The Real George Wythe

Done

2011-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Folks, I am moving on. I think this blog has served its purpose.

All the best.

Doctorate

2011-02-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

George Wythe has closed its "The Jefferson Degree™ doctoral program" to new applicants (ht: Bipolar Attorney).

Recipients of this degree hold themselves up as having a doctorate in constitutional law. However, the latest person to get this "Doctorate in Constitutional Law" wrote (I assume it was written) a dissertation on 19th-century literature, with a focus on The Scarlet Letter.

I don't quite see the connection between Hawthorne and constitutional law. But then again, we're talking about George Wythe College here.

From the GW newsletter:

The Statesman: What was the purpose and focus of your dissertation?

Dr. Elizabeth Smailes: My dissertation focuses on symbolism as an independent literary theory. While reading classics I came to realize that each author has an intention for their book and there are certain books (many of them written in the 19th century), in which the author’s intention is communicated through symbol. Without this knowledge the reader is missing 90% of what some authors are trying to say. Once I recognized this, it was my role as a statesman to help readers bridge this gap in understanding. My dissertation focuses on teaching the art of reading symbolically and gives the reader a symbolic study of The Scarlet Letter, which I propose is the mother of all symbolic novels. After completing this guided exercise you will read differently.

Dr. Elizabeth Smailes received her Doctorate of Philosophy, Constitutional Law, also known as the “Thomas Jefferson Degree,” at the Commencement Ceremonies in October. She is currently the mentor of a lucky group of GW Freshmen, whom she is guiding through great books such as Tolstoy’s Resurrection, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay’s The Federalist, and Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Dr. Smailes’ students love her energy and her ability to help them see their individual strengths and weaknesses. They especially enjoy the debates and intense discussions that the class engages in as she challenges preconceived perceptions and paradigms. She resides in Cedar City, Utah with her husband Joe.

UPDATE
Found the dissertation!

Seriously, knowledge of Scarlet Letter symbolism should be a litmus test for any future SCOTUS nominee. We certainly can't have anyone sitting on the bench without a thorough knowledge of this vital niche of constitutional law. I'm sure both sides of the aisle will agree. :)

Note

2011-02-07T09:32:00.001-08:00

Editorial Note: The Deseret News recently changed how archived articles are accessed.

As a result, some of the news article links in the left column were not working.

These links have been updated and should now be working properly.

TRGW

Leap

2011-01-31T08:56:00.000-08:00

I just got a copy of The 5000 Year Leap and put it at the head of my reading queue. So, review to follow!

I am curious why he is referred to as Dr. Skousen in the accolades. As far as I can tell, the highest degree he attained was a J.D. from George Washington University. By the way, he clearly overcame this accredited education to accomplish many things. :)

Graduate

2011-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

NOTE: The following is a cross-post from the comment section of the "Why I Don't Do TJED" blog. The comment was posted yesterday by someone who says they recently graduated from George Wythe.

As I was never home-schooled and was not introduced to LDS culture prior to college, I like to think that I have a unique viewpoint from other readers and posters on this blog.

I recently graduated from George Wythe, a promoter of TJE. It's the sad truth that they've made some horrendous errors in judgment (finances being only one and the others being already listed in your blog) but it's also truth[sic] that I enjoyed my time there and learned a lot.

Is all that I learned immediately practical for making a living in today's world? Heck no! I knew that before I applied. I had decided that I'd rather try a college focused on classics and discussion rather than a 'normal' college which would only give an exaggeration of high school.

It all depends on what we want and expect. If I'd been looking for a career in the sciences, my time and money likely would have been wasted. Philosophy (the basic[sic] of the college) is great to think about and consider, but it's never been practical.

No-one in my family expected the college, or TJE in general, to be the final word of authority. How can we completely rely on other fallible people and their very new theories and ideas? Take what works and leave what doesn't based on your own personal experience. That's what I learned from my grandfather, an intelligent man who never had more than a 6th grade education.

Perhaps part of this problem is the advertising; it's more philosophy in general than only Thomas Jefferson's (likely) education.

Also, it's not for everybody and they shouldn't say it is. Some people like and want/need that kind of education, others would hate it. Some people need and want a vo-tech and nothing more. We as a society and world need those kinds of people too.

Maybe TJE would work out better if issues such as have been addressed here would be addressed by proponents of that education style. I'll be in front of the line to admit they're elitist and loathe (like other normal humans) to admit being in error.

[whyidontdotjed.blogspot.com] is a good blog. You make good points, good arguments and good sense. Thanks for being polite and reasonable about your opinion.

Photo: George Wythe University

Guilty

2010-12-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

Groft appears to be owning up to his actions: he pleaded guilty (ht to the anon poster at 12:47). See Spectrum article here. UPDATE: Tribune article here.

Groft's statement: "The road that led me to this point started with smaller offenses that seemed benign but gradually pulled me further and further into a pit of addiction and despair. Although I continually prayed for forgiveness and experienced bouts of fortitude and upright behavior, the cycle of addiction and darkness visited me again and again and engulfed me more and more."

This appears to stem from some sort of sexual addiction.

If anyone out there is struggling with addiction, the LDS Church has a solid program for addiction recovery. You can find more details here.

Solicitation

2010-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

According to The Spectrum, an Andrew Groft of Enoch, Utah was arrested for solicitation on December 10th, 2010. Article here. (UPDATE: Salt Lake Tribune article here, Deseret News here.)

~~I don't know if this is the same Andrew Groft associated with GWU, but if it is,~~ the reason I am posting this is to illustrate that these are normal, fallible men behind TJEd and GWU.

For any of you out there that have put your faith in men, rather than a sound philosophy (I'm talking about education here, not religion), this might be a cathartic soul-searching moment. Question whether that faith is properly placed.

UPDATE
Here is the booking photo:

CLARIFICATION
Let me be absolutely clear. When we lean on others for conviction that the principles of a cause are correct, we put ourselves at risk: if those people fail us, our faith fails with them.

Much better to gain one's own conviction.

This incident can be an inflection point for TJEd and GWU adherents. Do you really know the philosophy is sound, or have you been leaning on others for your conviction?

I encourage any TJEd adherent willing to question assumptions to read the eight excellent posts by a homeschool dad at whyidontdotjed.blogspot.com.

Fellow parents, you've got one shot at raising your kids; be just as sure as you can that you are leading them down the right path. And I'm not talking about an emotional surety; I'm talking about an intellectual understanding that the principles of this movement are sound.

I submit that they are not.

Use this moment to re-examine for yourselves, and have the courage to make any--and I mean any--necessary course corrections.

GWU appears to be breaking off into its own direction, independent of TJEd. If that is truly the case, I applaud the GW Foundation board for making sound course corrections. I have said several times that, with a proper foundation and disciplined execution, the school can turn into a strong force for good.

If the school acknowledges the shortcomings of the past (via an honest, written history) and divorces itself from those shortcomings (disavowing all life experience degrees would be an excellent start), the sky is the limit.

UPDATE
Dr. Schulthies (yes, he has an accredited doctorate so I'll actually refer to him as such) released the following statement last night:

"Andrew Groft has not been associated with George Wythe University for several months. His employment terminated on June 15, 2010 and his association as a trustee ended on August 19, 2010 along with all related duties. As an institution, we do not oversee or monitor the behavior of former employees, trustees or other previous associates. We are shocked and saddened by the charges recently filed against Mr. Groft and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and children at this difficult time."

Comment Moderation

2010-11-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

I have extended non-moderated commenting to posts as old as 60 days.

GW Trustees: Repudiate Life Experience Degrees

2010-10-21T12:25:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'm going to come out and ask for it. I call on the trustees of the George Wythe Foundation to publicly repudiate the "degrees" awarded in the past for "life experience."

As has been noted in the comment sections, these "degrees" are having real consequences for real people in the real world.

I'm talking about degrees like the "doctorate"* awarded to Ann Blake Tracy** (see here) for self-publishing a book on anti-depressants that the Deseret News pointed out "contains spelling and punctuation errors and incomplete sentences." Tracy took this degree and attempted to serve as an expert witness for the defense in a child rape trial in Arkansas. Luckily, her testimony was thrown out. (David Eric WOOD v. STATE of Arkansas, Opinion delivered September 5, 2001)

How many similar cases are there that we just haven't heard about, concerning this individual or some other recipient of a George Wythe "life experience" degree?

Therefore, as the board seeks to legitimize this school, a crucial step in that process will be to stand up and divorce itself from the seamy practices of the past.

Publish an honest history. And repudiate these "degrees."

*According to this website, a "Doctorate in Health Sciences with the emphasis on Psychology"

**According to Tracy, "the Ph.D. was awarded for 'lifetime experience,' specifically for the writing of Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? which she says she has been told is the equivalent of, or 'far beyond,' a dissertation." (Source: Deseret News, "Depressed over Prozac", Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004)

UPDATE: According to Tracy's website, "Since 1992 she has testified as an expert witness in Prozac and other SSRI related court cases around the world." So it wasn't just that one case after all. Real consequences people.

UPDATE: Following is a list (with links) to degrees no longer granted by George Wythe. These may or may not have been awarded for life experience. But given the broad range of "majors," they certainly beg the question.

(On some of these you'll have to search for the term "wythe" to find the referenced statement.)

* B.A. in Finance

* B.A. in Biblical Studies

* M.A. in Youth and Family Counseling

* Ph.D. in Family Counseling

* Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies

* Ph.D. in International Business

* Ph.D. in Education

* Ph.D. in Health Sciences with emphasis on Psychology

* Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (previously at http://greatvoicesofdestiny.net/; now taken down)

* Ph.D. in Musicology (previously at http://greatvoicesofdestiny.net/; now taken down)

UPDATE:
Here is a video of "Dr." Tracy:

Ethics Emphasis

2010-10-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

In an encouraging move, George Wythe has announced it will begin infusing ethics training into its courses.

"'We’ve actually had a lot of discussion about the principles of ethics on the board over the last year,' said Curriculum Committee Chair Vicki Jo Anderson."

Indeed.

Great Comment

2010-10-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

The following comment was posted at whyidontdotjed.blogspot.com, a blog maintained by a homeschooling father:

Thank you for this blog! I was involved with TJEd from 2003 - 2006. It's VERY popular where I am, although most people I've spoken to feel quite lost on how to actually *do* it (despite the seminars, books, and articles they have purchased). Trying to do TJEd with my family was a very frustrating and unproductive experience. I nearly quit homeschooling because of TJEd! I know an alarming number of TJEd families whose older children attend schools rather than continuing to homeschool until graduation because the children were not getting what they needed at home. If TJEd works as an educational philosophy, I'm concerned as to why so many older TJEd children end up back at school or have gaping holes in their education (math, anyone?).

I am still upset over the lost years (and money!) we spent trying to make TJEd work. I know several other families who abandoned TJEd because it didn't work for them, either. I didn't read this blog until about six months ago (years after I stopped doing TJEd). Most of what you say here is spot on with the reasons I left TJEd. In some ways TJEd feels like a religion. I felt like I was renouncing a faith when I switched to something else (which really concerns me as I look back). I felt weird about telling anyone that we were doing *gasp* structured time and content, math textbooks, and history programs, etc. I got over the sense of failure and guilt left over from eschewing TJEd principles because my children and I were FINALLY loving to learn! My husband and I chose homeschooling because we want our children to love learning *and* have a solid foundation in academics. TJEd was supremely unsuited to help our family come anywhere near those goals. I'm glad we realized this before it was too late. I hope this blog prevents other families from wasted time and money as well.

Reading The Well-Trained Mind in late 2006 was like a breath of fresh air. It very clearly outlined *how* to give a classical education to my children. We have tweaked The Well-Trained Mind to suit our family. The authors, in fact, encourage this. They give more information and suggestions than anyone can really use because that allows parents to tailor the program to meet the needs of their family. I greatly appreciate having "too much" in TWTM rather than the too little included in TJEd's publications. With TJEd I always felt lost and my children were begging for more structure. I have met the DeMilles and many others at George Wythe and I have attended many lectures as well as their annual conferences (“forums”). They are nice people, even though I have misgivings about their methodology and business practices. My family's education has greatly improved since we stopped doing TJEd in late 2006 and started following TWTM in early 2007.

The Well-Trained Mind's approach to chronological history, reading the classics (love the book lists for each grade/time period), and studying Latin are things my family especially enjoys. Jessie Wise homschooled her children decades ago. Susan Wise Bauer (Jessie's daughter and co-author) currently homeschools her children (I think her oldest has graduated). Susan has a PhD from the College of William and Mary (2nd oldest university in the country), where she has taught writing and literature since 1994. My kids and I love her history program (The Story of the World). I think Susan Wise Bauer is great and her methodology is sound. She *also* happens to have excellent, legitimate credentials as well as real-life experience both as a homeschooled student and homeschooling mother. I hope other parents do more research than I did when I first started homeschooling and that they find an approach that actually works to educate their children. :-)

Skousen Redux

2010-09-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

Cleon Skousen is in the news again.

There is a debate of his The 5,000 Year Leap and its influence on the Tea Party movement in The Arizona Republic:

The "against" article: Distorted book is bad history, poses its own tyranny

The "for" article: Visionary helped people see truth of nation's origins

(Incidentally, have you ever noticed that everyone seems to know a Skousen? At least in the Intermountain West. Lots of male progeny I suppose...)

Monticello College

2010-08-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

Shanon Brooks is forging ahead with the Monticello campus alone: he has built a website touting the great Monticelo College:

http://www.monticellocollege.org/

ht: R.C.

Changes

2010-07-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Shane Schulthies has been named the fourth president of George Wythe in four years. Schulthies is the first president with a real, accredited doctorate.

See here.

Andrew Groft will serve as the "Business and Government Affairs Liaison" liaison going forward.

In other news, it appears GWU has taken this blog's questions to heart and instituted a formal conflict-of-interest policy, eliminated life experience credit, and made improvements to its curriculum.

Good job, GWU board. These are good and sorely-needed moves. You have addressed many of my concerns.

Once I see an honest history of the institution available at www.gw.edu, I will be very tempted to delete this blog.

