Evie McNiece
But she said she never heard back from Dowless or anyone at the university, so she was surprised in March when she received an email from an administrative assistant at Shorter asking if she was attending a Board of Trustees’ meeting.
“I emailed her back and said I was not approved on the board,” McNiece said. “She emailed me back and said, I think you are.”
She went to the board meeting even though she was unsure about her status but said no one talked to her. She assumed she wasn’t on the Board of Trustees.
McNiece said she was surprised when Shorter University’s May 4 commencement program listed her on the Board of Trustees as “Mayor Evie McNiece.”
She later wrote an email to Dowless saying she did want to be on the board. But to this day, she has never heard anything from Dowless or anyone from Shorter except for that administrative assistant, she said.
According to Shorter spokeswoman Dawn Tolbert, however, McNiece was on the Board of Trustees but resigned. She referred any further questions about the situation to McNiece.
McNiece said, to her knowledge, she had never been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Baptist Convention, which also has to give its approval.
The situation is a misunderstanding between McNiece and Dowless, said Nelson Price, who was chairman of the board when McNiece was asked to join last year.
“Two very special people, both who have admirable character, have a misunderstanding which can easily be resolved,” Price said.
McNiece said while she accepted the invitation last June, she doesn’t feel as if she could now.
“I do love Shorter,” she said. “It is an asset to our city. Unfortunately, they are in turmoil now.”
More than 60 staff and faculty members resigned after the Board of Trustees passed a measure that required them to sign a Faith and Personal Lifestyle statement in which they agree, among other things, to “reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to, premarital sex, adultery and homosexuality.”
The question has been asked repeatedly whether this applies to the Board and Shorter's administration has never answered.
At most colleges, there's an implicit understanding that board members will give generously. To my knowledge, that does not apply to Shorter, either.
Dumping on a stalwart friend of Shorter's -- both now and in the past -- is kind of mean.
We have some answers, fellow readers, but the answers provoke more questions. Why did Donald Dowless not address the issue of Mayor McNiece's trusteeship? If he was the one that asked her to be on the board, why did he not follow up with her?
Why was Mayor McNiece invited to the March Board meeting but then, according to her report, find herself ignored? Is that the way to treat a new board of trustees member? Why was she not introduced? Was she asked to sign the conflict of interest statement that all trustees are required to sign? Was she given a trustee notebook with the bylaws of the school included? Was she given copies of the Personal Lifestyle Statement, the Statement of Faith and the Biblical Principles of Faith Integration and Learning? If not, why not?
Was she considered a visitor and then ignored? Ms. McNiece deserved some recognition, either as a board member or as the mayor of Rome. What happened to Joe Frank Harris, Jr's manners?
If Mayor McNiece sent a letter of resignation, did RN-T get a copy of the letter of resignation? When was it sent? Why was Mayor McNiece's name included in the graduation program.
RN-T, you've just scratched the surface of a very important story. Citizens of Rome need a far more comprehensive answer to these and many other questions. Ward 3 residents and businesses, how do you feel about this?
Why was Mayor McNiece invited to the March Board meeting but then, according to her report, find herself ignored? Is that the way to treat a new board of trustees member? Why was she not introduced? Was she asked to sign the conflict of interest statement that all trustees are required to sign? Was she given a trustee notebook with the bylaws of the school included? Was she given copies of the Personal Lifestyle Statement, the Statement of Faith and the Biblical Principles of Faith Integration and Learning? If not, why not?
Was she considered a visitor and then ignored? Ms. McNiece deserved some recognition, either as a board member or as the mayor of Rome. What happened to Joe Frank Harris, Jr's manners?
If Mayor McNiece sent a letter of resignation, did RN-T get a copy of the letter of resignation? When was it sent? Why was Mayor McNiece's name included in the graduation program.
RN-T, you've just scratched the surface of a very important story. Citizens of Rome need a far more comprehensive answer to these and many other questions. Ward 3 residents and businesses, how do you feel about this?
I'm surprised there's no comment from Dr. Dowless.