$1 Million Tabbed For Veterans

Absences, Baggy Pants Draw District's Attention

Thursday, August 08, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





School's out for Moran &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 First came the original sexual harassment and discrimination complaints
against Luzerne County Community College officials. Then came the damning
results of a subsequent investigation by a former county district attorney and
the related resignation of the school's presidentBut fear not. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Enter interim-President Tom Moran to clean up the school's image until a
national search for a full-time president could take place. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That was 15 months ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A search committee has yet to be formed. Rumors abound about sweetheart
political deals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And Moran now stands accused of retaliation by four female LCCC employees
who had the courage to speak out in the first place. Moran is accused of the
very same intimidation he pledges to eradicate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Moran doesn't want you to know the details. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Wednesday, he refused to release the state documents that clarify the
specific claims against him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'd prefer to see this go to court," Moran said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Somebody ought to grant Moran's wish. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nowadays things at LCCC are so bad that I would not enroll there if I were
looking to attend college. Nor would I allow my child to attend school there.
I would not recommend scholarship there to anyone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At least not now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The people responsible for setting standards at LCCC have learned nothing
from the ongoing scandal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Instead, it only gets worse. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Three county commissioners who ultimately are responsible for what has
become a politically active dumping ground for high-priced administrative
hacks refuse to lead. College trustees either don't know or don't want to know
what's happening on their watch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mostly, though, Moran's inattentiveness hurts as much as anything. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Wednesday I called Moran to tell him I thought he should resign. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Have you thought about stepping down until this is resolved?" I asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "No, I have not thought about it because I don't think I have done anything
wrong or anything that warrants it," said Moran, 69. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "These woman have charged that you singled them out because they stepped
forward ... don't you see that as a serious burden on the college and the
taxpayers?" &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That's one way of looking at it," Moran said. "Suppose I am not guilty of
anything. Why should I run at the first sign of ... what should I call it ...
problems on the part of the women? First of all, I didn't expect the women to
be happy over my appointment. I hoped that we could get along, but they
immediately went to their lawyer." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You know exactly what these women say you've done to them, correct?" I
asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Oh, sure," Moran said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "What's the worst thing?" I asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Created a hostile atmosphere," said Moran, who receives $90,000 a year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "What specifically?" I asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "One very strong one was `he didn't say "hi" to me when I saw him and said
"hi" to him in the hallway," he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "And that's the most serious allegation of retaliation?" I asked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Believe it or not," Moran said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I don't, but that's beside the point. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Across America, community colleges are making money, providing quality
education and coming into their own as strongholds of higher education. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For too long, LCCC has been a venerated place immune to criticism.
Well-meaning boosters have supported it as a fortress where area students
experience the thrill of learning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For that to be true, however, we must face harsh truth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then harsh action must follow. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unchecked recklessness created the dilemma with which LCCC now struggles. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Such negligence must cease. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Moran's mission has failed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sadly, at LCCC, arrogance has replaced academic excellence. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Meanwhile, the search for excellence continues. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Corbett's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

School's Out For Moran 
First Came The Original Sexual Harassment And Discrimination Complaints 
Against Luzerne County Community College Officials. Then Came The Damning 
Results Of A Subsequent Investigation By A Former County District Attorney And 
The Related Resignation Of The School's President.

School's Out For Moran First Came The Original Sexual Harassment And Discrimination Complaints Against Luzerne County Community College Officials. Then Came The Damning Results Of A Subsequent Investigation By A Former County District Attorney And The Related Resignation Of The School's President.