UPDATE: Broken links fixed.

Keith Lockhart

2010-07-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

A recent comment asked about Keith Lockhart, co-author of DeMille's New World Order book.

I don't know who this person is (I do know he's not the conductor of the Boston Pops).

Whoever he is, it appears (see obit here) that as of 2007, he was married to Rachel DeMille's sister. Obviously, that makes him Oliver DeMille's brother-in-law.

Random trivia: His wife and R.D. appear to be the nieces of Ed and Patricia Pinegar. Ed was the president of the Provo M.T.C. and is currently a temple president. He's a good man. Patricia was the Primary General President for the LDS Church.

I am acquainted with both of them and neither appears to hold the kooky world view of the George Wythe College / TJEd crowd.

Open Thread

2010-04-28T17:48:00.001-07:00

There has been a lot of discussion lately, so with the idea of furthering that discussion, I creating a new thread for open comment...

Shanon Brooks bio

2010-04-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

This is funny.

Senatorial Candidate

2010-04-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

One George Wythe alumni (Ph.D. in Constitutional Studies, year ??) has declared himself a candidate for U.S. Senate from the state of Utah.

"Dr." Scott N. Bradley is running as a member of the Constitution Party (in other words he has no chance).

Bradley is a former administrator (what does that mean?) at Utah State University. (Anyone know what he did there?)

If you follow this link, you can learn how Bradley is better than other candidates because he doesn't "need a team of speechwriters, policy consultants, and public opinion pollsters to find out what [he] 'believes'" but instead he has "studied the issues and the Constitution."

To prove the point, he provides a list of "policy papers written by Scott Bradley, PhD."

Included on the list:

- Fasting and prayer (FYI, this is apparently also how one comes to know that TJEd and George Wythe College are "true")
- The UN and NATO: Entangling Alliances? (no mention of the New World Order)
- The Trap of Multi-Culturalism and Diversity

These are just the nuttier ones. He does make some valid points, but unfortunately, his association with George Wythe College causes him to lose all credibility with me.

Photo source: www.scottnbradley.com

Changes

2010-03-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here is some interesting evidence about the Wikipedia editor I have previously discussed.

In late February, I had a back-and-forth with Ibinthinkin about the Oliver DeMille article. He kept insisting that LaSalle University was not a diploma mill at the time DeMille got his law degree there. I won't bore you with the details (follow the link if you want them), but it came down to whether or not DeMille got the degree before 1996.

He agreed that before 1996, in its early years of operation, it was a diploma mill. After, he said, it was a normal correspondence school. I had seen plenty of documentation saying he got the degree before 1996.

As I browsed my GWC material for the evidence, I found convincing stuff in DeMille's mea culpa blog entry. But don't bother following that link, looking for what I found. You see the blog entry has been changed, removing any mention of a time line associated with LaSalle. I discovered this when I went to the live site, hoping to provide Ibinthinkin with a link to view.

Luckily, I copied the original entry, and present the relevant section below, juxtaposed with the revised version (click to enlarge; changes highlighted in gray):

Some key quotes that were removed:

- "...my experience was during the first years of operation..."
- "...an unwitting fool in an apparent scam."
- "...they had been shut down as a diploma mill, and my understanding is that it was warranted."

The date of the original blog post (4-10-2009) has not been changed, nor can I find any indication that he has disclosed the changes.

So at the time Ibinthinkin was arguing that there is no evidence DeMille attended before 1996, DeMille made changes to his blog entry that obscure any time-related facts.

Draw your own conclusion.

I don't understand why acknowledging LaSalle as a diploma mill is such a big issue. DeMille has no problem acknowledging TIBS as such. But there it is.

Hillsdale College

2010-03-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while someone comments that instead of "attacking" George Wythe College, I should go off and start my own school. As if there were no place for constructive criticism!

Well, I'm not going to found a college. But for anyone looking for a solid, well-principled education with constitutionalist roots, look no further than Hillsdale College.

You can read about a recent visit here, here, and here.

Tuition is nearly $20,000, but the average aid package is $12,000.

From the school:

"A liberal education at Hillsdale College entails the study of things inherently worthwhile—things good, true, and beautiful. As stated in the College Honor Code, this study 'develops the minds and improves the hearts' of students, through which they rise to the challenge of self-government in a free republic. Students refine their intelligence, furnish their understanding, and acquire the abilities and wisdom necessary to lead full, humane lives. In so doing, students, like the College itself, become trustees of 'modern man’s intellectual and spiritual inheritance from the Judeo-Christian faith and Greco-Roman culture.'

"Liberal education begins with the 'core curriculum,' where students are conducted systematically through stages of intellectual growth and acquirement in a variety of disciplines, each worthy of study for its own sake. It does not end there, however, as this learning continues in and extends through the academic majors students pursue after the core curriculum."

By the way, their monthly speech digest--which is free--is excellent. It's called Imprimus, and you can read it here.

(photo credit: Robert J. Avrech)

Ibinthinkin

2010-02-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

It is my personal opinion that the Wikipedia user Ibinthinkin is either Oliver DeMille or his wife.

Check out this person's edits. Note the quantity and type of edits to the Oliver DeMille page.

See my earlier post on the subject.

As Mr. DeMille obviously has a larger bully pulpit than I do, I call on him to either (1) stop these silly, biased edits to his own Wikipedia article, or (2) direct the person who is making the edits to stop.

TJEd'ers Encouraged to Shill for DeMille

2009-12-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this twitter post. The DeMilles are offering to compensate followers for reviewing their books on Amazon.com. Just email for details.

So how does this work -- you leave a review, email it to DeMille for approval, then you get your stuff shipped free? That's the DEFINITION of shilling.

Remember that a shill is "a person paid to endorse a product favorably, while pretending to be impartial."

Unbelievable.

Degrees No Longer Offered

2009-12-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

George Wythe University has offered many degrees in its 17 years, sometimes for nothing more than a shoddy book manuscript, and sometimes, apparently, for nothing at all.

Degrees no longer offered:

-Finance
-Youth and Family Counseling
-History
-Near Eastern Studies (Rachel DeMille, 1993)
-Education (Andrew Groft, Ph.D., date unknown; (Julie Earley, Ed.d, date unknown) UPDATE: Masters still offered
-Psychology
-International Business (Mark Siljander, Ph.D., sometime in the 1990s)
-Business Management
-Health Sciences (Ann Blake Tracy, Ph.D., sometime in the 1990s)

Expert witness
By the way, Ann Tracy puts herself out as an "expert witness" based on this degree, and apparently has testified at several trials. At one in Arkansas -- a child rape case, where she was TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF THE ACCUSED -- she was forced to admit that the degree came from George Wythe College. Her testimony was thrown out. (David Eric WOOD v. STATE of Arkansas, Opinion delivered September 5, 2001)

Does anyone else find that disturbing?

Tracy explained to the Deseret News that "the Ph.D. was awarded for 'lifetime experience,' specifically for the writing of Prozac: Panacea or Pandora? which she says she has been told is the equivalent of, or 'far beyond,' a dissertation."

The Deseret News then noted that the self-published book "contains spelling and punctuation errors and incomplete sentences."

The school's response (given via administrators' edits to the school's Wikipedia article) is that it cleaned up its act in 2002, and that it now has a sharp focus on Statesmanship and Constitutional Law -- no more psychology or business degrees.

Interesting doctorate
One final tidbit. Shanon Brooks reports that his Ph.D. from George Wythe, received in 2004, was for Constitutional Law AND Entrepreneurship. Wow, I can't even find where that degree has been offered. I would love to see the dissertation (in fact, I would love to see ANY dissertation for one of these "doctorates")!

Let me know if I'm missing any!

UPDATE: Brooks says in his CV above that he earned his doctorate in 2004. However, in this article he wrote in 2003, he is already calling himself "Dr. Brooks."

Quick news items

2009-12-21T13:18:00.001-08:00

Three quick news items while I work on my second Feynman post:

Coral Ridge site gone
First, it appears all Coral Ridge Baptist University (www.crbu.net) web archives have been removed from archive.org at the request of the site owner. (You'll recall that CRBU is where DeMille got all his degrees after BYU, before he got them before BYU, but then... Forget it, it's pretty confusing.) For a sampling of what that site contained, read this article by Richard Stout.

GWU no longer delinquent
Second, it appears Andrew Groft and team have finally cobbled together the money to renew the George Wythe Foundation's delinquent filings with the State of Utah. Whew! How can you send your kids to a place that can't even do the basics like this? (Incidentally, Groft is now the registered agent instead of Shanon Brooks.)

DeMilles' new venture
Third, the DeMilles have begun offering online TJED classes "with the same system used by George Wythe University." That would be Elluminate. These classes are through their new venture, TJEd Academy and Prep School, an extension of their TJEdOnline.com website (which, coincidentally, is now delinquent in its filings).

Richard Feynman and Becoming a Statesman

2009-12-01T09:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I think we've made it clear on this blog that George Wythe is poorly managed, struggles with transparency, is essentially a money hole for anyone looking for a good education, blah, blah, blah. Yes, the school may sputter along, but it will never be what it claims because of its terrible foundation.

Which brings me to Richard Feynman. When I was in college--GASP, not George Wythe College!--I read a great essay by Feynman for a critical writing class. Below is an excerpt from that essay followed by my discussion of how it applies to a college seeking to "Build Statesmen."

Feynman was a visiting physics professor at a university in Brazil when he had the following experience, related in his essay "O Americano, Outra Vez!":

"In regard to education in Brazil, I had a very interesting experience. I was teaching a group of students who would ultimately become teachers, since at that time there were not many opportunities in Brazil for a highly trained person in science. These students had already had many courses, and this was to be their most advanced course in electricity and magnetism - Maxwell's equations, and so on.

"The university was located in various office buildings throughout the city, and the course I taught met in a building which overlooked the bay.

"I discovered a very strange phenomenon: I could ask a question, which the students would answer immediately. But the next time I would ask the question - the same subject, and the same question, as far as I could tell - they couldn't answer it at all! For instance, one time I was talking about polarized light, and I gave them all some strips of polaroid.

"Polaroid passes only light whose electric vector is in a certain direction, so I explained how you could tell which way the light is polarized from whether the polaroid is dark or light.

"We first took two strips of polaroid and rotated them until they let the most light through. From doing that we could tell that the two strips were now admitting light polarized in the same direction - what passed through one piece of polaroid could also pass through the other. But then I asked them how one could tell the absolute direction of polarization, for a single piece of polaroid.

"They hadn't any idea.

"I knew this took a certain amount of ingenuity, so I gave them a hint: 'Look at the light reflected from the bay outside.'

"Nobody said anything.

"Then I said, 'Have you ever heard of Brewster's Angle?'

"'Yes, sir! Brewster's Angle is the angle at which light reflected from a medium with an index of refraction is completely polarized.'

"'And which way is the light polarized when it's reflected?'

"'The light is polarized perpendicular to the plane of reflection, sir.' Even now, I have to think about it; they knew it cold! They even knew the tangent of the angle equals the index!

"I said, 'Well?'

"Still nothing. They had just told me that light reflected from a medium with an index, such as the bay outside, was polarized; they had even told me which way it was polarized.

"I said, 'Look at the bay outside, through the polaroid. Now turn the polaroid.'

"'Ooh, it's polarized!' they said.

"After a lot of investigation, I finally figured out that the students had memorized everything, but they didn't know what anything meant. When they heard 'light that is reflected from a medium with an index,' they didn't know that it meant a material such as water. They didn't know that the 'direction of the light' is the direction in which you see something when you're looking at it, and so on. Everything was entirely memorized, yet nothing had been translated into meaningful words. So if I asked, 'What is Brewster's Angle?' I'm going into the computer with the right keywords. But if I say, 'Look at the water,' nothing happens - they don't have anything under 'Look at the water'!"

So what does this story have to do with George Wythe University?

One of the things Feynman wondered about was why a country like Brazil had so many physics students, yet virtually no physicists. It turns out that the students were taught what to think, but not how to think. Not surprisingly, their education bore little fruit.

George Wythe College was founded to systematically produce statesmen. (DeMille himself said his vision was to put people in Congress.)

Where are the statesmen? Yes, a while ago some students went to a UN conference. Yes, there is some work going on in Africa that is loosely connected with the school. But these are isolated cases with negligible impact.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence 9 years after he finished reading law under George Wythe. This school has been around for 17 years.

Where is the fruit? Where are the statesmen?

(public domain image: Nobel Foundation)

Documents

2009-11-16T20:35:00.001-08:00

Below are images of the documents referenced in today's guest post. The poster gave this blog permission to publish them. The poster's name and other personally-identifiable information have been redacted; otherwise the documents are unchanged.

Let me note that this blog has previously published positive information on George Wythe University. I truly hope to be able to write about the positive resolution of this very unfortunate situation. Here's hoping for a happy ending.

Disturbing Guest Post

2009-11-16T05:19:00.000-08:00

(Ed. Note: I received the following message from a former student who loaned a significant sum of money to George Wythe College / University and was not repaid. This individual has agreed to have the message presented as a guest post. UPDATE: While the representations in this post are those of the guest poster alone, everything I have seen to date related to this leads me to believe her. She has given permission to publish the loan agreement, etc., which I have now done in a new post. /UPDATE)

TRGW,

I have visited your site often. At first, I could not understand the malice expressed here. Now I do. I was a student for 4 years and such an avid supporter that I recently LOST MY HOUSE because of George Wythe.

This video of the Hyland Hotel was shown to me by Shanon Brooks in October of 2007. He stated to me that he had raised enough money to purchase the hotel, and that it would be the first Monticello campus building. He "had most of the money raised, just needed $150,000 to finish the purchase."

Brooks wrote up a contract. Besides guaranteeing repayment of the loan, the contract included tuition for perpetuity for me, tuition for my children and grandchildren, and promises of land for a Permaculture Institute.

This was a LOAN AGREEMENT.

Instead of using my money to purchase the hotel as promised, the school leased it. Shanon and his family lived there and ran a class for about 10 students out of it.

They also used my money to build some outdoor bathrooms and construct a metal pavilion.

