimphed'". Since
they still draw pay from the school, none of the Deans will speak
publically about their removal. Offending the medical, legal,
engineering and business communities in one fell swoop bothered her not
a wit! 
Then the mother of ALL public relations blunder! Ms. Zimpher declines to
renew the contract of Basketball Coach Bob Huggins and gives no reason
why!  The uproar that followed resonated through the state. She wasn't
here March 9th, 2002, and apparently no one told her about the 16
thousand fans who gave Huggins a standing and roaring ovation while
countless thousands other Bearcat fans watched on TV.  For 15 minutes
the Firstar Arena rocked with applause for the coach who had just won
his 30th game of the season (a school record) and the Conference and
Tournament Championships for the Umpteenth Time. No one told her of the
thousands who cheered appreciatively when Huggins returned to the home
arena after recuperating from a heart attack. 
So Bearcat Fans were ignored and offended.  So What?
If the top tier basketball program went down the tubes, and took the
football program with it, then it must be in her mind that sports will
take a secondary role at U.C.  Academics in the elitist institution she
dreams about should be the criteria for excellence. 
Then, in rapid order, public relation blunders concerning the law
school. Zimpher hires Louis D. Bilionis, a National Director for the
ACLU as the Dean of the Law School. This in the most conservative city
in the United States.  Why should we worry about what Cincinnati thinks!
(removed quotes)  Adding insult to injury, Zimpher hires Bilionis' wife
as a full professor - with Tenure!  I'll bet the UC Faculty who strive
mightily for tenure loved that! 
Still more you ask?
How about dumping on forty thousand Ohio Lawyers - a large percentage of
which are University of Cincinnati grads. Without giving them any
opportunity to join their alma mater, she hired one Monica Rimai, a
crony from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Ms Zimpher's old school, as General
Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs. Turns out Ms. Rimai is not
licensed to practice law in Ohio. These same Ohio Lawyers she ignored
are counsel to many charitable trusts and would be benefactors. Think
their in the mood to recommend giving and bequeathing to U.C.?
How was Zimpher selected for her office? A search committee, chaired by
car salesman Jeff Wyler, a member of the Board of Trustees appointed by
Governor Taft, picked her from Wisconsin-Milwaukee and brought her to
the big leagues. A bit too early, it now appears. 
Why should Ms. Zimpher be alone in these PR screw ups? She's not.
Phillip Cox, a rival Xavier University Grad is President of the Board of
Trustees of U.C. How did that happen? Jumping in the Huggins PR mess he
backed Ms. Zimpher by taking swipes at the Coach, implying that Huggs
only recruited kids of questionable character, and there was that matter
of his D.U.I. conviction. That brought howls from the Bearcat faithful
and basketball alumnus who resented his remarks. For all insulted past
basketball players Anthony Buford, color announcer for WXIX and star of
Huggins 1992 Final Four Team, demanded Cox's resignation. The Reverend
Terry Nelson, also a member of that team, also had some strong words for
Cox. 
Resign? Apologize?! Not Cox. He defended himself by calling for a
"higher class" athlete, inferring that Coach Huggins should be
accountable for the misdeeds of some of his players. This from the man
who also had a D.U.I . charge in Warren County, Ohio in 1999, to which
he pleaded guilty. More Public Relations woes, Mr. Cox has $900,000 in
tax liens against his property for failure to pay self employment taxes.
And for 5 years his corporate charter for Cox Financial Corp was
suspended by the Secretary of State for Ohio. The saga continues: Seems
Cox and was also cited by the National Association of Security Dealers
for violations in the sale of interests in securities. For that He was
censured and fined $15,000.  
About the D.U.I. charge - Mr. Cox, who registered a .127 on the blood
alcohol test [far above the legal limit] now denies he had been
drinking, and pleaded guilty on advice of counsel. As for his corporate
charter, Mr. Cox says he doesn't remember the charter being suspended
[for 5 years] and has not commented on the securities charge. And this
from the man who claims he [Cox Financial Corp.] has more than $1
Billion under management and 15,000 clients. 
Does the University of Cincinnati teach a Public Relations course;
PR101? 
Could Ms. Zimpher pass?!
Partial source for Cox info -
http://www.western-star.com/business/content/business/stories/2005/06/23
/ws0623philcox.html
<http://www.western-star.com/business/content/business/stories/2005/06/2
3/ws0623philcox.html> 
Terry Nelson website -
http://www.runngunbasketball.blogspot.com/
<http://www.runngunbasketball.blogspot.com/> 
Article referencing Anthony Buford's comment -
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050602/COL03/50602
0403/1007/col03
<http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050602/COL03/5060
20403/1007/col03> 
30th win in 2002 - 
http://www.cincypost.com/2002/mar/10/uchoop031002.html
<http://www.cincypost.com/2002/mar/10/uchoop031002.html> 
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