Talk:Steven Leath

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COI Requests

Hi there! On behalf of Steven Leath, I’d like to submit two requests for community review. These changes have two benefits: (1) They’ll bring the page into compliance with our policies on neutrality and undue weight; and (2) They add context that’s missing. For each request, I’ve provided multiple, substantive sources and explained my thinking. Thank you for your consideration.

1. Airplanes

We’d like to change the following sentence (from the “Career” section), from this:

“On March 20, 2017, Leath announced his resignation from Iowa State after being named the new president at Auburn University, amidst scandal involving improper personal use of an ISU airplane.”

to this:

“After five years at Iowa State, Leath was named the president of Auburn University in 2017. While he was praised for record enrollment and investment in campus infrastructure, he was also criticized for personal use of a university aircraft.”

Explanation: There are three problems with the original sentence. First, it’s awkwardly worded (“amidst scandal”).

Second, the phrasing makes it appear that the airplane was the reason Leath resigned. This is false. To summarize: In 2016, the auditor for the Iowa Board of Regents found that “at least a few” of Leath’s airplane uses “entered shades of gray.” The auditor added, “Most [uses] were entirely business related.”

The board president said that Leath admitted mistakes, reimbursed the university, and deserved the board’s continued backing. And the board, according to the Des Moines Register, “offered nothing but praise for Leath’s admission.” In 2017, Leath accepted a job at Auburn and resigned from Iowa.

Third, it seems misleading to call attention to a controversy when the footnote for that controversy gives equal weight to the positives of his tenure. Here’s the pertinent sentence from the footnote: “Student, campus and state leaders described Leath's impending departure as both a loss for the university as well as an opportunity for a fresh start.”

2. Severance

We’d like to change the following sentence (from the “Career” section), from this:

“On June 21, 2019, It was announced he was resigning from Auburn University and received a very large severance package after being one of the worst presidents in the University’s history.”

to this:

“In June 2019, he resigned from Auburn, which paid him a $4.5 million severance.”

Explanation: Two problems here. First, the comment, “One of the worst,” not only violates WP:NPOV — and in a particularly egregious way — it’s also not supported by reliable sources. Here are the pertinent passages from the two footnotes:

The Iowa State Daily:

• “His departure was announced in a news release Friday, which said the Auburn Board of Trustees and Leath had ‘mutually decided to part ways.’”

• “The president pro tempore of the university’s board said they were grateful for Leath’s dedication and commitment.”

The Ames Tribune:

• “In his short time at Auburn, according to a news release announcing his departure, Leath earned for the school a Carnegie R1 designation, putting it among the top 100 research universities in the country. He also initiated presidential research awards and graduate fellowships and grew the Auburn Research Park ‘substantially.’”

• “Media reports indicate he also faced public criticism while at Auburn.”

Second, instead of characterizing the severance package as “very large,” is it more helpful to list the actual number?

Signed,
BlueRoses13 (talk) 03:07, 8 March 2022 (UTC)

 Done. Heartmusic678 (talk) 13:25, 15 March 2022 (UTC)

Thank you very much, @Heartmusic678! Signed, BlueRoses13 (talk) 16:47, 15 March 2022 (UTC)

You're welcome. Heartmusic678 (talk) 18:46, 15 March 2022 (UTC)

3 More COI Requests

Thank you very much to @Heartmusic678 for implementing the first two COI requests for Steven Leath. I wonder if we can impose on you for three more? These suggestions offer readers additional context about Mr. Leath, as documented in the news articles from the given footnotes. Thank you.

3. ISU 4 Promise

Can we add the following sentences to the “Career” section?

“Another notable event during Leath's tenure came in 2013, when he established 'ISU 4 Promise.' This program commits Iowa State to pay the college tuition of disadvantaged students from local elementary schools.”

Explanation: ISU 4 Promise has garnered profiles in the Des Moines Register (2015) and the Iowa State Daily (2017 and 2018).

4. R1

Can we add the following sentence to the “Career” section?

“During Leath's tenure, Auburn was designated an 'R1' institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation is reserved for doctoral universities with the highest levels of research activity.”

Explanation: Carnegie’s classifications, which have their own Wikipedia page, are a big deal, and Auburn’s designation garnered coverage in the Birmingham Business Journal (2018) and the Tuscaloosa News (2018).

5. After Auburn

Can we add the following two facts to the “Career” section?

"In 2018, Leath was appointed to the National Science Board."

"In 2021, he was named the executive director of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports."

Explanation: Overall, the article seems a little thin (and heavy on the airplane stuff). The above two positions are noteworthy because they’ve each garnered media coverage (the Birmingham Business Journal and the Outdoors Reporter; feel free to omit the news release from the Council).

Signed,
BlueRoses13 (talk) 14:01, 16 March 2022 (UTC)

I believe all of these requests are relevant to the article and meet WP:BLP notability guidelines. All edits have been made, but other editors are encouraged to weigh in and make adjustments if there is disagreement. Go4thProsper (talk) 17:24, 4 June 2022 (UTC)

Thanks so much, @Go4thProsper! We appreciate your review and actions. Signed, BlueRoses13 (talk) 15:23, 5 June 2022 (UTC)