Brooks made promises of a big development and showed me plans for a subdivision, assuring me that the school had had a $1 million dollar donation.

It had not.

It had a 100 acre donation of land in Monticello from Carl Barton. This land is owned by GW free and clear. Another resident, Denny Reznik, made a donation of 100 acres, conditional upon them putting a building on the land. GW purchased another 240 acres with a loan.

The school has since defaulted on the loan for that land and it is my understanding that it will be foreclosed on if funds are not paid by the first of the year. I have seen the contracts.

In the meantime, GW's claim of $1 million in assets is ridiculous. I am aware of much record changing.

This site has my permission to disclose the contract I had, as well as my attorney's letter. According to Condition D, the University was to repay me. They were bankrupt at the time I sent in the request.

Unfortunately, I am a single mother with 3 young children whom I homeschool. Because of their default in repaying me, I had to sell my house in Enoch, Utah (in the same neighborhood as Oliver and Andy and Shane).

Their treatment of this situation has been DEPLORABLE and in complete opposition to what they teach.

The entire Board's way of dealing with this is deplorable and I will continue to disclose the details of this situation.

Since I live from child support check to child support check, I have no assets to hire an attorney. IF there is anyone out there who could represent me in this matter, I need to recover the $150,000 they took from me.

I have filed a complaint with the Utah Division of Securities and will continue to ask for help from the Utah State Attorney General.

Thank you for this blog as a forum to reveal the REAL GEORGE WYTHE UNIVERSITY...one which I believe is appalling.

Sincerely,

Former Student

Hyland Hotel

2009-11-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

Remember the Hyland Hotel, which was to become the "George Wythe University Reception Center" in Monticello? The one the school is still soliciting donations to purchase?

What ever happened to that?

Buckley Jensen from the San Juan Record reported in 2008 that the school had leased the building. But then a Monticello resident reported to this blog that the school abandoned it just before Thanksgiving 2008.

The same resident also reported that Shanon Brooks was actually living in part of the building until it was abandoned.

(I hope we see those free living arrangements included as part of Mr. Brooks's compensation in the 2008 IRS 990 filing, which is due no later than 5/15/2010.)

Does anyone out there have any additional information on what the school's current activities in Monticello are, and why they decided to abandon this building? Do they still own the pavilion they built, or has that land been foreclosed?

video source: www.gw.edu

George Wythe Foundation Delinquent

2009-11-09T20:20:00.000-08:00

As of end of business on October 12th, the George Wythe Foundation is delinquent in its renewal filing with the Utah Department of Commerce.

12/1/09 UPDATE:
The foundation has officially moved into the "Failure to File Renewal" delinquent status:

George Wythe Land Auction

2009-11-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Silver Oak LLC deeded 4 lots from the Garden Valley Ranchos subdivision near Newcastle, Utah, to the George Wythe Foundation back in June.

George Wythe appears to have turned around and put the land--about 4.5 acres--up for auction -- current bidding is at $3,600! Clearly, the donations to George Wythe University continue to roll in.

If you'd like to bid on this land or just view more photos of the property, go here.

Important question: is the front-end loader pictured above the same one Shanon Brooks posed on at the $1 Billion Monticello Campus Dedication?

George Wythe Alum Elected Mayor of Leeds, Utah

2009-11-05T08:25:00.000-08:00

hat tip: RC

It appears the school has born some positive fruit: out of 316 votes cast in Tuesday's Leeds, Utah, mayoral race, 185 were for 2006 GWC graduate Hyrum Lefler. His 59% to 41% margin over opponent Elliott Sheltman is a landslide by any measure.

Congratulations to the 27-year-old Lefler (born in 1982)! Hopefully the principles he ran on--transparency and fiscal responsibility--will rub off on his alma mater!

Nothing Has Changed...

2009-10-26T12:03:00.001-07:00

The more things change, the more they remain the same! Despite George Wythe University's recent deck chair shuffling, it appears the school's sandy foundation of obfuscation and half-truth is still there, shifty as ever.

The Wikipedia editor, Ibinthinkin, whom we previously established to be a GWU leader (or at least a 40-something male with access to DeMille's social security number, college transcript, and his mother's scrapbooks), has wiped clean the article on GWU and did some burnishing on the DeMille article (including a plug for the new Oliver DeMille / Shanon Brooks book, TJED for Teens).

So much for historical accuracy--let alone honesty. Despite DeMille's mea culpa, Ibinthinkin clearly didn't get the memo that "things have changed" and that the school would no longer be "allowing misconceptions [to be] perpetuated."

TJED parents, wake up! This philosophy does not stand on its own merits! The school has to change its history to make it palatable. Read J.L.L's blog. He clearly establishes that this is NOT the way Thomas Jefferson--or anyone of note--was educated.

Let me repeat: you are being deceived!

Sending your child to George Wythe University means sending them to a place where intellectual dishonesty, obfuscation, and half-truths appear to not only rule, but flourish.

Guest Post: Steve

2009-10-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

Steven Adams, who identifies himself as an administrator at BYU-Idaho, made some extensive comments I deemed worthy of a post. I am including them below, unedited. -- TRGW

(I wrote more but could not post that much. It seems you are sincerely interested in posting both sides and I thought you might allow me to post this completely. I will submit it in two more posts and you can compile it if you wish and put it where you like.)

I have enjoyed reading the various points of view on this blog. I am a graduate of George Wythe College and thought I would add my perspective.

While I find the information on this blog to be valuable, I find the overall tone to be distasteful. Language and images are used to create a negative image of George Wythe University and those who have worked to create it. While I do not challenge much of the information put forward, I do challenge the negative attitude and narrow mindedness that drive the discussion.

Oliver and the others involved set out to create a different type of educational program. They did not intend to conform with current accreditation standards or modern ideas of degree programs. They clearly stated their intentions and have continued do so throughout their history. Some of their programs and ideas have changed as they have gained experience and new information. They have also made mistakes.

I chose to attend George Wythe while I was a student at Idaho State University. I was receiving two full tuition scholarship, one for academics and one for leadership, but I was not satisfied with the foundations of the school. I had some great instructors and some I did not appreciate. Some things I learned at ISU were valuable, and I am glad for the experience, but it was not meeting my needs.

I was married, and we had just started our family so attending the campus in Cedar City was not our best option. I decided to take correspondence courses and worked with Oliver as my mentor. I fully understood my degree would be seen as only religiously accredited and most people and institutions would not recognize it at all. Olive talked to me about this personally and encouraged me to seriously consider my options.

The education I obtained from George Wythe College was everything Oliver claimed it would be and more. Oliver provided great feedback on my writing and encouraged me to consider ideas outside of my personal preference. He challenged me and accepted my challenge of his ideas. It was not what most people would consider a “normal” education, but it was a great blessing to me. I found Oliver to be an exceptional mentor and an outstanding human being. I admire his courage and initiative, even if I don’t always agree with his specific decisions. He has my full support, and I wish him only the best for the future.

I was not able to use my degree to move directly into the mainstream workforce, but that is not what I wanted nor do I believe it was what the Lord intended for my life. I was able to earn what money I needed for my family and gained valuable experience for the rest of my professional career. After working with several private and public charter schools I was hired as the Director of Charter, Virtual, and Home Education for the Florida Department of Education – I later worked as a consultant for several charter and virtual school organizations and now work in administration at BYU-Idaho.

With the move to Florida, I took the opportunity to look into graduate studies. I had considered pursuing graduate studies with George Wythe College, but it did not seem to be the right way for me to go. Once settled in Tallahassee I approached Florida State University and found interest in their education foundations and policy programs.

Florida is an interesting place. There is a strong history of liberal arts and independent education programs. It allows for a great deal of diversity, and I enjoyed the environment. Any time freedom is allowed to exist it generates great opportunity, which manifests great success and also failure. There are a variety of quality private institutions in the state and a few bad actors as well. It was fun to work for the department and be able to look into Coral Ridge Baptist University while there. Among some, it had a reputation for being a “diploma mill” but even knowing that did not bother most of my colleagues at the department. They gave me the chance to let my actions and work speak for my merits.

This was also the case with Florida State University. I explained my diploma from George Wythe College, which also came from Coral Ridge Baptist University, and asked if there was a way for someone with an unaccredited degree to gain acceptance to their university for graduate work. I took the necessary exam and they gave me the opportunity to prove myself by taking a few classes then evaluated me for formal admission into their program. Their policy made sense, and I was happy to comply. I met their requirements and studied foundations of education and education policy.
That world was very different from George Wythe College. There were different rules and expectations. I don’t think they were any better or worse than George Wythe College, only different. The work was not easy at either institution, and I am indebted to both for who I am and what I may yet become. To put it rather briefly – George Wythe College taught me to think for myself and find solutions that may not have been considered; FSU taught me how to be understood and have influence in “normal” education circles. Both exposed me to great ideas and challenged my thinking.

For those who care about such things, I did earn my Masters of Science in Foundations of Education and a graduate certificate in education policy. I continued in the doctoral program and am studying issues of culture and religion in the educational practices of a diverse society. The opportunity to work at BYU-Idaho brought me back to Idaho but Florida State has agreed to let me take my last two classes at Idaho State. ISU has accepted my application, and I will start those classes in January. I then hope to begin my dissertation with the faculty at Florida State.

As I have pursued my graduate studies, I have met several people who challenge mainstream educational practices in much the same way as Oliver DeMille. I have enjoyed working with and debating them, just as I did with Oliver, but he has one quality each of them was lacking. He desired not only to criticize educational practices, but also to develop new practices, or redevelop proven practices, and implement them. This is a far greater challenge than most people realize. It is far easier to go along with the current system; moving forward with pats on the back and the respect of your colleagues. New endeavors are challenged on every side. You do not have the security and comfort of wide spread support. Agree or disagree, Oliver has earned the respect of anyone who understands the effort required to accomplish what he accomplished.

I would also like to address this rather absurd notion that charging tuition for educational experiences is somehow dishonorable. I ask you to consider that private institutions like George Wythe University get their funds through free will offerings. These usually take the form of tuition and donations. The individuals making the donation or payment freely give each dollar. Government institutions of learning raise their funds through compulsion. Property is taken from citizens with threat of force to be used by these institutions no matter their quality or educational practices. When you choose to attend such an institution, you should be aware that many of your fellow citizens are paying for you to have an experience they did not agree to give you. In essence, you are forcing your neighbors to pay for a significant portion of your education. That is seen as acceptable in our society, so it is not frequently questioned, but when a private group sets out to exercise their freedom of dissent and asks only for those with similar views to provide their funding, this is somehow seen as inappropriate. I find that interesting in a rather absurd way.

I agree with some of the points made regarding embellished advertising. To claim that they are the “best” institution for training statesmen is kind of like claiming they are the best George Wythe University in the world. While I may disagree with that approach, for me, at that time and in that place they were just that. Whatever level of overzealous advertising may have been applied, it is the individual’s responsibility to understand each institution will try to give the best possible impression. Blogs like this help to inform those decisions.

The views put forward on this blog are for the most part useful information. What there is of vitriol can be overlooked by an open minded individual, and I hope the university chooses to benefit form the information gathered and views expressed. One criticism is that anonymous blog postings can be a cowardly approach to public discourse. If you are unwilling to be associated with your own comments, you may want to rethink your comments or ask yourself why you lack the courage to stand behind your own beliefs.

To close I wish to express my love and admiration for Oliver DeMille. I honor him as one of my mentors, a dedicated scholar, a good man, and one of my great privileges in life is call him my friend. I do not know everyone at George Wythe University, nor do I have enough information to comment on some of the university’s decisions, but I have known many of the individuals working there for some time. I hold Andy Groft and Shannon Brooks as friends, and I wish them only the best in their pursuits. To everyone else who has worked to build George Wythe University, I offer my deepest appreciation and respect. To the extent any of them have made mistakes, I hope they learn and grow as we all have. To the extent they have succeeded, I hope they are given the respect and honor they deserve.

Sincerely,
Steven Adams
Graduate; George Wythe College; September 11, 1999
Email: adams@gwa.cc

Glenn Beck

2009-09-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Since Beck made his GWU plug this Spring, I found out which local station he's on and listened several times.

He's on at the same time as Sean Hannity, and you know what? He's hilarious!

Hannity is a drag to listen to in comparison. A lot of his rhetoric and shaky arguments make me cringe.

Beck's got his own issues with rhetoric, arguments, and even demagoguery, but at least he's entertaining.

Like I said earlier, I don't think Beck did his homework on GWU before endorsing it.

Crunchy Con: Wrong about "5,000 Year Leap"

2009-09-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Rod Dreher, author of Crunchy Con over at Beliefnet, wrote an article last week blasting both Glenn Beck (everyone's getting on the bandwagon) and Skousen's 5,000 Year Leap.

That night he actually read the book, and changed his tune.

He still believes the book is weak in the history and argument departments, but he no longer believes it to be "dangerous." More like "hokey."

Full disclosure: I haven't read the book.

An Original Source!

2009-09-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

Following is an insert included in a copy of the book The New World Order: Choosing Between Christ and Satan in the Last Days, written by Keith Lockhart (not that one) and Oliver DeMille.

In fairness, DeMille has distanced himself (see pp. 9-10) from this "youthful study of conspiracy":

"...of course there are some people in the world who meet behind closed doors and conspire to do things that are wrong in order to increase their power and riches, and of course they don’t control the whole world and they aren’t behind every little detail. The important things that get done in this world are done by those who build, not those who bash. Let’s be builders, not bashers."

The insert comes from the same time period when George Wythe College was founded.

ht on scan: another anonymous GWU critic

Andrew Sullivan / The Atlantic

2009-09-16T13:03:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan from The Atlantic for the shout-out this afternoon:

"[George Wythe University is] where Beck's mentor Skousen is still taught as part of the Mormon-American literature. And, of course, there's a blog devoted to sniping at it."

The Man Who Changed Glenn Beck's Life

2009-09-16T11:21:00.001-07:00

Salon.com has an article today on Cleon Skousen (with, incredibly, a GWU mention).

