Perey Advisory Committee held first secret meeting October 6

The first meeting of Dean James Perey’s Advisory Committee consisting of hand-picked members (by him) from the Verde Valley along with College staff met secretly on October 6. The secret meeting date was revealed in a story written by reporter Yvonne Gonzalez of the  Verde Independent  in the October 29 issue of that paper.

Gonzalez reported that Perey  said that one of the duties of the Committee was to conduct a “SWAT” analysis of the Verde Valley, which is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunity  and threats.

Perey’s secrecy policy is in keeping with the Wills’ administration view of how the public should be provided information. Perey controls the secret agenda. He alone provides the Committee with information, thus dampening serious discussion during a meeting  as both sides of an issue will not be presented. It also allows  Perey to release only information he deems favorable to the College to the public. Furthermore, secrecy means there is no formal written or media record of the proceedings that can be used to later challenge what was discussed and what, if anything, was decided.

Overall, the process  is clearly an effort to  control the Committee and the flow of information to the public. It reflects a weak administration afraid of the “truth” and exemplifies the College’s deep-seated disdain for Jeffersonian openness. As Thomas Jefferson once remarked:

If [a] book be false in its facts, disprove them; if false in its reasoning, refute it. But for God’s sake, let us freely hear both sides if we choose. – Thomas Jefferson to N. G. Dufief, 1814.

Executive Dean James Perey says his Advisory Committee meetings will not be open to the public (or the press)

This Blog contacted Verde Campus Executive Dean James Perey on October 26, 2014 regarding the process the Verde Valley Advisory Committee that reports to him will follow.  He was asked the following:

“I have been asked about the meeting dates, time and place of the Advisory Committee that reports to you. Can you provide that information. Also, are the meeting open to the public? Does the Open Meeting law apply? Who will chair the group?” 

Executive Dean Perey replied:

“The advisory committee will be meeting once in November and once in December prior to the winter break and most likely here on campus. These meetings are not open to the public and open meeting laws do not apply. I will be chairing these meetings as we focus on gathering information and begin campus and site strategic planning.”

This means that the public and the media will not be allowed to attend and report on the activities of group.

“The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.” John F. Kennedy.