Anyone else think the announcement Kim Clark's departure from BYUI was strangely underwhelming? The whole thing seemed to be down played. The story appeared in the Friday news hole and I'd bet a lot of people missed it completely.

Clark is leaving to be a seventy. Is that why they aren't saying much? Has Bednar's shameless use of the BYUI job as a stepping stone to a calling as an apostle made anything less a failure?

What do you guys think?

Another nobody leaving a pseudo-university to fill an executive position at a mega corporation masquerading as a pseudo-church. Whatever...a non event...wouldn't even make into my newspaper....well maybe in the personals with the massage parlor and escort adds....

Ron Burr

In one sense you really really totally nailed it, but there is one big thing missing from that account.

That is how damn lucky that Clark really is. He has a serious illness, and IF he was NOT a status piece from Ivy league academia, you know, a regular guy like you or me, he would be dumped by LDS Inc like used up garbage, to suffer whatever fate had in store for him on his own with out the comprehensive support and resources of being an ultra privileged LDS Inc executive.
A person has to marvel when greedy @$$ LD$ Inc actually shows some loyalty to an individual, otherwise this guy could just die/ freeze to death on the steps of the homeless shelter ...... like other unfortunate smucks who were not able or willing to spin out a big line of BS to get them into the ranks of the MORmON executive elite.... in the shadow of the CCC condo tower.

Well, he's 66 years old. If he doesn't have a retirement plan in place right now, I'd be shocked. Especially since he's the former dean of the Harvard Business School.

I had no idea he is sick. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

He is just like Bednar. If the guy recovers he will be an apostle.

Pretty plain to see the pattern there ain't it?

Oaks and Holland set the pattern coming out of BYU provo and now we see that BYUI is the farm league for the junior quorum.

Clark hasn't even served a year in Ideeho as I remember.

I love the farm league analogy! So true. But Clark has been in Rexburg for nearly ten years. He has made a lot of enemies there too. Unbelievable as it sounds, he actually made Bednar look good. I worked there under both of them and the faculty and staff are really going to be relieved to see the back of Clark. You know, "don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you" kind of happy.

That's the main feeling up on BYU-I's campus; they are happy to see him go. I heard several times, when referencing Clark, "What worked at Harvard doesn't work at BYU-I". Of course that was meant as a sarcastic put-down to Clark.

I loved your comment, and I wouldn't know much about Clark without informed comments like yours in various forums. From what I've been able to put together, he doesn't sound like the kind of person I could trust or respect any more.

I do think the sarcastic putdowns about Harvard were unfair to Clark, at least to the reasonably professional dean who quit to go to Idaho. Apparently he behaved much differently at BYUI than at Harvard, and got away with stuff for years that would have been hooted down within minutes at HBS. I think the most flagrant example would be the in-class revelation to students about what needs to be covered. Ridiculous. It's almost as if he left HBS so he could express a different part of his personality, the unaccountable, domineering, self-righteous minigod that so many priesthood holders cultivate within themselves.

And to think the man was dean of the Harvard business school. Well I guess there are them blessings...

I hope he didn't leave any wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

It was predicable that he would become a GA. Who leaves Harvard for Rexburg, Idaho? Oh, the new president as well. Clark Gilbert is a former faculty member of Harvard Business School. See a pattern here?

I know Clark Gilbert. I regard him as a friend although it has been several years since we've communicated. He was and I hope is still a good and reasonable guy. I would find it very sad if the church has crushed the good in him out.

When I knew Clark Gilbert he was conflicted about whether or not to stay in academia as a professor - he was very successful at this - or take another path of being outside the whole research/teaching world and in the world of building institutions that would last. Kim Clark brought him to BYUI to help him. But Clark Gilbert soon left to go run the Desert News which was in need of a lot of executive/CEO type of help. He is now back at BYUI with Kim Clarks job.

If he did not turn into a jerk at the Deseret News he is the kind of guy who actually might make BYUI a kinder and gentler place. But I do worry, as I have seen TSCC crush the good out of so many as they move up in the MORG.

Just to add my 2 cents,Eyring is also a former Ricks College President.

As is Hafen, who became a top Seventy but never quite made it to the big time.

To an aspiring and ambitious Mission President or Stake President, Quorum of the 70 is the big time. To a MORmON ASSpostHOLE, its not so lofty, especially if they did not have to use it as a springboard / stepping stone to get into the Q. of the 12.
BYU Pres. served Oaks and Holland pretty well, subsequently landing them right into the big time Q of the 12. But, of course, most ambitious MORmONS want to be the prophet in their fantasies too, a position that looks pretty lofty until a person takes a good look at the truly disgusting POS that have held that position.

Joseph F. Smith -- Son of Hyrum Smith (FP)
Heber J. Grant -- Son of Jedediah Grant (FP)
George Albert Smith -- Grandson of George A. Smith (FP)
Joseph Fielding Smith -- Son of Joseph F. Smith (FP)
Spencer W. Kimball -- Grandson of Heber C. Kimball (FP)
Ezra Taft Benson -- Great-Grandson of Ezra T. Benson (Ap)
Gordon B. Hinckley --Nephew of Alonzo A. Hinckley (Ap)

It appears that being related to an apostle is a good way to not only become an apostle, but to become an apostle at a relatively young age, which is the real secret to becoming president of the Mormon church.

I worked for him for several years at BYUI. Arrogant, self righteous, untouchable are only a couple of words that describe him. Mostly important and untouchable are the best way to describe his management style. He likes to be the center of importance and he loves his projects (hint: pathways program). I wouldn't expect him to last much longer. His health is very poor.

Sorry to hear about his health. Like the men above him, he both needs to retire in comfort and think about the meaning of his life and the plausibility of his beliefs.

"I about had an aneurism when I heard Kim B. Clark's name read from the pulpit during General Conference!! I was like ahhhhh!!!!!!! I'm really not surprised he got called as a Seventy."

http://sisterashleyweaver.blogspot.com/2015/04/for-easter-we-went-to-johnston-family.html

And how about her comment about "hubby-potential" in Utah?