"Before he died in 2006 at the age of 92, Skousen's own Mormon church publicly distanced itself from the foundation that Skousen founded and that has published previous editions of The 5,000 Year Leap."

The article quotes former Salt Lake mayor J. Bracken Lee, who fired Skousen as police chief in 1960:

"The man is a master of half-truths. In at least three instances I have proven him to be a liar. He is a very dangerous man [and] one of the greatest spenders of public funds of anyone who ever served in any capacity in Salt Lake City government."

After being fired, Skousen worked for two speaker bureaus, the John Birch Society and for the Fred Schwarz-operated "Christian Anti-Communism Crusade." He gave paid speeches around the United States, feeding off the anti-Communist sentiment in the country.

The FBI, which compiled a 2,000-page dossier on Skousen, made an insightful comment that applies to present-day George Wythe University when it described Skousen's employer "Schwarz as 'an opportunist,' the likes of which 'are largely responsible for misinforming people and stirring them up emotionally ... Schwartz [sic] and others like him can only do the country and the anticommunist work of the Bureau harm.'"

Indeed.

While I share a handful of views with the founders and operators of George Wythe University (I'm a libertarian at heart), this does not mean that I automatically support the organization.

This school's approach and attitude--an affinity for half-truths if not outright lies--can only do the country and the conservative cause harm. It must be challenged and if not shut down, at least consistently called out.

The founders of GWU tragically chose to employ half-truths in promoting and running the school.

What a wasted opportunity.

So much work and sacrifice has gone into building the organization, but even an efficient organization built on a shoddy foundation will one day fall.

I implore the school to continue cleaning house. Write an HONEST history. Publish statistics (number of grads, past degrees offered, etc.).

Do some good for the conservative movement. Right now you're a liability.

Thanks.

Inspiring Story

2009-08-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

I have to say that the story of the girl and her friends raising money to attend the GWU gala is pretty inspiring. You can see Ken Krogue's take on it here.

As this blog earlier reported, Beck's pledge will eventually go to the school. It turns out the website tracking peoples' pages read was put together by the school's web person.

Good job kids on your fundraiser. Now run from GWU and TJEd as fast as you can! Don't waste your youth on this garbage!

Hit a Nerve?

2009-08-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Lo and behold, since my post yesterday Shanon Brooks has been removed from the list of Board Members on the GWU website. Clearly, the GWU leadership is reading this blog. Mr. Groft, I invite you to comment here using your real name.

Granted, I do remember reading the newest The Statesman newsletter, in which Mr. Groft--besides telling about the first time Oliver DeMille made him cry--mentioned that Shanon Brooks had resigned from the board for family reasons.

To be clear, I'm not saying he's off the board because of that blog post; I'm saying GWU modified the website because of the posting.

(Now that I look again, there is no mention of Brooks citing family reasons for leaving--Groft must have made some edits to the newsletter.)

Groft does make crystal clear for us that Brooks founded his for-profit seminar business while he was on the board of the George Wythe Foundation (which does business as GWU):

"Shanon recently resigned from the George Wythe Foundation Board of Trustees after nearly two decades of tireless work and unbelievable personal sacrifice by him...and his family. ...Shanon will now be able to devote his attention to growing another institution that has promoted leadership education for so many years. Face to Face with Greatness, which Shanon founded while at GWU, has presented literally hundreds of seminars throughout North America, spreading the message of education and liberty to thousands (www.facetofacewithgreatness.com)." (emphasis added)

Tax Implications?

2009-08-17T17:09:00.001-07:00

I've wondered this for a while. One of the school's founders, Shanon Brooks, has his own business giving "Face to Face with Greatness" seminars. See here. Cost to attend: anywhere from $125 to $225 per person.

This appears to be a for-profit, sole proprietership owned by Mr. Brooks (see here and search for "face to face").

George Wythe University, a non-profit, actively promotes these seminars. Notice that the seminar dates on GWU's site are exactly the same as the dates on Brooks's site. These are the same seminars.

My question for anyone out there with tax knowledge is this:

Is the George Wythe Foundation, dba George Wythe University, violating any part of its non-profit charter by using its tax-free resources to promote the for-profit ventures of one of its board members?

Don't forget the earlier discussion on the school possibly using restricted assets meant for Monticello to fund other school programs. If true, that is a serious issue as well.

DeMille Now a Biologist

2009-08-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. DeMille has written an article on why biology is "not a science anymore," which means "statesmen and social leaders of the future had better prepare accordingly"--with an embedded link to the GWU website on the word 'prepare.'

I've got to be blunt here. I don't know what on earth DeMille is talking about in this article.

It's the first in a five-part series that concludes, you guessed it, with an invitation to get your Ph.D. in Constitutional Law at George Wythe University.

I did understand one part -- DeMille surprised me when he revealed the total graduates of the "Thomas Jefferson Degree™" program to-date: five.

The goal now is to have twenty earn this degree by 2010. Given the mind-boggling timelines in the school's history, why not? Why not make it 200 by 2010? Dole out enough life experience credit and you can have a Ph.D. in a snap (see Deseret News story on GWC grad "Dr." Ann Tracy here).

Definitions

2009-08-16T18:12:00.001-07:00

In deference to our faithful pro-TJED/GWC commenter, James F., I think it would be a good exercise to define some terms.

I'm going to take the list James came up with here, expand on it slightly, then copy (nearly verbatim) the related definitions from the online Merriam-Webster dictionary. Later I would like to build an identical list populated with definitions from Oliver DeMille, TJED and GWU literature, then juxtapose the two.

UPDATE: I have included Noah Webster's 1828 definitions as well.

TJED - "A Rotten Educational Philosophy!!"

2009-08-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

I just read another good analysis of TJED from a homeschooling mom. She advises those interested in TJED to "Run away, run far far away!!!"

You can find her blog post here.

The Eighth Key

2009-08-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

After much thought and research, I have discovered an 8th Key to GWU!

#8. "Strawmen, not Statesmen"

Whether it's arbitrarily calling things from grocery stores to schools to the entire world "Soviet-style conveyor belts," or asserting that a professional education does not teach one how to think, this hidden key is vital to spreading the mission of Strawmanship ...err Statesmanship.

You see, strawmen are much easier opponents to attack than the real thing!

It's simple to do.

Take textbooks for example. You would have a difficult time constructing a sound argument against using textbooks. After all, they are a handy way to present the principles of a subject, and serve as a great companion to those works that delve more deeply into those principles, namely Classics.

Better to make up your own definition of what textbooks are, and then attack that instead.

For example:

Textbook

(noun) \ˈteks(t)-ˌbu̇k\ A "dumbed down" and "boring" work that "doesn't say anything important." Antonym: Classic.

Now attack away! What kind of fool would use this textbook thing in education? Clearly, Thomas Jefferson would never have stood for a dumbed-down work that stood at odds with the works of Cicero and Joan of Arc. ;-)

But wait. What if you yourself have written a textbook and would like to incorporate this into your curriculum without appearing hypocritical? Simple! Did you forget the 2nd Key already? Obfuscate and call it a classic!

That's the 8th Key my friends. Study these keys carefully, for they are the seeds of greatness. And if you work hard, maybe one day you too can be a mentor in Class-C office space on a frontage road in Southern Utah!

The Seven Keys

2009-08-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

In a nod to DeMille's "Seven Keys of Great Teaching" I have compiled my own list:

"The Seven Keys of George Wythe University"

#1. Hyperbole, not Accuracy

"George Wythe College is the leading college in the United States dedicated specifically to building Statesmen."

Umm, hard not to be the leader in a class of one. They are also, technically, "the worst college in the United States dedicated specifically to building Statesmen."

Here's some more hyperbole:

"Oliver had been a good student at BYU, but with Coral Ridge he typically studied over eighty hours a week, sometimes more. With this intense study, he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Christian Political Science [during 1992]. As good as the BYU studies had been, the Coral Ridge learning was truly great, much more challenging than anything he had ever done or seen. He later set out to make George Wythe College even more challenging, if that were possible" (Shanon Brooks, "The First Fifteen Years").

DeMille also claimed to complete all the coursework necessary for a J.D. that same year. We know that he carried 20.5 credit hours at BYU from January to April, then taught full-time at GWC that fall. Where he found 80+ hours a week on top of all that is a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." Which leads us to Key #2...

#2. Obfuscation, not Articulation

"Beck urged supporting the private classical liberal arts university’s singular mission of building statesmen and made a personal donation of $25,000." (GWU Press Release, 3 June 2009)

"Glenn Beck donates $25,000 to build statesmen: University program launches nationally." (GWU homepage, 5 August 2009)

REALITY: Beck pledged $0.01 per page, up to $25,000, to a little girl's foundation, which in an indirect way will benefit George Wythe University. No mention of this fact in the press release or on the homepage. The school finally clarified after this blog pointed out the obfuscation.

#3. Argumentum ad hominem,

not Argumentum ad rem
(By the way, you must have a handful of latin phrases under your belt to give the impression you are learned...)

"The Bashers ... thrive on controversy. But they never build anything. They just attack, criticizing those who are trying to make a positive difference. Bashers never risk anything to make the world better, but they think they’re helping if they attack those who do." (Oliver DeMille, The Statesman, 1 Jan 2006, p. 2)

This is a frequent response by DeMille to his critics, whom he labels as "bashers."

#4. False Choices, not Free Thinking

Enough said.

#5. Pretenders, not Professionals

The school supposedly requires students to publish their work in third-party publications, but we have yet to find even a single instance of a GW faculty member doing this, let alone a student.

Classic case of "do as I say, not as I do."

Moreover, based on our review of the GWU board, a majority of members' degrees come from, you guessed it, GWU. There are a lot of people calling themselves "doctor" there; only one has a non-GWU (or CRBU) doctorate.

We also have failed to identify even one GWU faculty member who has ever held elective office. Truly in this case, "those who can't do, teach."

#6. Conspiracy, not Reality

"During the coming year the secret combinations and the governments they control will do a number of things to build a Satanic New World Order. President Bush and many Congressmen, who are controlled by the secret societies, will attempt to further this cause and to continue the curtailment of Freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution." (Oliver Van DeMille, The New World Order)

#7. Skousen, not Jefferson
(I am not bashing Skousen here; but to be clear, when all is said and done, this school adheres to Skousen's philosophies--NOT Jefferson's)

The Making of America, The 5,000 Year Leap. These books are required reading for GWU students. Only a few selected writings by Jefferson are required, and that's only for the "Jefferson Degree™"--of course that degree also requires reading both of Skousen's books as well. Every other degree offered includes no Jefferson, but plenty of Skousen and DeMille.

Feel free to come up with your own version and post it here!

Reactions to Glenn Beck Gala

2009-08-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

School Clarifies Beck Donation

2009-08-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

The school has issued a clarifying statement on Beck's donation:

"At the GWU Fundraising Gala in May, Glenn Beck pledged up to $25,000 to 14-year old Rachelle Harkey to read 2.5 million pages and earn $.01/page towards her fundraising efforts for GWU.

"Rachelle Harkey is one of nine philanthropists age 12 to 16 who each donated for a seat at the youth table hosted by Initiative Fund (IF). She raised the funds to attend the Gala by holding a read-a-thon and going door-to-door for sponsors, exceeding the amount she needed to attend the Gala by $1000, which she also donated to GWU.

"With so much success, Rachelle was determined to raise more for GWU through another read-a-thon. Before the Gala, she created a plan and a logo for her organization called Into the Next Chapter. At a tuxedo shop in Salt Lake City the night before the Gala, she and her family bumped into Glenn Beck while shopping with his friend who was getting a tux. After talking about the Gala, leadership education, and current events, Rachelle introduced her idea of raising funds for GWU. She was surprised the next evening when Glenn Beck personally pledged $25,000 at a penny a page for her read-a-thon!

"IF, an organization founded by Sara Patterson and built by youth to raise funds for select causes, is now teaming up with Into the Next Chapter to hold a read-a-thon in July and August. Not only do they want to read enough pages to get the entire $25,000 pledge, but they are also asking for sponsors to pledge a penny a page for a selected number of pages with a goal of $.05/page totaling $125,000."

This in contrast to the original press release, which cryptically said "Beck urged supporting the private classical liberal arts university’s singular mission of building statesmen and made a personal donation of $25,000" with zero mention that this donation was to a little girl's foundation (with an honorable goal I might add).

Clear obfuscation on GWU's part.

Beck's Pledge / Donation - UPDATE

2009-07-31T11:54:00.001-07:00

Forgive me if I am confused about this donation. The website www.infund.org is reporting that "Glenn Beck has already pledged $25,000 to Into the Next Chapter to support George Wythe University, a private liberal arts college. That’s a penny a page for 2.5 million pages!"

So Beck pledged the money to www.infund.org, and when/if that site/organization earns the pledge and Beck actually cuts a check to it, will infund.org turn around and cut a check to George Wythe University?

How exactly does Beck's pledge to inFund translate to "support [for] George Wythe University"? The school's press release said "Beck urged supporting the private classical liberal arts university’s singular mission of building statesmen and made a personal donation of $25,000." That implies the donation was to the school.

Or is this yet another half-truth and obfuscation on the part of George Wythe University?

I'm confused about the connection here. Can anyone help me out?

Updated List of Top Readers (as of 7/31/09):

Jefferson D. (provo, ut)
30,748 Pages
Yuko H. (Dayton, Ohio)
29,130 Pages
Martha R. (Provo, Utah)
24,061 Pages
Ammon B. (Klawock, Alaska)
22,537 Pages
Annette M. (Pasadena, CA)
22,246 Pages
JohnThomas D. (Provo, UT)
19,700 Pages
Aaron H. (branson, MO.)
19,358 Pages
Alexis T. (Kaysville, utah)
19,105 Pages
Beth B. (Springville, Utah)
18,038 Pages
Michael J. (West Valley, UT)
16,147 Pages

Note that Jefferson D. has now read 1200 pages in two days!!! So far this individual is reading on average 1 page every 2 minutes, 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, since May 31.

