D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
December
2008
Inaugurating Hope
Thank you so much for that editorial ("To Seek a Newer World," November Editor's Notebook)! It is wonderful. For what it is worth, I agree wholeheartedly.
Soon-to-be President Obama is just what we need, maybe even another FDR.
John M. Sully
via email
Watching the Watchdogs
Editor's note: Business Exposure columnist Donna Clayton Lawder attempted to contact Jeff Goin when Chadwick University was first registered with the Town of Silver City, but her calls were not returned. She also sought a response from him when writing the item in the November issue, but his answering-machine message said he was "out of the country and incommunicado."I was disappointed by last month's Desert Exposure article "College Try" by Donna Clayton Lawder (Business Exposure, November). Perhaps most troubling about Ms. Clayton Lawder's story is her reliance on several supposed "watchdog" Web sites as the sources of her information. In this age of cyberspace, under the pretense of being a "watchdog," anyone can put up a Web site and write virtually anything they want about anybody to promote their own agenda. I wonder what would happen if there were a journalistic "watchdog" organization out there that took factually inaccurate, unflattering shots at publications like Desert Exposure and its writers. How unfortunate it would be if other publications failed to check their sources, relied on the misinformation spewed by these supposed watchdog groups, and then perpetuated the dissemination of inaccurate, damaging smears.
I am confident that Ms. Clayton Lawder and the editors at Desert Exposure had no malicious intent when they wrote "College Try." Nevertheless, I would have hoped that, when seeking unbiased information, they would have relied upon sources other than Internet "watchdog" sites.
Regarding Chadwick University, the school did have its license revoked earlier this year by the State of Alabama. Chadwick had been licensed since 1998 and its license had been renewed five times, with the latest renewal being in January 2008. However, the state's Office of Post Secondary Education re-wrote, and changed its interpretation and application of the regulations governing proprietary colleges, and Chadwick simply was unable to comply. As a result, Chadwick's license was withdrawn, and the school immediately discontinued its operations in Alabama.
At the time Chadwick's Alabama license was withdrawn, in October of this year, the school was already in "teach out" mode, and the current few remaining students had been notified that they must complete their course work on or before Jan. 31, 2009. At this point, the remaining students were continuing to do their coursework and wanted to conclude their education. Had the school closed, these students would have been left high and dry.
So, since the school could not remain in Alabama, I acquired the school and moved it to New Mexico. At this time, Chadwick is in the process of applying for a license with the State of New Mexico. The school hopes to teach out its remaining students, and when that is completed in February 2009, except for maintaining the records of its graduates, the school will close.
Despite the slant and tone of the Desert Exposure article last month, my acquisition and relocation of Chadwick University was responsible, and conducted in good faith. It's unfortunate that a school, such as Chadwick, that is committed to enabling students to complete their education should be criticized instead of appreciated.
Jeff Goin
Silver City
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