Quotes & amp;amp; Notes

by Inlander Staff


Where Is He Now? -- It's not just the students at Eastern Washington University who go on to do great things. Former EWU president Marshall "Mark" Drummond has been appointed as chancellor of California's community college system, the largest system of higher education in the world, with 108 public two-year institutions. Until last Monday, Drummond was the Los Angeles Community College District chancellor; he has been heralded for resurrecting the district from a dismal combination of financial hardships, bureaucracy and low enrollment. Now Drummond is expected to pull off the same feat for the entire community college system in California. Despite the system's economic struggles, Drummond says he's ready for the task.


"I am grateful for the opportunity.... The system is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in California's future," he says.


Drummond served as president at EWU for nearly a decade, helping to boost the university's endowment, grants and contracts and private and public funds.





Mayor West Having a Ball -- Newly inaugurated Spokane Mayor Jim West announced the first annual Regional Mayors' Ball to be held on Feb. 7 in the Davenport Hotel's Pennington Ballroom. The black-tie event is sponsored by Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) and put on by the Junior League of Spokane and the mayor's office. West hopes to bring together mayors and community leaders from around the Inland Northwest for an evening of mutual acknowledgment and fun.


"It's a chance to meet other mayors throughout the region...and to kick up our heels," says West.


Mayors from throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho - 130 in all -- have been invited to attend. The event is open to the public and the $75 per person ticket includes dinner and music by Tuxedo Junction. For tickets and information, contact the Junior League of Spokane at 328-2801 or visit www.jlspokane.org.





Too Close for Comfort? -- In December, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from Vice President Dick Cheney, who had been ordered by lower courts to release documents related to his secretive energy task force meetings. In January, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Cheney -- long-time friends -- went duck hunting in Louisiana. For some reason, this prompted worrywarts from the Center for Public Integrity and New York University Law School to raise questions about Scalia's ability to remain impartial in the case. (See Grist Magazine, www.gristmagazine.com) The code of conduct for federal judges says that they "should not allow family, social, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgments."


In a statement released Friday, Scalia said, "I do not think my impartiality could reasonably be questioned." OK, then!





Publication date: 1/22/04