The Fargo bar and restaurant has been run the past seven years by a man named Jim Orman, who moved back to Aurora so he could own and operate the business full-time. He thought his future retirement was secured after signing a seven-year lease with Wells College, the owner of the building.

The Aurora Foundation is an investors group that has spent millions of dollars renovating and helping Wells College purchase many properties in the village. With Orman's approval, they invested in the renovation of the Fargo, as well. Orman was happy with the changes that the foundation made in his business. Some of his suggestions were also used to improve the Fargo.

So when Orman heard the news that his lease would not be renewed, he must of felt side-swiped. After he built the business, the college plans to run the Fargo with all the same employees, while Orman is muscled out. Makes you wonder how long these employees will really be kept? Probably until the new business owners learn how to keep the business profitable.

Then off the workers go to the unemployment office.

There have been petitions, as well as village board members, who have protested to Wells College - and rightfully so. Some of these board members chose to see past their own self interest and decided to do what was right. They stuck their necks out for a citizen that they felt was wronged.

There was only one, George Farenthold, who wouldn't sign the letter addressing the foundation. It asked that the decision against Orman be reassessed. I wonder why George wouldn't sign it?

Well, the foundation's leader stated that the decision was not made by them but by Well's College.

Stay with me! Remember the guy who wouldn't sign the letter ... George Farenthold? He's an Aurora village board member and is married to the president of Wells College, Lisa Marsh Ryerson. George said he wouldn't sign the letter because he doesn't think it's the village's place to tell the college how to run it's properties.

I'm going to take a chance here. Do you think his wife, Lisa, would listen to him anyway? Looks like it's the other way around.

Do you mean to tell me that academia has entered the hated and despised world of business? Has the liberal champion of the little people, the downtrodden and the disadvantaged, sold out its so-called high road principles because there's a buck or two to be made? You bet!

This was a private business that leased a building from the college. The same building has been leased for the past 45 years but because this business was profitable, it's been sniffed out, targeted and taken over. You don't have to be an academic scholar to figure this out.

All is not Wells in Aurora.

Ducayne's column appears Tuesdays in The Citizen. She can be reached at sacredheart6005@hotmail.com