Trustees look for opinions

The IU board of trustees will conduct three town hall meetings today to discuss the search for a new president, including one geared directly for students. The meetings are part of an ongoing series of conversations with all academic schools.\nThe trustees will also meet today with faculty at the Law and Music Schools.\nThe student meeting will be led by Blair Greenberg, the student representative on the presidential search committee, and student trustee Sacha Willsey. It will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Sassafras Room of the Indiana Memorial Union.\n"Students are key to this process," Greenberg said. "It's important for them to come out and express their views."\nThe conversation will focus on three questions: Which qualities are necessary for the IU President? What should IU focus on in the next 10 years? And what are the qualities of a leader?\n"This is a general conversation," said trustee secretary Robin Gress. "The questions are very simple. The trustees simply sit back and listen to what people have to say."\nSeven meetings in the series have already taken place. The final six will take place this week. \nTrustees Fred Eichhorn, Steve Ferguson and Sue Talbot are attending as many meetings as possible. Eichhorn said they have been well-attended.\n"People seem to want an academic," Eichhorn said. "They want somebody who understands the Hoosier scene. They are not necessarily opposed to a businessperson."\nOn Wednesday, discussions will be held with all librarians, the Department of Continuing Studies and the alliance for Indiana's future. The final meeting will take place on Friday with faculty members of HPER.\nWillsey said today's meeting in the Union is an attempt to include students in the search process. \n"It's important students give reasons why they are looking for a certain characteristic in a president," she said.