Where did Beck's donation go? - UPDATED

2009-07-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

I thought that Glenn Beck was donating $25,000 directly to George Wythe University (through the George Wythe Foundation), but the press release is vague on this point:

"Beck urged supporting the private classical liberal arts university’s singular mission of building statesmen and made a personal donation of $25,000."

I recall seeing something about the money possibly going to a teenage girl's foundation. Can anyone confirm that the donation did, in fact, go to the school?

7/29/09 UPDATE

Let me shed a little more light on this. Beck did not in fact donate $25K directly to the school, he pledged the money to www.infund.org:

"Glenn Beck has already pledged $25,000 to Into the Next Chapter to support George Wythe University, a private liberal arts college. That’s a penny a page for 2.5 million pages!"

Earlier today, the school sent out an email saying:

"You can help the youth leading the read-a-thon and GWU by recording any pages you have read (including audio books and reading to someone else) since May 31st. You can be any age to record the pages you've read! Every page gets us closer to collecting the $25,000 pledged to GWU by Glenn Beck."

Here is a list of the top ten readers since May 31 (as of today):

Jefferson D. (provo, ut)
29,538 Pages
Yuko H. (Dayton, Ohio)
29,130 Pages
Martha R. (Provo, Utah)
24,061 Pages
Annette M. (Pasadena, CA)
22,246 Pages
Aaron H. (branson, MO.)
19,358 Pages
Alexis T. (Kaysville, utah)
19,105 Pages
Beth B. (Springville, Utah)
18,038 Pages
JohnThomas D. (Provo, UT)
17,832 Pages
Ginnie B. (Monticello, UT)
16,127 Pages
Michael J. (West Valley, UT)
16,037 Pages

The number one person is QUITE prolific, claiming to average 500 pages a day since May 31. Wow!!! I'm sure Glenn Beck will trust these numbers without question! Err, maybe not.

Re-read the press release quote at the beginning of this post. Not entirely truthful, I'd say. It said nothing about this www.infund.org website, nor did it mention that the "donation" was actually a pledge dependent followers reading 2.5 million pages.

Slash! Bam! The Latest GWU Seminar!!!

2009-07-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

GWU has announced a new seminar. As always, you can't make this stuff up:

"What power is shared by Shakespeare, Karl Marx, Thomas Jefferson, and Barack Obama? What is the fourth fundamental force yet to be identified by scientists-the divinely primal force that set the identified three in motion? The answer is the same for both questions. This is no mere trivia; the answer and its skilled application are elementary to the success of statesmen and the cultivation of freedom.

"Want to know the answer?

"Grapple with it, bathe in it, submit to it by attending this online seminar. Answer these questions, harness the power contained and the world will beat a path to your door, Archimedes' lever will spring from your fingertips, your business will not have room to receive its blessings, competitors will shrivel under its light, and your mark will be emblazoned for posterity. Are you prepared to wield this force?"

All this for only $799!

Of course, if GWU mentors are good enough at this to teach it, why don't they attempt to publish something outside the school newsletter?

Mr. DeMille has been modest in his account of his studies

2009-07-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

This reader comment left by a DeMille Disciple made me smile.

I particularly liked the part about how Oliver DeMille "could whip [my] whiney under-grad behind with both contacs[sic?] and his writing hand tied behind his back."

Spoken like a true statesman!

First show me where DeMille has constructed a coherent essay, and then we'll talk. :)

Beck / Stossel

2009-06-15T09:12:00.001-07:00

Yes, I still admire Glenn Beck. And no, I do not therefore automatically admire George Wythe University.

The Three Fundamentals?

2009-06-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

Following is a synopsis of one of the "three academic fundamentals" as documented on GWU's website

"Students are expected ... not only to write, but to publish. ...Students are required to publish, or make public, their writings. ... At first, this may consist of emails to associates, letters to the editor and posts on personal blogs. As students progress and mature in their content and writing skills, they seek out more formal venues for publication."

This begs the question: Have the GWU faculty "progress[ed] and mature[ed] in their content and writing skills" to the point where they can publish in a more formal venue?

I challenge the readers of this blog to show me even one example where a faculty member of GWU has ever published something in a third-party publication while at the school. (Groft's letters to the SUU student newspaper editor don't count!)

I'm going to go out a limb and say there haven't been any -- prove me wrong!

Behold, Coral Ridge Baptist University...

2009-06-09T14:52:00.001-07:00

...amazingly occupying one back office in this church! (hat tip: RC)

(Photo credit: Google Street View)

2967 Huffman Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246

Actually, by now that office is being used for something else, as the "university" is no longer operating. The building is still a church, and still has the same phone number as CRBU. The church is called Coral Ridge Baptist Ministries and you can see its website here.

More on Monticello Land

2009-06-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

The school's acquisition of land in Monticello was more complicated than I thought!

According to an individual in Monticello (I found this on the person's blog), two families donated 200 acres to the foundation; I'm not sure where the foundation came up with the remaining 320, but at least some of it was purchased:

"Shannon[sic] Brooks from George Wythe College and his wife stopped in to check out the store. They think they might know a few families coming with the college who would be interested in buying it. We will just wait to see what all happens.

"It looks like [redacted] and [redacted] are going to donate 100 acres to the school and [redacted] and I are donating 100 acres, and the college will negotiate with [redacted] and [redacted] for the other 200 they need. We are buying 100 acres back, and then donate that to use as a tax deduction. ...We will be fencing this summer and maybe start on the pavilion."

All of this land was later annexed by the City of Monticello. You can read the annexation document here.

More Debt

2009-06-08T14:47:00.001-07:00

It appears the school took out a second mortgage against its Cedar City building on 5/30/07. This was likely used to buy its 520-acre parcel in Monticello, which was acquired between January and June 2007.

Here's what we can surmise so far on this Monticello land. The school paid about $1 million cash, took on another $1 million in debt, and mortgaged its Cedar building for another $125,000, for a total of $2.18 million--all to buy raw land at the top of the market that may now be worth less than $1 million.

How the school expects to develop this land is beyond me. One of the biggest questions marks involves water rights.

I have done an exhaustive search of area water rights, and the school/foundation appears to own none. They own the land, but no water. In Utah, water rights are bought and sold in a way similar to real estate. Water is a requirement for development, especially in a rural area like Monticello.

Buying the Monticello land outright, with not only $1 million cash but over $1 million in debt, appears to have been a major financial blunder for the institution.

Update on Goodloe quote

2009-06-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

It appears this blog is having at least a microscopic impact -- GW has changed the Goodloe quote on its homepage to reflect the fact that he died 11 years before it was known as George Wythe University.

A glint of transparency!

Now if they could only correct the exaggerations and obfuscations contained in the official history.

Monticello Project, Non Profit Accounting, and Accreditation

2009-06-04T09:37:00.001-07:00

Based on GW's financial statements, it appears the school paid about $2,180,000 for its 520-acre parcel in Monticello, Utah. That comes out to about $4,200/acre. About $1.1 million of the purchase price appears to have been paid with cash (from donations) and the rest with debt.

The going price for comparable land in Monticello is currently around $1,000/acre, putting the current market value of the land at $520,000. It appears the school bought near the top of the market and may, possibly, be underwater on its loan (like so many homeowners across the country).

Given this, it's puzzling to hear Oliver DeMille say in April that "the Monticello project has especially helped our finances." He must mean that donations for that campus -- plans for which have been suspended -- are still flowing in. That's good, because those donations could be used to pay down the loan. But apparently they are being used for more than that.

Apparently at least a portion of donations for the Monticello development project are being used to subsidize the on-campus program in Cedar City. DeMille again: "[The Monticello development project] is still in the black [and has] helped provide income to help maintain our on-campus program."

This is a problem.

According to Andrew Groft, the AALE (the group from which GW is seeking accreditation) determined that the school's financials were not in line with non-profit accounting. Indeed!

Here's a quick lesson in non-profit accounting: When someone makes a donation to a non-profit and attaches a purpose to the donation, that donation becomes a "permanently restricted asset" and can only be used for the donor's purpose, even if the non-profit has other, worthy uses for it. Donations made with no restrictions are called "unrestricted assets."

Thus, a donation made to GW for "the Monticello development project" would, theoretically become a permanently restricted asset that could only be used on that project. That the Monticello project has "helped provide income to help maintain our on-campus program" is troubling to say the least, as this implies the school has been treating restricted assets as if they were unrestricted.

Based on this analysis (which is based on the facts available to this writer), it makes sense that the AALE would have concerns about the school's accounting. And if these accounting issues are to be overcome, it certainly presents a high hurdle for the school, in addition to the endowment hurdle.

The school could possibly correct this by going to the Monticello donors and asking that they revise their donations to unrestricted. Or perhaps this is not an issue at all, and DeMille misspoke when he said Monticello donations were being used to subsidize school operations.

Again, I am basing my analysis on the facts available to me. With 2008 cash expenses of $1.5 million, only $250K in the bank at 6/30/08, and enrollment at half of what it was last year (less than 100), one hopes the school will be able to scrape through this economic downturn, period -- accredited or not.

(Images from www.gw.edu)

Beck Donation

2009-06-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

GW is reporting that Glenn Beck donated $25,000 to the school after the gala. Whether this was an in-kind donation (i.e. reduction of his usual speaking fee) or a cash donation isn't clear.

According to his management company, "Glenn Beck travels from New York, New York and requires Private Jet." Bringing him out must not have been cheap (speaking fee plus travel costs on a private jet), and it makes sense that he would cut the school a break through an in-kind donation.

Beck dining with students (Source: GWU)

"'Quite honestly, the first thing that attracted me was that to graduate you have to know all of the principles behind The Five Thousand Year Leap,' Beck said." Indeed, incoming freshmen are required to read this book before any other.

Financial Statements

2009-06-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

A recent reader comment about the school's mortgage on its Cedar City building (despite a "no debt policy") got me wondering what the school's financial position really is. As the school is really just a DBA of the George Wythe Foundation, which is required to make annual filings with the IRS (Form 990), obtaining this information was relatively easy.

Below are the Balance Sheet and Income Statement of the George Wythe Foundation for the years 2002 - 2008. Note that in 2008, the school that "would use absolutely no debt for any reason" paid $81,000 interest on $1.47 million in debt.

Balance Sheet (click to enlarge)

Income Statement (click to enlarge)

There are several interesting things here, but what really stands out to me is the $1 million jump in debt from 2006 to 2007 (look at the balance sheet, second section, second line down). I can understand the 2005 appearance of $550K, which is likely the mortgage on the Cedar building. But this $1 million jump appears to coincide with the school's acquisition of land in Monticello, Utah.

I had always thought this was a mixture of donated and outright-purchased land, but apparently not. As they have suspended plans for a Monticello campus, this idle land does not appear to be anything but a drag on the foundation at this time. The fact that they appear to have bought it in early 2007, around the top of the real estate boom, begs the question of whether the school is in an upside-down position on it.

According to GW, the Monticello parcel is 520 acres. Let's be generous and assume that the $1 million mortgage represents the full purchase price, i.e. it was 100% financed and no donations were involved. That puts the land at $1,923 / acre. A quick perusal of the MLS puts land in Monticello at about half that.

Update on Goodloe Quote -- They Did Alter It

2009-06-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

On page 36 of GW's 2007 catalog, I found the same William C. Goodloe quote currently used on the school's homepage, but with the word "College" instead of "University" used:

"George Wythe College is really teaching students to think because it is applying the lessons of past generations. Students attend class excited and yearning to learn; they graduate motivated and dedicated to serve. Our nation, indeed our world, needs the education George Wythe College is promoting."

So there we have it. Goodloe didn't misspeak, prophesy, or come back from the grave; GWU changed his quote. Now I don't care if the school calls itself a college, university, or constitutional convention; that's not the issue. The issue is proper, honest attribution. But proper attribution doesn't appear to matter when you're providing the kind of education the illiterate Joan of Arc received, does it?

Justice Goodloe Speaks from the Grave

2009-06-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

GWU currently runs the following quote on its homepage, attributed to "Justice William C. Goodloe, Washington Supreme Court (Ret.)":

"Students attend class excited and yearning to learn; they graduate motivated and dedicated to serve. Our nation, indeed our world, needs the education George Wythe University is promoting."

Fine. Problem is, Goodloe died in 1997, 11 years before the school started calling itself a "university." Either Goodloe was a prophet, or GWU has modified his quote without being honest about it. Or he came back from the grave—I mean urn (he was cremated)—to give this quote. Or they made it up.

Deseret News puff piece

2009-06-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

I was waiting for a follow-up article on the actual Glenn Beck gala, but as that hasn't appeared, here's a link to the Deseret News article on GWU, complete with sidebars!

UPDATE: Here is an indirect report on the gala.

St. George Spectrum On Board

2009-05-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

The St. George Spectrum published a puff piece for the school today. My favorite part:

"It's a private university offering a first-class, liberal arts education that can be earned on campus, off-site and online. The higher education institution boasts students from across the United States and the world and is actively pursuing accreditation."

I didn't realize the Spectrum ran straight PR for shady organizations!

Welcome

2009-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome Glenn Beck listeners! See our previous posts (here and here) on Beck.

For those looking for information on Thomas Jefferson Education (the one with no textbooks), see the blog Why I Don't Do TJED by a homeschooling father.

Please browse the posts of this blog and the linked articles along the left side. I don't have a problem with someone deciding to study with GWU after they've seen the whole picture; this blog serves to help people go in with their eyes open.

Please respect the blog rules (upper left) -- no libelous accusations, no profanity, and cite your sources.

Glenn Beck Commentary

2009-05-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Apparently Glenn Beck plugged A Thomas Jefferson Education and George Wythe University during his radio program this morning at 11:00 AM Eastern (thanks RC).

Beck said that he likes the no textbook rule ("Classics, Not Textbooks"), and he said that George Wythe University is today what Harvard and Yale were in the 17th Century.

Disappointing comments coming from Beck -- he clearly has not done his homework here. For example, while GWU may claim to be a liberal arts school as Harvard was in the 1600s (and still is), Harvard was not granting degrees ranging from musicology to international business with no faculty knowledgeable in those fields. And Yale? It didn't even exist in the 1600s. It wasn't founded until 1701. Even if it had, I have a hard time coming up with even one substantive similarity between GWU and these two Ivy League schools.

