As the Presidential Search approaches its concluding phases, planning to announce the University’s 16th president in March or April, outreach efforts have intensified in order to gain some final student feedback. Last week, the panel of student interviewers encouraged the campus to e-mail panelists, invite panelists to student groups’ meetings, and attend two open forums.
“[The candidates are] a dynamic bunch,” said Patrick Senat ’08, who is an interview panelist and one of two students on the Presidential Search Committee. “Each has a different skill set and something different they can bring to the campus. The challenge is in choosing who’s the best to carry on at Wesleyan.”
During the past several months, Senat has worked with WSA Vice President Brittany Mitchell ’07 and about 15 other panelists, including professors and trustees, to rank nominees candidates according to their strengths and weaknesses and to narrow down a list of more than 300 candidates.
Senat and Mitchell have also worked with a group of students to collect the student body’s thoughts and concerns, conduct their own interviews of the final candidates, and make a recommendation to the Search Committee.
While they have continued to target students individually. Outreach is now targeting student groups. Panelists have contacted a total of 156 specific groups, hoping to leave no community within the University marginalized.
“The change has to be issued by the students,” Senat said.
“And a student who is willing to listen,” added panelist Izaak Orlansky ’08.
Panelists said that there are many informed individuals within the University, but that there must be more dialogue between these people.
Students have utilized the e-mail venue, recently sending the panel messages that raise concerns about budget cuts, campus food, and support for student activism. Other students’ e-mails voiced a desire for the next president to be accessible, communicative, and progressive.
Turnout at the open forums, which were held on Tuesday and Wednesday, was poor. Wednesday’s forum saw only two student attendees.
Chiara Di Lello ’10, one of the two, brought to the table her concern about gender-neutral housing for freshmen. The University presently offers gender-neutral housing only after a student’s freshman year.
The panel acknowledged that this issue has been present for some time and has not yet been resolved due to a lack of leadership and mobilization.
A popular concern is that the new president should emphasize financial aid. Although it is impossible for candidates to make a financial aid pledge at this time, each remaining candidate, without being prompted, has mentioned the importance of financial aid.
Considering the sentiment, shared by many students, that President Doug Bennet’s presence on campus has been lackluster, the panel said that it believes the next president should have a stronger community role presence on campus.
“I see the president’s role as the leader of the community,” said panelist Nate Lichten ’09.
The panel said that it has considered candidates with and without previous connections to the University and liberal arts. Although an already-established connection to the University would be a plus, panelists said, the most important characteristic is an understanding and love of liberal arts.
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