Bulger says goodbye to academic life

By Adam Gorlick, Associated Press, 8/29/2003

AMHERST, Mass. -- During the past eight years, he's welcomed waves of new students to the University of Massachusetts. On Friday, William Bulger said goodbye to the pomp and circumstance of academic leadership.

The setting could hardly be more fitting for a man who made education his ticket out of the South Boston housing projects and into the world of Massachusetts politics: greeting the 480 students entering Commonwealth College, the Amherst campus' honors program that he pushed to create.

"I've had seven and a half wonderful years," Bulger said. "It's been one of the great privileges of my lifetime."

The ceremony was expected to be one of Bulger's last public appearances as UMass president. His resignation -- announced earlier this month -- officially goes into effect on Monday.

Bulger steps down amid a continuing congressional investigation into the FBI's ties to his fugitive mobster brother, James J. "Whitey" Bulger.

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney and Attorney General Tom Reilly -- a fellow Democrat -- were among Bulger's harshest critics. They said he didn't cooperate fully with the investigation of his brother and called him unfit to lead UMass.

Bulger, 69, called his resignation the result of Romney's "calculated political assault" against the university.

"I don't want to focus on that very much," he said Friday. "That is probably where the dramatic facts lie. Nevertheless, I don't think it's the most important thing. The most important thing is a greater security for the future of the university."

Whitey Bulger was a prized informant for the FBI. He's been on the lam since 1995 and currently is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List for his alleged role in racketeering, extortion, drug trafficking and 21 murders.

Bulger hasn't said what his plans are, or whether he will continue a long career in public service. He said he would help raise money for the university, reeling under state budget cuts, if asked.

"I'm very uncertain," said Bulger, who received an almost $1 million severance package. "I feel a certain freedom with that. I'm very cheerful about things."

Bulger will be difficult to replace, said John Lombardi, chancellor of the flagship Amherst campus

"You're not going to get anybody with his background," Lombardi said. "Finding anybody with his profile would be extremely difficult. He's placed the university in a good position. The next leader of the system will be able to build on that."

The university also has campuses in Lowell, Dartmouth and Boston and a medical school in Worcester.

Jack Wilson, a former physics professor who created the school's online education program, will take over as interim president until trustees hire a permanent replacement.


Home > News > Local Bulger says goodbye to academic life By Adam Gorlick, Associated Press, 8/29/2003 AMHERST, Mass. -- During the past eight years, he's welcomed waves of new students to the University of Massachusetts. On Friday, William Bulger said goodbye to the pomp and circumstance of academic leadership. The setting could hardly be more fitting for a man who made education his ticket out of the South Boston housing projects and into the world of Massachusetts politics: greeting the 480 students entering Commonwealth College, the Amherst campus' honors program that he pushed to create. "I've had seven and a half wonderful years," Bulger said. "It's been one of the great privileges of my lifetime." The ceremony was expected to be one of Bulger's last public appearances as UMass president. His resignation -- announced earlier this month -- officially goes into effect on Monday. Bulger steps down amid a continuing congressional investigation into the FBI's ties to his fugitive mobster brother, James J. "Whitey" Bulger. Republican Gov. Mitt Romney and Attorney General Tom Reilly -- a fellow Democrat -- were among Bulger's harshest critics. They said he didn't cooperate fully with the investigation of his brother and called him unfit to lead UMass. Bulger, 69, called his resignation the result of Romney's "calculated political assault" against the university. "I don't want to focus on that very much," he said Friday. "That is probably where the dramatic facts lie. Nevertheless, I don't think it's the most important thing. The most important thing is a greater security for the future of the university." Whitey Bulger was a prized informant for the FBI. He's been on the lam since 1995 and currently is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List for his alleged role in racketeering, extortion, drug trafficking and 21 murders. Bulger hasn't said what his plans are, or whether he will continue a long career in public service. He said he would help raise money for the university, reeling under state budget cuts, if asked. "I'm very uncertain," said Bulger, who received an almost $1 million severance package. "I feel a certain freedom with that. I'm very cheerful about things." Bulger will be difficult to replace, said John Lombardi, chancellor of the flagship Amherst campus "You're not going to get anybody with his background," Lombardi said. "Finding anybody with his profile would be extremely difficult. He's placed the university in a good position. The next leader of the system will be able to build on that." The university also has campuses in Lowell, Dartmouth and Boston and a medical school in Worcester. Jack Wilson, a former physics professor who created the school's online education program, will take over as interim president until trustees hire a permanent replacement.