A cursory examination by me of GWU's record after my relative blew through her college savings there (see my profile) revealed slipshod scholarship done by academically inbred professors. To date, of the four presidents in the school's history (see current president Andrew Groft in a light saber duel to the right), not one has an accredited doctorate. Not one has made a dissertation available for review. Instead, every doctorate comes from either GWU itself, or its mother institution, the now-defunct Coral Ridge Baptist University (no affiliation with the famous Coral Ridge Ministries).

Moreover, I am sure 17th Century Harvard did not hand out doctorates for life experience, like GWU did to a student in the 1990s, who took her Ph.D. in Psychology and used it to serve as an expert witness around the country, including for the defense in a child rape trial in Arkansas (David Eric WOOD v. STATE of Arkansas, see here and here). Luckily in that case her testimony was later thrown out by the state board of appeals.

I hope Beck continues to plug the school ahead of his Saturday appearance at a fundraising event. The school desperately needs the scrutiny that will follow.

American Founders University

2009-05-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Salt Lake Tribune reports this morning that American Founders University has gone under.

What does this have to do with George Wythe University? AFU and GWU share founders: Donald Sills and Glenn Kimber, co-founders with Oliver DeMille of George Wythe College, went on to found this online, for-profit, liberal arts school with an individual named Rick Koerber.

Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney for Utah announced a 3-count indictment against Koerber for allegedly defrauding investors of more than $100 million.

The following comes directly from the AFU website:

Who is Rick Koerber?
Rick Koerber is the Founder and CEO of American Founders University and FranklinSquires Companies, LLC. He is a highly sought after motivational speaker and business consultant. He has worked with, represented, and held key positions in companies such as FranklinCovey, Toshiba America Business Solutions, Carleton Sheets Personal Coaching and IKON Office Solutions. His broad background also includes seminary teacher for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, high school instructor, parliamentary/policy debate coach at Casper College in Wyoming and founder of six businesses. Although only in his thirties, Rick has in his own words “had a lifetime of experience in both headaches and wonderful triumphs.” Rick’s establishment of the Equity Milling™ process—a successful, creative real estate technique—has resulted in his acquisition of over $100 million in real estate. To find out more information about Rick, visit www.rickkoerber.com.

Who is Glenn Kimber?
Dr. Glenn Jay Kimber is the President of American Founders Academy. He is also a former member of the United States Air Force and a graduate of Brigham Young University. A native of Grouse Creek and Brigham City, Utah, Glenn is the founder of five businesses: KimCo, Inc., Textbook Publishers, Beit-Lehi Tours, Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies, and Kimber Academy. His vocations have included serving as a general contractor, a private school owner, school principal and instructor, tour guide to Israel, Executive Vice President of The National Center for Constitutional Studies, author, and lecturer. Dr. Kimber has traveled for over 30 years throughout the U.S. presenting over 1,000 patriotic seminars and conferences on the subjects of American history and the United States Constitution to audiences exceeding one million. He married Julianne Skousen in 1965, and together they have authored over 28 textbooks. Glenn and Julianne live in Alpine, Utah.

Who is Don Sills?
The son of an Oklahoma farmer, Dr. Donald N. Sills has served as a Baptist Minister for over 50 years and has spoken from the pulpit in over 25 countries. He has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs, including several appearances on Phil Donohue Show, Larry King Live, Pat Robertson’s 700 Club, and James Robinson. He has served as President of the Coalition for Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C. (1984-1995), Executive Director for the World Council for Religious Liberty in Geneva Switzerland, and President of Family Entertainment Network based in Texas—a business that has generated $25 million dollars in sales in the field of animated Bible stories. As a teacher and advocate of the American Constitution and the Word of God, Dr. Sills currently serves as the Director of Eagle’s Nest Academy, Manager of World Resource Partners: Hong Kong, Chairman of the Board to George Wythe College, and Director of the Institute for International Educational Development. Dr. Sills is the Vice-President of American Founders Academy. He and his wife, Katherine, reside in Mapleton, Utah.

Kimber received his doctorate from Coral Ridge Baptist University. According to the GW history, he did the initial curriculum design for George Wythe College.

Although the AFU website still lists Kimber as president, according to an individual with the Kimber Academy, "When [Glenn Kimber] found out some of the things going on with Rick, he left American Founders." This individual clarified that Koerber is not involved with Kimber Academy.

No Debt Policy?

2009-05-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

According to the school's official history, it operates under a strict no-debt policy: "Here is an institution of higher learning that was begun with no funding of any kind, and a no-debt policy from its inception. ...the College would use absolutely no debt for any reason."

However, it appears that in order to purchase its current campus, the school signed a $489,719 trust deed (securing a loan, aka debt) with the State Bank of Southern Utah. The document, dated November 2004, is available at the Iron County, Utah recorder's website. In addition, the note was co-signed by a local tree farm, which appears to have quit-claimed its interest in April 2007.

In May 2007, the school appears to have taken out a new loan against the facility in the amount of $125,000, again with the State Bank of Southern Utah.

First Class in Monticello

2009-05-26T13:18:00.001-07:00

The school has officially held its first class in Monticello, and appears to have met the technical requirements of the Monticello land donation (requiring classes be held by 2010).

Classes were held in an outdoor pavilion, apparently the only structure placed on the land to-date.

Areas of Focus

2009-05-26T11:21:00.001-07:00

Several people have asked what my problem is with George Wythe University. While I try to include all viewpoints in this blog (see link listing to the left), I do have a few problems with this school based on my interactions and those of my relatives (see my profile at the bottom of the blog).

These problems boil down to three general categories:

1. The way the school presents itself
2. Philosophy / Methodology
3. Quality of execution on the methodology

The way the school presents itself
The problems with the school's history have been documented in previous posts. Obviously, the school has a troubled past, although it seems to be turning over a new leaf of late.

While I have no problem with fresh starts, the school needs to come to terms with its own history before it can fully move forward. If that means disowning the 1990s and all its attendant baggage (degrees based on life experience, conspiracy publications, etc.), then so be it.

During that time the school gave our boatloads of degrees for majors ranging from Musicology to Psychology to International Business, to the point where these degrees are simply not credible.

Unfortunately, such a purge would include throwing out the degree of current president Andrew Groft, who got his Ph.D. in Education during this time (this is another of the degrees no longer offered).

A friend of mine commented that when she was considering the school back in 2002, she was impressed by the photos in the registration materials of students lounging in large quads, reading books near majestic columns on an expansive campus. But when she visited the campus, it was in the basement of a dentist's office in a strip mall. She felt like her expectations had been violated, and although this didn't make or break the deal for her, it did leave her with a bad taste in her mouth.

From another angle, here is a shot taken from the school's homepage on March 11, 2000, ostensibly an image of the school's campus:

And here is a shot of the strip mall the school actually occupied at the time, and through 2005 (they were in the basement of one of the units):

What's wrong with presenting things "as they really are"? Unfortunately, the school continues to present itself as more than it is. Another example: It bills itself as "the leading college in the United States dedicated specifically to building Statesmen." It's not difficult to lead in a field of one! They could just as justifiably call themselves "the worst college in the United States dedicated specifically to building Statesmen."

The school has since moved into the following quarters on Sage Drive in Cedar City, Utah:

More transparency in the way the school presents itself would go a LONG way in establishing its credibility.

I will address items 2 and 3 in follow-up posts.

Comments welcome!

GW YouTube Videos

2009-05-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

GW has posted the following promo videos (hat tip: RC).

This is Not a Joke

2009-05-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from actual "scenario" put forth by GW for an actual, serious "simulation" exercise. This is the mindset of the school:

"The year is 2013. Just months ago, President Obama won the election and began his second term as President of the United States. On February 23, while Air Force 1 was taking off from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a hidden guerilla fighter was able to deploy an RPG. The rocket propelled grenade hit engine #3, ignited the fuel cells, and brought the President and everyone aboard down in a mass of flames. The devastation was recorded by numerous media agencies and all 112 people aboard died. Vice-President Hillary Clinton took office within hours of the confirmation that the President had, indeed, perished.

"On March 15, 2013 the most sophisticated and wide-reaching web of intrigue in the history of the world was played out within a ninety-minute window. A precise combination of nuclear attacks launched between the United States, Russia, Europe, India, Pakistan, North Korea, China, Taiwan, and even Cuba, devastated most of the major world capitals."

The synopsis goes on to describe how a window of opportunity has opened up to create a new, revolutionary constitution, and how different factions are competing for influence over just how to fashion it.

As "out there" as this scenario may seem, the school saw fit to arrange a four-day "Statesmanship Invitational" to act out the situation (see here). This is the kind of useful, statesman-like education you can receive nowhere but at George Wythe University. For $190, you too can participate!

(Well, you might get it by reading Gerald Lund's The Alliance, which bears eerie similarities to this scenario, but I digress...)

CLARIFICATION: I have no problem with Lund, and to his credit he clearly labels his book as fantasy/science fiction. I don't think he's living in a dreamworld where he expects this type of scenario to actually play out. I mention the book, which I read as a teenager, to make the point that (1) GW leadership does appear to be living in such a dreamworld, and (2) whoever wrote this "simulation" might possibly have been influenced by Lund's book.

Check out the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section in the book's Amazon.com listing. The 5000 Year Leap, The Hiding Place, and The Real George Washington, along with other GW favorites, appear there as well.

But Lund's book is fantasy, people -- GW's "simulation" was a four-day, serious exercise.

Punting Accreditation

2009-05-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

Once again, GW has punted on accreditation. The school had previously said it would know if its attempt at accreditation with the AALE was successful by Spring 2009. Andrew Groft has now indefinitely suspended that promise, while affirming that the school still wants to be accredited.

It was a full nine months ago (August 28, 2008) that The St. George Spectrum quoted Shanon Brooks as saying the school "is in the last stage of the accreditation process."

Then in January, we posted an update detailing how the ball was in GW's court and the school was basically doing nothing. Groft confirms this when he says "our faculty and staff have had to divert time and attention away from accreditation during these past six months."

So much for those students who took the school at its word. Accreditation is obviously not a priority for the school. If administrators had been more transparent about its interminable on-and-off flirtation with accreditation, these students may have been able to learn from history: DeMille and the school have been saying accreditation was around the corner ever since 1999, but have yet to come through on the promises.

Review of the GW Board

2009-05-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Below is a summary of GW's Board of Trustees. Note that of the 14 board members, only six claim doctoral degrees, four of which are from either GW or its sister school, CRBU.

Name	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate
Vicki Jo Anderson	BYU	GWU	-
Rusty T. Bastian	USU	UofU	-
J. Monte Bledsoe	-	-	-
Shanon Brooks	GWU	GWU	GWU
Allan Burton	-	-	QU (Law)
Oliver DeMille	BYU	CRBU	CRBU
Julie Earley	-	GWU	GWU
Doug Free	BYU	-	-
Andrew Groft	-	-	GWU
Diann Jeppson (Chair)	GWU	-	-
Ken Krogue	UofU	-	-
Lyle Mast	-	-	-
Shane Schulthies	BYU	-	BYU
Tryge Simpson	-	-	-

Note also that while the board chair, Diann Jeppson, has only a bachelor's degree from GW, she "is currently pursuing a Masters in Education at George Wythe University."

Following is a summary of the degrees, listed by school. Note that this is probably an incomplete listing, as many of the biographies list no degree at all (I assume all the members of the board have at least one degree from somewhere).

Name	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	Total
None	7	9	8	24
GWU	2	3	3	8
BYU	4	0	1	5
UofU	1	1	0	2
CRBU	0	1	1	2
USU	1	0	0	1
QU	0	0	1	1

DeMille Transcript

2009-05-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, DeMille posted a copy of his BYU transcript on his website, www.tjedonline.com. While that has since been removed (I suggested to him at the time, privately, that he remove it as it contained his SSN), I am posting the class list from that document, which I believe is the thrust of what he was trying to achieve by posting it in the first place [UPDATE: I have removed this class list as it cluttered the blog] Note that I can vouch that he did indeed graduate magna cum laude from BYU, although he did retake most of the classes from his first semester due to poor grades.

Here is a quick review of how many credits were carried and when, juxtaposed with a hasty timeline of concurrent events. This table could certainly be revised -- please let me know if I am missing anything!

Time Period	BYU Credits	BYU Status	Concurrent Events
Sep - Dec 1986	12.5	Full time	Doughty purchases Meadeau View Lodge, moves ICE from Cedar City to Duck Creek
Jan - Apr 1987	11.5	Full time	Doughty begins touring country with Cleon Skousen, raising funds for Meadeau View
May - Jun 1987	6.0	Full time	Doughty and Skousen raise funds
Jul 1987 - Oct 1989	0.0	On break	DeMille on two-year mission in Spain; Doughty buys 400-acre parcel in Mammoth Valley
Nov - Dec 1989	5.0	Full time	Doughty and Skousen raise funds
Jan - Apr 1990	14.5	Full time	Doughty and Skousen raise funds
May - Aug 1990	0.0	On break	DeMille works for ICE assisting with seminars; seller of Mammoth Land files notice of default on the note for failure to make first payment
Sep - Dec 1990	17.5	Full time	Doughty makes first payment on land
Jan - Apr 1991	16.5	Full time	Dixie State Bank files notice of default for failure to make final payment on land
May - Jun 1991	10.0	Full time	Doughty begins borrowing thousands from followers, some in double-principal notes, promising to complete Skousen Center at Duck Creek; also solicits and accepts $2,000 to $14,000 "donations" from at least 72 families and individuals promising them land at Mammoth
Jul - Aug 1991	0.0	On break	DeMille works for ICE teaching seminars; Doughty makes final payment on land
Sep - Dec 1991	17.5	Full time
Jan - Apr 1992	20.5	Full time	DeMille submits independent study work, awarded B.A. from CRBU
May - Jun 1992	1.0	Part time
Jul - Aug 1992	0.0	On break	DeMille works for ICE teaching seminars
Sep - Dec 1992	2.0	Part time	GWC founded at Meadeau View Lodge; DeMille full-time faculty and awarded M.A. from CRBU
Jan - Aug 1993	0.0	On break	Lodge damaged in explosion, DeMille spends summer piecing school together
Sep - Dec 1993	3.0	Part time	DeMille sole faculty member at GWC
Jan - Apr 1994	6.0	Part time	DeMille awarded Ph.D. from CRBU; Utah Division of Real Estate sends cease-and-desist order to Doughty, ordering him to stop marketing the Mammoth land
May - Aug 1994	0.0		DeMille awarded B.A. from BYU; Deseret News publishes series of articles on Meadeau View

Glenn Beck

2009-04-22T11:08:00.001-07:00

I've been a fan of Glenn Beck for several years. I've never listened to his radio show, but I was a regular viewer of his cable show on CNN HN. I'm disappointed that he has agreed (I'm sure he's being paid) to speak at a fundraiser for GW next month.

