Herbert: Open to the public?

The administration of IU is in the midst of a tumultuous time. IU faculty members voted Monday night to have the IU board of trustees consider reviewing the presidency of IU leader Adam Herbert.\nWhat does President Herbert think about this?\nWell, we're not really sure.\nYou see, Herbert hasn't been very open to the media. He has given very few interviews and what he has told reporters has been scripted or in the form of a release. He hasn't been candid and hasn't been available.\nWhat is even more disturbing is the fact that Herbert has completely ignored one segment of the public: the students.\nHerbert has refused to speak to the Indiana Daily Student, the advocate for students on campus. We've submitted many interview requests -- all of which Herbert has turned down or hasn't responded to. He won't give a reason why he has refused to speak to the student newspaper, while taking interviews with the Bloomington Herald-Times, WTIU and numerous Indianapolis TV news stations.\nApparently, he finds it more important to speak to them than to talk directly to the student body.\nIt's pretty embarrassing that our own president won't speak to the students he works for. We at the IDS have taken all necessary measures to arrange some time to speak with Herbert. We have told Larry MacIntyre, IU spokesman and press liaison for Herbert, that any time of day and under any circumstances we would accept to speak with our leader. We believe we have given Herbert a fair shake in our newspaper and we have not received any negative feedback about our coverage from the president's office. Whenever Herbert has asked to have his letters to the student body published, we have accommodated his requests. We haven't received much in return. We would like to know why Herbert won't respond to his public.\nThis isn't just about the student newspaper being shut out from an interview. This is about Herbert's unwillingness to address the student body. Students read the IDS more often than the other media sources Herbert has spoken to. The IDS is read by 93 percent of the student body, while the Herald-Times is read by only 29 percent of our students. The other media outlets to which Herbert is granting interviews are targeted mostly toward older audiences. Sure, the faculty, trustees and alumni will see it but not the student body.\nPresident Herbert told Indianapolis TV stations Tuesday that he is open and will strive to be more open to the public. We urge him to keep his promise.\nSo what do we do as a newspaper that acts as an advocate for students? We continue to seek the truth -- all sides of the truth -- even if Herbert won't speak to us. This won't slow down our coverage, but it will sadly eliminate a crucial angle to the story.\nIf you compare IU to a corporation, Herbert would be the CEO and the students would be the shareholders. Corporations are required by law to reveal important information with their shareholders. IU should follow these same practices. We all pay tuition, and we all deserve to know important decisions affecting our university.\nWhat can Herbert do to finally be open to his shareholders? Speak with the student newspaper. Hold a forum to hear student concerns. Allow students to set up appointments to meet with him.\nIf you have any questions for Adam Herbert, e-mail us at letters@indiana.edu. Better yet, e-mail him directly at iupres@indiana.edu, call him at 855-4613 or show up at his office in Bryan Hall Room 100.