Schmidly's Son Turns Down Job - problem unresolved

The Journal reports this morning that Brian Schmidly
has backed away from the firestorm that began with his
appointment to a cushy new job at the UNM. link

Many suppose that with Brian Schmidly's decision, the problem
disappears. It does not. If the hiring did not violate a standing
hiring policy, it should have.

If there is not a policy prohibiting the "appearance of a conflict
of interest", there should be.

Damage was done to the credibility of the leadership of the UNM.

The Journal reports;

"It is important to both of us that I assert once and for all that I applied for this job in good faith, and took part in an open hiring process that I was assured and believe to this day was proper and scrupulously fair." Brian Schmidly

UNM also issued a statement from President Schmidly in which he reiterated that he had nothing to do with his son getting the job.

I have no first hand information one way or the other, but it has been suggested on the backside of a blog, or forum, I forget which, that Physical Plant Director Mary Vosevich's own continued employment at the UNM was at risk, and that she hired the University President's son to cement her own position.

There is still the possibility that that was the motivation for the hiring and does not directly repudiate the claim that President Schmidly "had nothing to do with his son getting the job." Preferential treatment has not been ruled out, even if it was not done with the direct knowledge or approval of the UNM President.

The system is still broken.