State relations position to shift

After 43 years of service to IU, Director of State Relations Don Weaver is taking a three-week-long trip to Australia next month with his wife to celebrate his Sept. 30 retirement.\nWeaver's job was to lobby IU's interests to state legislators and other officials within the state government. He described himself as a "conduit" between public officials in Indianapolis and the University.\n"I am a representative of IU to public officials and a representative of the public officials to the University as well," Weaver said.\nTrustee Peter Obremskey said no plans have been made to replace Weaver with a new director of state relations because IU President Adam Herbert plans to reform the position. Obremskey also said the trustees plan to discuss this matter in their upcoming meetings and as of now, they do not have anyone particular in mind.\nWeaver said he chose to retire because he is turning 65 years old next month. He also said the fiscal opportunity is at its best because he can go on University retirement for the next five years at the same salary he makes now. \nAfter his trip next month, Weaver said he plans to volunteer often at IU. He also said he plans on volunteering for the state, his church and community. \nBut for his retirement, he said he would like to improve his golf game.\nWeaver said while there are certain things he would have done differently over his years at IU, he thinks only someone else can determine whether or not he did a "good job."\nAs the state director, Weaver worked closely with high officials at the Statehouse, including the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon. While higher education and economic development were two of O'Bannon's greatest passions, Weaver said his job was to keep the governor informed of IU's needs and how much IU could help the state's economic development.\n"He appreciated that," Weaver said. "He went the way he thought best as trying to help higher education provide those assets to this state."\nWeaver said while he will not miss the problems and issues that come along with the job, he will miss his colleagues and friends at IU and the Statehouse. \nAlthough Weaver has no hand in the selection of his successor, he would like someone who knows IU well to fill the role.\n"Someone internal from IU would be very beneficial," he said, "but that doesn't mean other people can't do the job."\nObremskey said Weaver will be greatly missed because he has been the liaison between the state legislature and the University for many years and has established key relationships.\n"He got them to understand our problems and provide us with a significant amount of money," Obremskey said. "There will be a void we'll have to fill and you can only hope it will be filed with the same abilities of Don Weaver."\n-- Contact Nation & World editor Christina Galoozis at cgaloozi@indiana.edu.