Spring Break
EDITORIAL: Board must consult students
By: Jason Staggs
Issue date: 6/15/09 Section: Opinion
We regret that President Murano thought it necessary to resign in advance of the Board of Regents' special meeting. Although she was controversial, she was our president.
Current and former students of Texas A&M University-College Station should take note of the fact that her resignation is the product not of the concentrated efforts of students, faculty and staff, or their representatives, but rather the maneuverings of individuals who at this date have refused to speak on this matter publicly.
There were legitimate complaints, of course, many of which were raised on the opinion page of this paper, but the process that culminated in what would apparently have been her termination should have included statements by the principal actors involved, and should have been made available for discussion by the students and our representatives.
Now that the enlightened government of this University has removed the opportunity for the student body and faculty to contribute meaningfully to its administration, we implore the Board of Regents not to extend the disrespect by refusing us the opportunity to have a say in the selection of our next president.
Whatever they decide today, they would serve A&M well by not repeating the farce of 2007. For most of that year, the Board of Regents allowed faculty and students to believe they were participating in the search for a new president, only to ignore all three finalists and spring Murano on the University.
If they aim to run this show without our input, they should spare us all the show, and announce the hiring of whomever they had in mind this past spring, when they voted not to subject the hiring process to the interference of a committee.
Finally, we urge the Board of Regents not to merge the presidencies of the A&M System and Texas A&M University. If it was too much work for one person to handle in 1977, it most certainly is too much for an individual to handle today.
Furthermore, a merger of the type proposed would mimic the same error of which McKinney accused Murano in the famous performance review: concentrating administrative power in the hands of friends with whom one is (or nine are) comfortable.
If Chancellor McKinney's role in this series of events is reflective of his management style and any plans he might have for a combined presidency, we do not need him, and he will not be welcome.
Current and former students of Texas A&M University-College Station should take note of the fact that her resignation is the product not of the concentrated efforts of students, faculty and staff, or their representatives, but rather the maneuverings of individuals who at this date have refused to speak on this matter publicly.
There were legitimate complaints, of course, many of which were raised on the opinion page of this paper, but the process that culminated in what would apparently have been her termination should have included statements by the principal actors involved, and should have been made available for discussion by the students and our representatives.
Now that the enlightened government of this University has removed the opportunity for the student body and faculty to contribute meaningfully to its administration, we implore the Board of Regents not to extend the disrespect by refusing us the opportunity to have a say in the selection of our next president.
Whatever they decide today, they would serve A&M well by not repeating the farce of 2007. For most of that year, the Board of Regents allowed faculty and students to believe they were participating in the search for a new president, only to ignore all three finalists and spring Murano on the University.
If they aim to run this show without our input, they should spare us all the show, and announce the hiring of whomever they had in mind this past spring, when they voted not to subject the hiring process to the interference of a committee.
Finally, we urge the Board of Regents not to merge the presidencies of the A&M System and Texas A&M University. If it was too much work for one person to handle in 1977, it most certainly is too much for an individual to handle today.
Furthermore, a merger of the type proposed would mimic the same error of which McKinney accused Murano in the famous performance review: concentrating administrative power in the hands of friends with whom one is (or nine are) comfortable.
If Chancellor McKinney's role in this series of events is reflective of his management style and any plans he might have for a combined presidency, we do not need him, and he will not be welcome.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com