Faculty member says secrecy could bring flawed president

At least one IU professor said he believes that by keeping the presidential search hushed, the University's next leader could possess what he sees as some of current President Adam Herbert's same flaws.\nThe complaints, voiced by law professor J. Alexander Tanford and others over the past several months come as the Presidential Search Committee finishes interviewing candidates Friday in Chicago.\nTanford has been an active voice in speaking against the secrecy of the search, which began last June. He said that because faculty members and students had contacts at universities around the country, they could give accurate feedback on a potential candidate's management style and his leadership capability -- something he said Herbert has been criticized for during his tenure.\n"People were concerned (Herbert) has not been helpful enough in fundraising and alumni relations," Tanford said. "He was not visible enough with the legislature and not enough of a figurehead." \nHe attributed having a president with these shortcomings to the similar secrecy under which Herbert was chosen in June 2003.\nStill, Tanford said there was "zero" chance the search committee would revert on its decision of confidentiality. \n"(The Presidential Search Committee is) committed to a process of secrecy because they are convinced that qualified candidates will not come forward unless they have secrecy," he said. "In other words, it would be embarrassing professionally not to get the presidency."\nFor the next president to be successful, he said he or she should already have knowledge of the University and be familiar with some of IU's goals. There has been chatter among some faculty that Interim Provost Michael McRobbie might be best suited for the job, Tanford said. Many professors liked his management style and accessibility, he said.\nThe University has not confirmed any names of candidates.\nThe decision to keep the details of the search quiet was not made blindly, said Larry MacIntyre, IU's director of media relations. MacIntyre said that to get the widest range of applicants, the University had to assure candidates of their confidentiality.\nSome student leaders have also voiced discontent with their lack of involvement in the search process. \n"(The search committee members) probably just don't trust involving more students," said Andrew Lauck, vice president of the IU Student Association. "There has been absolutely no effort to get student involvement in the process," he said.\nIUSA will continue to be critical of the search committee's methods, Lauck said.\nMichael Renfrow, IU-Southeast's student body president, is the only student on the search committee.\nAn entirely separate Faculty Search Committee, which makes recommendations to the Presidential Search Committee, aims to make sure faculty members are involved in the process, MacIntyre said.\nThe secrecy found throughout IU's quest for a new leader comes as several other Big Ten institutions grapple with the same questions of protecting a candidate's privacy and taxpayers' right to know. The University of Iowa suspended their presidential search in December after requiring that search committee members sign a written statement of confidentiality. The search disbanded after it narrowed to four finalists.\nMacIntyre said IU's presidential search is expected to be completed by summer. If not, several of the trustees' terms, including search committee president Sue Talbot's, will expire. Talbot has said she is undecided whether she will seek re-election, citing personal reasons.