Here is an audio invitation from Beck himself. I have done my best to get through to him, invite him to read up on the history of the school, but as yet I haven't received any response. I'm sure that if he researched the school's tactics, obfuscations, checkered history, etc., he would be reluctant to associate with it, but there it is.

Hopefully, increased focus on the school resulting from Beck's association will only serve to shine more of a light on the facts. My goal, in the end, is that people have the facts about this school so they can judge for themselves.

DeMille's Response

2009-04-15T10:13:00.001-07:00

Oliver DeMille has posted a response to some of the issues raised in this and other forums:

Let me answer some questions you probably didn't think to ask...

UPDATE 6: Wikipedia Editor

2009-04-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

See the bottom of this page. The editor (Arationalguy), who identifies himself as Dan (which is consistent with what we have learned about him), may be trying to clarify here that the other editor (4by40) was in fact his wife, who we have learned serves in a high position with George Wythe University / George Wythe Foundation.

UPDATE: Let me emphasize here, in response to his third appeal to be unblocked from Wikipedia, which refers to this posting, that he is the one who publicly disclosed his first name, and that because someone with the same name has used this avatar at several other websites, it is easy to assume it is the same person. We already disclaimed that this could in fact be someone posing as this person -- we can never know for sure.

But we have established here that we will not now nor ever identify him at this blog or anywhere else, out of respect for his privacy. I would encourage him to respect his own privacy as well and stop rehashing the issue, as I then feel forced to re-clarify here that we will not disclose his identity.

UPDATE 5: Wikipedia Editor

2009-04-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

My associates and I have confirmed through various sources that the person behind the Wikipedia sockpuppet editing of the GW article is a close associate of DeMille, was an official of GW as late as 2006, and is married to someone currently high up in the organization.

Although we know his name, I will not disclose it publicly. He knows who he is. Let me say, sir, that I am disappointed in your conduct, but sadly not surprised.

UPDATE 4: Pro GWU Editors Were Indeed Sockpuppets

2009-04-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

My suspicions were 2/3rds confirmed: the two Wikipedia editors making the most drastic changes to the George Wythe University article were, in fact, the same person. A clear violation of Wikipedia policy. Both editors have been blocked indefinitely. You can read the verdict here.

What is most disheartening about this is that whoever this was claimed to be making his edits in the spirit of honesty and truth. You can see him lying about being a sockpuppet here and here.

UPDATE 3: Juxtaposition of DeMille Articles

2009-04-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

To illustrate the whitewashing that has taken place on Wikipedia, here are two versions of the Oliver DeMille article juxtaposed, one from 4/1/09 and one from today:

* 4/1/09
* 4/5/09

UPDATE 2: Wikipedia Whitewash and Callout to Rachel DeMille

2009-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

It appears that the editor known as Ibinthinkin is at the very least a close associate of DeMille, if not DeMille himself. Here is my reasoning:

1. The person is likely at least 40 years old (see this edit)

2. I get the distinct sense that it's a male engaging with me

3. He described two of his children (I will not link to the edit or go into detail here out of respect; whether it's DeMille or not, it's beyond me why the individual brought his children into it)

4. To back up an assertion that he attended BYU on a full scholarship, as well as myriad details about his life in high school, he added a reference to sixteen (!) obscure local newspaper articles from the early- to mid-1980s. These are not available anywhere online. (see here) This person later claimed he got the articles from DeMille's mother (see here)

5. To back up an assertion in the article that he had "a 3.89 GPA" at BYU he added a link to an image of DeMille's transcript, suddenly uploaded as a stand-alone link at www.tjedonline.com. This site is owned and run by the DeMilles. (I won't link to it here because it contains sensitive, personally-identifiable information, and I encourage DeMille to take it down ASAP) UPDATE on 4/15/09: The transcript has been taken down.

Obviously, I am making my own conclusions based on the evidence, and I could be wrong.

Frankly, I'm so battered and bruised from the back-and-forth on Wikipedia, and my reputation there has been so tarnished by the persistent assertions and accusations of this/these pro-GW individual(s), I'm not sure I'm going to have much credibility editing articles anymore, which is sad for me. I have tried very hard to make neutral article edits. But if my efforts to paint a neutral picture of George Wythe College / University helps just one person avoid the trap my relative fell into, it is worth the sacrifice.

I guess I am fighting to my own Wikipedia death, and I am losing!!!

I am asking Mrs. DeMille, who recently posted at this blog, to either call off this editor or have Mr. DeMille post here and disavow the person's tendentious editing.

Wikipedia Whitewash of G. Wythe Articles

2009-04-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

The George Wythe University and Oliver DeMille articles are currently bombarded by GWU students, faculty, both (not sure exactly) diligently whitewashing anything that may reflect poorly on the school. The main points gone are that (1) GW previously awarded degrees based on life experience; and (2) DeMille may have made up some of his degrees in the past. I suspect one (or all) of the editors is Shanon Brooks, director of marketing for the school.

If you want some insight into how, in my experience, GW students / faculty tend to engage in discussion with those of a different viewpoint, check out the talk pages of these articles (linked to the left on this blog). One of the first responses when presented with damning evidence is to attack the opponent personally. Close behind is the straw man, the favorite fallacy it seems of GW adherents. For example, they often define your terms for you, then attack the definition they made up for you.

Wikipedia articles must conform to an ideal called "neutral point of view," meaning articles should not be presented from a pro- or con perspective, but rather from a neutral perspective. The facts in this case are damning enough that they speak for themselves even from a neutral perspective.

The nature of Wikipedia is such that if enough people get on there, majority rules, not a neutral point of view, and not the truth. Sadly in this case, the truth is losing.

Rachel DeMille Responds

2009-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

In response to both my request to point out any misstated facts in DeMille's Wikipedia article and my comments on the bookstore, Rachel DeMille* gave the following response in the Daily Herald forum:

I'd be happy to--and I will, but I'm limited on time this week. Being a wife, mom of 8 and a budding entrepreneur ;-) keeps me a little busy...

Meanwhile, I wanted to respond to the concerns you raised about the bookstore itself, since that's the main gist of this article anyway, and it's a pretty simple explanation.

My partner Daniela Larsen originally had intended to purchase Classic Books from its previous owner, Dana Chamberlain. Dana, who is a really great friend of mine for more than 10 years, fell to ill health, and over the course of the last three years the health of the business followed suit. By the time Daniela took over operations for her late last year, the relationships with the vendors were in such a poor state that the store owed more to its creditors than it was worth as a business, so Daniela informed Dana that she couldn't purchase the business, but would do her best to honor the outstanding customer orders. As Dana's Classic Books had also been the retail fulfillment for George Wythe College Bookstore, and as the customer base of both these businesses is virtually the same as the one we target, we had an interest in taking up those customer relationships as well as trying to salvage a good reputation for two entities with which we would inevitably be identified.

Perhaps it was not good sense--it has been a real struggle to start a business while trying to give a soft landing to two other stores which were ceasing operations, but there it is. We have been so gratified by the patience, good will and gestures of support by the customers who've had a rough time of it in the transition, and we look forward to living up to their high expectations.

As for the listing with the BBB, it obviously should be changed. It is a reflection of original intentions, and has not been updated to the current state of affairs. As I said, I'm sort of new to this, and it was off my radar. I appreciate you making mention of it.

Hope this helps.

rd

I invited her to post the feedback here at this blog.

*I assume this is the real Rachel DeMille, wife of Oliver

Classic Books and Gifts

2009-03-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

Let me preface this post by making clear that I love the classics. This speech expresses my sentiments exactly.

A new bookstore has opened in Lehi, Utah. It is called Classic Books and Gifts. This is not just any bookstore, for it is co-owned by none other than Oliver DeMille. It will soon begin hosting classes for George Wythe University, as well as other classes and seminars associated with DeMille's "Thomas Jefferson" education (TJEd).

According to this person, there was a Classic Books in Cedar City that folded in December 2008. I assume that store was one in the same with Classic Books, Inc., owned by one Dana S. Chamberlain (Utah Dept of Commerce website).

The new entity, an LLC registered under Daniela Larsen, is apparently honoring unfulfilled (yet paid for?) orders to the Cedar City store. Why the magnanimous gesture? I don't know.

When I commented on the Provo Daily Herald profile article on the Lehi store one full day after it ran (and left a link to this blog), a flood of newly-registered users suddenly commented on how wonderful the store was.

Here's the breakdown: I made my first comment 22 hours ago. Then today between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm Utah time, six comments from different newly-registered users popped in (all in defense of TJEd). Hmm.

In any case, this whole article raises the question whether DeMille has relocated to Lehi. Now that he is no longer president or even "chancellor" of GW, maybe there's no need to stick around (especially since GW will be transforming into a correspondence school like DeMille's alma mater, Coral Ridge Baptist University).

If that is the case, it is our responsibility to get the facts about GW and TJEd out to the good people of Lehi and northern Utah County so unsuspecting people don't get sucked into this and separated from their money, like my relative did.

UPDATE: This is incredible. I checked the Better Business Bureau, and the profile for the Cedar City store has been updated with the address of this "new" Lehi store. Not only that, but Ms. Dana Chamberlain (registered agent for the Cedar City store) is listed as the president and customer contact.

There's more. The store has a DBA designation to do business as, drum roll, George Wythe College Bookstore! So much for this posting claiming the two bookstores are completely separate, including the claim that "we [at Classic Books and Gifts] are still seeking to honor all those orders from the old store as a good will gesture."

This is yet another example of the sleight of hand, exaggeration, and half-truth approach that to me appears to saturate George Wythe College / University and Thomas Jefferson Education. Judge for yourself my friends.

UPDATE: I have received a response from Rachel DeMille on this. See the next post.

American Heritage Academy

2009-03-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

On March 8, 2009, the Arizona Republic reported that Prescott teacher Emili Kay Daniels had been arrested after the school principal found her and a 17-year-old student in a compromising situation.

It turns out she and the student had at least three sexual encounters on campus. You can find more on this story here, here, here, and here.

The school where this took place is the American Heritage Academy, a charter school co-founded and run by GW alumna and trustee Vicki Jo Anderson.

Shanon Brooks used to work at American Heritage, and Troy Henke, who set up the mathematics program at GW, taught there right after graduating from GW. He went on to found the Idaho Leadership Academy, whose subsequent charter battle inspired Richard Stout's "Diploma DeMille" piece.

Obviously, what happened does not reflect on GW. But I think the connections between American Heritage Academy and George Wythe College are at least tangentially interesting.

Andrew Groft

2009-03-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: We now know a little more about Mr. Groft. See new post. /UPDATE

Here is what I know about Andrew Groft, based on the official GW bio and what I have garnered from various other sources (all linked below):

Groft was likely born in 1972. He was a representative of the Goodman Family Singers in the mid-1990s, around the time he first joined GW as a "student-mentor."

His doctorate in education is from George Wythe College, although the official bio does not mention that. GW awarded him the degree in 2001, and it currently falls in the list of degrees no longer offered by the school.

The bio calls him a "founder" of George Wythe College, although he wasn't around in 1991 or 1992 when Doughty, DeMille, and Sills started the school as part of the Meadeau View Institute. (Incidentally, DeMille is still listed as "the founder" in his own bio.)

According to Shanon Brooks, Groft left GW in the 1990s to become an executive for an unnamed "large financial services firm." After becoming a board member of this firm, in 1999 Groft returned to GW. In 2000 he was named provost.

By 2003, he was an ASL instructor at Southern Utah University. He is faculty advisor for the GW chapter of College Republicans, and will lead a tour of Western Europe for a group of GW students in June.

Groft "place[s] George Wythe College and its programs at no less than the forefront of a new 'Renaissance of Kings', with the ability to transform society and the world."

He uses this term, Renaissance of Kings, frequently. It stems from a 2006 graduation speech he gave for GW. According to the 12/15/08 GWU Hour, when writing this address he set out to create something profound. (I have read the document and it has no references or footnotes. It does not cite one source.)

In August 2008, he was named president of the Cedar City campus in conjunction with the Monticello Campus groundbreaking.

The press release I posted earlier is the first announcement of Groft's ascension to the presidency of all of George Wythe. I have yet to find any mention of this press release anywhere. However, as of today Groft's official bio has been updated to reflect his new role.

Finally, here is a video of Groft conducting class at GW. :)

(Lightsaber Duel) A Day In Class At GWC... - Funny video clips are a click away

Leadership Changes, Again

2009-03-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note on a recent press release (although I don't know if it has been "released" yet) from George Wythe University. It is dated March 3, 2009, and states that Oliver DeMille and Shanon Brooks will no longer be Chancellor and President, respectively, of GW. Andrew Groft will be the new president, and the Chancellor position is no more.

I still can't find any web mention of this press release, nor do I find it in any news searches. Therefore, I will be the first to give this release a web presence by including it below:

PRESS RELEASE
March 3, 2009

George Wythe University Restructures to Expand Its Reach in the Information Age

CEDAR CITY, UTAH - The George Wythe Foundation Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Friday to restructure the operations and administration of George Wythe University to a more efficient model designed to expand its impact in the Information Age.

