Pickin' the prez

On Friday the board of trustees held public forums to give community members a chance to voice their opinions on the search for the next IU president. The forums were of special interest because they were the first opportunities that students had to have a direct impact on the selection process for Adam Herbert's successor.\nThe process has already come under scrutiny because the 13-person selection committee only includes one IU student, a graduate student from IU South Bend. The IU Student Association has called for more student representation, but the trustees have largely ignored this request. \nThe forum was a chance for students to make their thoughts known, but only about two-dozen students showed up to the forums. Most of the attendees were faculty members. The trustees again refused to allow a student on the selection committee now because of a "confidentiality issue." The students who did show up expressed strong concern at the lack of student influence on the selection process but were not explicit in what they specifically wanted from the next president. \nWe believe that more than the 20 or so students who showed up have an opinion on what attributes the next president should have, so we want to open the discussion up to all of you. The overwhelming lack of student attendance at the forums made our case seem weak. Let's show them something else. If we are serious about having a voice, we need to have something to say before anyone will give us a privileged position on a selection committee. So we here at the Indiana Daily Student will get the discussion started with a few qualities that we would like to see in the next president. \nThe next IU president must get in touch with the student body. He needs to understand what it's like for us and make decisions with the entire campus in mind, not just faculty. He shouldn't respond to their every whim, obviously, but an open ear to undergraduates will be even more important for the next president because plans are afoot to make his/her office more responsible for improving the intellectual quality of IU students. \nAlso, a strong commitment to and a love for IU is necessary. An IU alumnus is ideal because we want someone who knows the campus, knows the issues and understands what IU is about. We want a president who wants to be here for the long run to make a lasting impact, not one who is just using this job to get to a better job later. Many at the forum repeatedly mentioned Herman B Wells and the type of commitment he had to the University and the city. He remained involved and influential long after his presidency ended, even stepping back in as interim president six years after his 24-year term ended. A president with this dedication and affection for our University will make it a better place. \nSo what do you guys think? Send your thoughts to us at letters@idsnews.com.