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Students make pitch for president who knows their pain By
Natalie Larson
The USU Presidential Search Committee has concluded meeting with constituents and now will use the criteria garnered -- including, presumably, students' often-repeated concerns about academics and tuition -- to select the five candidates to present to the Board of Regents. About 30 students attended the forum at 12:30 Thursday in the TSC Auditorium to give their opinions to the committee. Their concerns and suggested qualifications included the following: The tuition raise was a key topic. Students said they wanted a president who would stand up for them, and who understood their limited resources. Committee Chair David Johnson, in response to this remark said, "If students like yourselves could find a way to work collectively, you would have more power legislatively. "They don't hear from you, and you're not the voice you could be. You could squeeze them a lot harder than they are squeezed." One student said, "The president needs to be a legislator and willing to make the effort to advocate students. He needs to link the community and the university by helping to eliminate the communication issues. He needs to focus more on academics than on athletics." Several students, who also felt that there wasn't enough emphasis being placed on academics, seconded this last remark. One student said she wanted there to be more service and leadership opportunities available, so students would be able to get a better-rounded education. Another said the president needed to be aware of what the Logan/Cache Valley area is like. She said, "I love Logan's hometown feel, and I don't want to see that change." Several stated and restated that the president needs to be actively involved with the student body. Toward the end of the meeting, concerns were raised about the selection process itself. These concerns focused on how the committee would get an unbiased assessment of the candidates. Concerns and opinions were also heard at the Town Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday from the community and alumni. Mayor Doug Thompson said, "It's surprising how many people move here because it is a university town. The university is a critical part of Logan. "The president needs to understand that relationship. The university is part of our lives, part of our blood and part of our history. We need to be working on equal ground." He said, "There has been a widening gulf emerging (between the university and the community). We feel like we're ignored. There needs to be a partnership. We have a lot to offer as a community, and we can make the university stronger if we act as a team." Richard Smith, a hospital administrator and alumnus of Utah State, said, "I worry about the quality of the teaching and education students are getting. I know my son has had problems with some of his teachers not speaking English as their first language." Smith added, "The president has a multitude of responsibilities, but it all ties back to the mission as to where his priorities should lie. He needs to be involved and not aloof from the community. There needs to be more involvement."
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