The Board's strategic plan involves dramatically enriching and expanding off-campus programs with live internet teleconferencing, delivering a virtual classroom experience anywhere in the world. This will significantly reduce costs for students living away from the Cedar City campus, while on-campus and extension programs will remain for those who prefer traditional classes.

"Technological advances are transforming the way we interact and revolutionizing education across the globe," said university founder Oliver DeMille. "Our mission of building statesmen is no longer restricted by geographic boundaries. This is a very exciting time for us."

DeMille cited the need for greater efficiency in the current economy as the reason for the change. Since the move toward virtual classrooms places greater focus on teaching while reducing administrative needs, the organizational model was streamlined accordingly.

In place of the previous chancellor model with separate administrative and academic heads, the university now designates a single president as both top administrator and academician. This position will be filled by Andrew Groft, former Provost and President of the Cedar City Campus. DeMille will continue as Vice Chair of the Board, and will offer his leadership more extensively in academics by focusing on teaching while directing the masters and doctoral programs. Shanon Brooks has accepted a Board assignment to lead efforts in recruiting and Resource Development, departments critical to the university's success during the economic downturn. He will also oversee campus development beyond Cedar City.

"With the current economic crisis arriving in the Information Age, we're fortunate to be agile enough to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities," said Board Chair Diann Jeppson. "A robust online program in addition to a tighter, leaner administration will be critical in allowing GWU to rise to the forefront and lead out in the new frontier. We plan to be on the cutting edge."

Brooks' enthusiasm for expanding the reach of the school was clear. "While the world goes high-tech, attracting donors, supporters and students will always remain a high-touch process."

Jeppson agreed, "Shanon's role as an ambassador will be more essential to our mission than ever before. We'll reach into places we didn't think we'd touch for decades."

"I'm surprised how quickly we've been able to adapt to the times as a team," said Groft. I'm especially grateful to be working with so many committed and talented people who sacrifice so much."

DeMille was particularly excited about the new direction of the university. "Andy has proven his commitment and leadership ability. He is taking GWU in positive new directions and will continue to make changes that are needed while preserving the university's core mission. His vision and creation of the emerging online programs will unleash the potential for truly global educational leadership, and will greatly improve the university's purpose, focus and direction into the months and years ahead."

The efficiency of the new model is expected to result in cost savings that can be passed on to students. Details on the new course offerings and their pricing will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Enrollment Dynamics: UOP & GWU

2009-02-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

In DeMille's recent announcement, he mentioned that on-campus enrollment is 50% of what it was last year, and that "over 95% of [non-returning students] cite economic issues as the reason."

Indeed, the economy is in dire straits. And with a surging budget deficit, the future doesn't look rosy.

But hold the phone. This is an interesting case study (or simulation if you will). You see, education is typically countercyclical: in times of economic downturn, enrollment tends to go UP as people seek to improve themselves.

To wit, for-profit educator Apollo Group recently reported record revenue and enrollment. Indeed, "new degreed enrollment of bachelor students grew close to 20% over the prior year." (Ironically, DeMille intends to use the University of Phoenix, one Apollo's schools, as a model going forward.)

When push comes to shove, people tend to communicate with their wallets where they believe true value lies.

If "economic reasons" tend to drive people toward schools in a downturn, not away from them, what could the decline at GW mean? I believe it is an indictment on GW inadvertently handed down by its own students.

What about the donated land in Monticello?

2009-02-23T05:43:00.001-08:00

The post heading pretty much says it all. DeMille's announcement that the Monticello campus will be built on a much smaller scale, if it is built at all, begs the question: What about the 400 or so acres donated (in good faith) for the campus? Will the George Wythe Foundation do the right thing and return it? Or will they hold a shotgun class session on it before 2010 to fulfill a technical obligation of the donation, then turn around and sell the acreage to fund the school's new, online operations? Or to fund its endowment? Or something else?

Given the school's history with the Meadeau View Institute (see Deseret News articles in the left sidebar), it appears that history may be repeating itself.

The George Wythe Foundation planned on building 300 homes on 500 acres west of Monticello. It appears those plans, like Meadeau View's planned Mammoth Valley community, will not materialize.

On Second Thought... Monticello, Cedar City Campuses to be Scaled Back

2009-02-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Five months after breaking ground on a 400-acre Monticello Utah campus, DeMille has announced that the campus, if it is ever built, will be dramatically scaled back. Operations at the Cedar City campus will be downsized as well.

According to DeMille, GW enrollment is half what it was one year ago. The on-campus program is losing money, while the distance and extension programs are profitable, as is the Monticello development project.

(I'm not sure how a development project can be profitable, unless profit means donations minus expenses. If that's the case, it appears the GW foundation has been taking in handsome donations for the Monticello campus.)

GW has already made cuts and laid off personnel. The school has no endowment (it looks like no headway has been made on the billion dollar endowment goal). DeMille is kicking himself for not seeing this coming, since he knows all about The Fourth Turning.

According to DeMille, in lieu of previous expansion plans announced by Brooks:

Our plan is to keep the Cedar City on-campus component for students who want an on-site experience for any or all of their college years, and to build a small but excellent campus in Monticello that will grow beyond this recession and provide leadership education far into the future. As we grow this, we plan to supplement the online courses with classes and seminars in metropolitan centers like the University of Phoenix has done.

You can read DeMille's entire letter here.

One other thing to point out. In his message, DeMille says

Personally, I have been skeptical of distance programs and a strong believer that campus learning is much better than distance.

Please read up on DeMille's own education in the Wikipedia article linked at left (and here), because by all accounts, his Coral Ridge Baptist University education was entirely distance learning! (See "The First Fifteen Years" by Shanon Brooks; look on p. 9, ¶ 3.)

Not only was CRBU distance learning, but his diploma mill J.D. was (supposedly) obtained the same way. In fact, the only on-campus education I can find in DeMille's history is the time he spent at BYU. But according to Brooks, "as good as the BYU studies had been, the Coral Ridge learning was truly great, much more challenging than anything [DeMille] had ever done or seen." (Brooks, p. 8, ¶ 3)

That's why I find so rich his statement that campus learning is "much better" than distance learning, and that until just recently he has been skeptical of distance programs. There are many other things to point out in his statement, but I thought I'd grab this low-hanging fruit.

Elevation Follow Up

2009-02-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

Just a follow-up to my earlier post about the "elevation" to university status.

Exhibit A on the culture of hyperbole, exaggeration, and outright deceit that tends to permeate nearly all things George Wythe College and Thomas Jefferson Education:

In its September 2008 newsletter, GW makes the following statement:

In early 2008, George Wythe College applied to and met the requirements set forth by the State of Utah and was issued the name "George Wythe University" to be used at the board’s discretion.

REALITY: Shanon Brooks went to the Utah Department of Commerce website, checked the availability of the name "George Wythe University," and then paid $22 to register the name. END OF STORY.

You can check out the process for yourself on page 39 of this document.

Commentary

2009-02-10T10:25:00.001-08:00

DeMille wrote the following blurb to promote an upcoming online seminar he's putting on (for only $29!). I am including it here as an example of some fallacious reasoning I see as prevalent in DeMille's writing. My commentary is in brackets:

"History is the story of aristocracy over the masses [false premise]. America broke this pattern, setting up the model for a classless society--and the resulting freedom has lasted over 200 years! [non sequitur]

"That freedom has endured so many challenges that few realize that America is truly at a crossroads. [another non sequitur] With all that our generation will be called upon to face, the greatest battle of our time is between Aristocracy and Freedom. [false dichotomy--DeMille frequently employs this fallacy]

"While our attention is rapt in the drama all around us, our future, the future of Freedom, is being decided here and now. This conflict defines our politics, our economics, our education and the future of our families.

"During this time of crisis, we can no longer suppose that the cycles of history will pass our generation by. Join me as I teach about the traps that lie before us and the solutions that will empower you to ensure that our freedoms will endure!"

The site introduces DeMille as follows:

"For the first time in many [six] months, DeMille will teach publically. He has made good use of his time during his absence from the public stage [was he ever on the public stage? Check newspaper archives -- even local Utah ones -- and you will find virtually no mention of him; he is not a public figure]. His research has brought him to some critical conclusions.

"For years, Oliver DeMille has been researching the classics and the cycles of history to inform his predictions and prescriptions for the coming years [See his book The New World Order: Choosing Between Christ and Satan in the Last Days for an example of his predictions]. His revolutionary synthesis of scholarship and application [the word "revolutionary" implies no one before had made a connection between scholarship and application] both inform and inspire his listeners with information they can use to make a difference.

"Don't miss this new and timely presentation, with live Q&A to follow."

If you're interested, you can sign up for the webinar here: http://thecomingaristocracy.eventbrite.com/

Elevation to University Status

2009-01-27T18:49:00.001-08:00

On August 28, 2008, Brooks was quoted in The St. George Spectrum saying the school "gained university status about two weeks ago and is in the last stage of the accreditation process." (This article is now dead-linked.)

On August 20, 2008, the San Juan Record reported that "for many years, George Wythe College has sustained slow but steady growth that was guided by a long-term plan entitled, 'The Proposal for George Wythe University' .... The state of Utah recently authorized George Wythe College to transition to George Wythe University."

The Proposal
The first mention I can find of this proposal is not several years ago, but five months ago. It appeared in the August 2008 Statesman. Granted, the GW website claims Brooks provided the document to the AALE in September 2006. However, using the Internet Wayback Machine I was unable to find even a mention of the proposal in earlier versions of the www.gwc.edu website.

Utah's Role
As far as the state of Utah's role, it's not what you would think. According to the Utah Department of Commerce, Brooks registered the name "George Wythe University" on March 26, 2008, as a DBA ("Doing Business As") designation for the George Wythe Foundation. You can see for yourself here. That appears to be the beginning and the end of the state's involvement. I'm not sure it supports the statement that "the state of Utah recently authorized George Wythe College to transition to George Wythe University."

As always, the school is registered under the Utah Post Secondary Proprietary School Act.

Teachings of Shanon Brooks

2009-01-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

Shanon Brooks, president of George Wythe, wrote an article in The Statesman (the George Wythe newsletter) on "Building Your Two Towers." In this article, he categorizes people he calls "producers" in society.

Brooks defines producers as people who "think in abundance rather than scarcity, take initiative instead of waiting for someone else to provide them with opportunity, and faithfully take wise risks instead of fearfully believing that they can’t make a difference."

(So far it sounds uncannily like Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.)

Things get interesting when he categorizes and ranks these producers.

The highest category includes: Moses, Paul, Socrates, Confucius, Frédéric Bastiat, Edward Deming (I think he means W. Edwards Deming), and Robert Kiyosaki. Brooks calls these people Prophets.

The next-highest category includes: Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, and Margaret Thatcher. These are Statesmen. Other categories then follow.

Categorizing Robert Kiyosaki as a prophet and ranking him higher than, say, Margaret Thatcher, is a startling assertion. Given Kiyosaki's checkered background, I'd think Brooks would think twice before lumping him in with Moses and Paul.

Brooks's article also begs the question of where he would categorize Oliver DeMille. After all, if he can set Kiyosaki up to be a prophet, why not DeMille?

George Wythe Accreditation

2009-01-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

George Wythe University is currently under review for accreditation with the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE). Although it has a somewhat checkered past (its right to accept new applications was suspended for a year in 2006), AALE is not just a rubber-stamp organization, as evidenced by this article.

According to correspondance with AALE I have reviewed, GWU is still an applicant with the academy, but has yet to come before the board for a decision on membership. The ball is currently in GWU's court, and they appear to be doing nothing.

According to the correspondance:

"... the college has not asked that its application be considered yet, as they have not completed the entire process needed for the Academy to make a decision. If anyone wants to know where the college is in the process or when they expect to come before the Academy's Board, they need to inquire with the school, as for the Academy to speak about it would assume that the Academy knows why a college is waiting and would violate confidentiality guidelines, as outlined in our public documents and the USDOED criteria for accreditors.

"The point is that only the school can answer where they are and what time line they are on to complete the process - as they do not need to tell us the reasons. Applicants may ask that the file not be forwarded to the Academy's Board until a later date. The reasons for such an decision are entirely up to the applicant and need not be forwarded to the accreditor. In effect, a college may stop or delay the process and they do not need to give reasons for it. It is up to the applicant to address this issue with any concerned constituents."

Here is George Wythe's statement on its own accreditation status.

Glenn Beck at Gala

2009-01-25T09:08:00.001-08:00

Radio and television personality Glenn Beck is scheduled to appear at a fundraising gala for George Wythe on May 30, 2009. Whatever your feelings for Beck (I personally respect and admire him), he is a legitimate figure on the U.S. political scene, and his association with the school further legitimizes its efforts.

Given what you have learned in your own experience and from the articles and links attached to this blog, you may be interested in encouraging Beck to cancel this appearance. If so, you can contact him at me@glennbeck.com or his producer Stu at stu@glennbeck.com. You can also contact his speaking agent, Premiere Speakers Bureau, at info@premierespeakers.com or 615-261-4000.

I have contacted them myself and encourage you to do so!

Mammoth Valley and Monticello

2009-01-24T10:18:00.001-08:00

I added several newspaper articles to the sidebar. These relate to an attempt in the early 1990s by one of the George Wythe founders, Bill Doughty, to establish a new community in southern Utah devoted to constitutionalist thought. No big deal, right? Well the venture, built on a 400-acre plot in Mammoth Valley and in nearby Duck Creek, ended badly. These Deseret News articles speak for themselves.

Doughty, who is currently an adjunct faculty at George Wythe, helped found the school back in 1992 and was one of its first three faculty (the other two were Oliver DeMille and Shanon Brooks). The first year of class was actually held in the new community: at the Meadeau View lodge between Cedar City and Hatch, Utah. The school was forced to move to Cedar for two reasons: a propane explosion crippled the lodge and the Mammoth Valley community was collapsing.

One thing to highlight from the articles is that donors and investors were promised building lots in exchange for money. George Wythe is currently pushing a reboot of this idea: its planned 400-acre campus near Monticello will include building lots for those interested in living among other constitutionalists.