The board gathered at NPR headquarters Thursday morning for its semi-annual business meeting and after a short speech in which newly seated Chairman Dave Edwards said that he hopes NPR will “emerge from this episode a stronger and a more significant national and regional civic institution,” he opened the floor for public comments.

Silence.

“Going once?” he said, looking around the room.

“You may want to note that it’s not on the agenda for tomorrow, Mr. Chairman,” said NPR general counsel Joyce Slocum. “And so this will be the opportunity to comment on this particular issue.”

Still nothing.