All Presidential Searches Should Be This Open
By Justin Selb
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

This letter is somewhat of a response to the article entitled "David Oxtoby Named President," but is also more of a social roll call to those that are concerned. While reading the article that stated how Pomona's new president was "selected from a large, highly qualified applicant pool," I could not help but juxtapose the scenario to a similar one I recently witnessed.

Transferring from Pitzer college after my freshman year to the University of Minnesota, I feel I have more of an insiders view of how a college's bureaucracy works not only in a small setting (particularly Claremont), but also in a campus more than 60,000 deep in heads. Last spring, University president Mark Yudof opted to return to his true calling deep in the heart of Texas, leaving us Minnesotans out in the cold, literally. While some grew invariably depressed, others rejoiced by way of alcohol. It took several months of highly confidential deliberations before the board of regents released ONE name to the press of a potential presidential candidate, Robert H. Bruininks. Two months later that man accepted his offer of the University presidency. So far his actions have deemed him inconclusive, as he has yet to react to Minnesota's newest Governor Tim Pawlenty and his fierce budget-cut administration striking the university with a cut of anywhere between ten and fifty million dollars.

The overall impression I have of our own administrative faculty is one of passive incompetence. After transferring from Pitzer, I thought, "Great, a school set up for today's busy idiot; I won't have to worry about anything except the bookstore lines." This was not the case. In order to register later for an Italian course last summer, I was forced into the biggest game of grabass I have ever encountered, but finally, after visiting over ten buildings in a couple hours, many of which more than once, I was bearing the right papers with the right signatures and thus admitted.

The drawn out purpose of this letter is not to condemn my school for its lack of funds or backwards policies, nor is it to condemn the fine institution of Pomona College for its showering of luxury onto the students; it is simply a plea for fresh ideas or new budget plans that my anti-light rail Governor and university does not see. I implore you to go forth at Godspeed, buy a drink at the Hi-Brow and get down to brass tacks of higher education today.