1986-02-10; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan LIFE
VoL69No.69
C1M6CMLIFE
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48869
201
Monday. Fs-bruary 10.1966
Criticism of Board of Trustees continues
by SHERRY YAEK
LIFE Editor
The cascade of criticism
continues toward Central'* Board
of Trustees for their actions
surrounding the presidential
search process.
Most recently, the Presidential
Search Committee wrote a letter
to the board condemning its
action* in 'aborting* the process.
While not criticizing President
Arthur Ellis, the committee
strongly protested the trustees'
decision to reject all five candidates and end the search.
"In sum then, the board chose to
ignore the entire CMU campus
community, to disregard the
recommendations of the duly
elected     Presidential    Search
Committee, to wave aside the
strong suggestions of expert
consultants, to reject outstanding
candidates without once giving
reasons and to appoint aa president a person who does not meet
the advertised criteria and who
was not even a candidate." stated
the Feb. 7 letter, which was signed
by all faculty and student
committee members except Paul
Zionts, associate professor of
teacher education and professional development, who was out
of town for the weekend.
"They aborted the
process . .. abused their power
and abused their trust,"
committee member Paul Yu said.
Philosophy Chairman Yu said
trustees created an atmosphere of
turmoil   on   campus   through
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See letters from the Search Committee
.'£ to the Board of Trustees, page 4.
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"arrogance and ineptitude."
"We're not making the turmoil.
They've already done that as
predicted by their consultants,"
Yu said.
He was speaking of a letter from
Ron Stead from the Presidential
Search and Consultation Service,
whom the board hired to help with
the search.
In a Jan. 27 letter to Board
Chairman Raymond LaBounty,
Stead wrote, "In the worst — and I
Brush cut
hope unlikely — case that the
board cannot agree on any candidates, it is imperative that the
board not appoint anyone,
including the interim president,
who was not among the five
names submitted by the
committee ... it seems clear to me
that the appointment of anyone
who did not emerge through the
search procedures would be seen
as a clear violation of the integrity
of the process and would create a
tremendous turmoil on campus."
LaBounty, who left for a Florida
vacation last Wednesday — the
day after Ellis waa appointed —
said he did net have Stead's letter
in front of him, had not seen the
committee's communication and is
"out of touch" with events at
Central, and refused to comment.
Committee member Carole
Bee re. associate professor of
psychology, said the letter is a
statement to the board and the
community expressing the
committee's concerns.
"I hope it will help the board to
understand that we expect them
to be accountable for their actions
and to follow University procedures," Beere said.
"They violated procedure and
thus violated the trust people
have in them," she added.
The campus, she said, is
concerned about the board making
unilateral decisions.
As written in the committee's
letter, "We protest the board's
decision not to involve the campus
in any way, but to make a
unilateral decision. Indeed, a few
days after the PSC wrote to the
board to ask for information and
for continuation of the search
process, the board saw fit to make
an appointment . . . Naturally,
there was also no discussion about
how to, or indeed whether to,
continue the search process."
Trustee Mitch Kehetian said
Sunday he had not received the
committee's letter, but agreed the
reaction was "to be anticipated."
Kehetian was adamant in
saying however, the process was
not a failure.
"The process worked. Just
because it did not give us the
president we were seeking does
ISee "Committee"—page 2
Further searches possible?
Jason Sabedra shows great concentration as ha puts the finishing touches on a snow
sculpture of hi* coach. Tha sculptures were one of the special events at this years Special
Olympic Winter Games. Sea related story and photos page 8.
Officials' posts discussed
Finalist
considers
position
by MARY FRANCIS
LIFE News Editor
by SHERRY YAEK
UFE Editor
Speculation has ceased surrounding the president's post but the
rumor mill remains with bets about who Central's provost and vice
presidents might be.
Although he would not give specifics, President Arthur Ellis said
he is not surprised administrators are contemplating what he
might do with officials in Warriner Hall. Ellis added he should
settle concern* about administrative positions thi.s week.
One rumor claims John Cantelon will vacate the provost's
position before his scheduled August resignation. Ellis denied that
possibility.
"John is not going to leave before his regularly scheduled
retirement date. However, that does not mean I won't start to
restructure the administration before then." Ellis said.
Cantelon refused to be specific but said he has talked with Ellis.
"We have been discussing his new administration which of course
is something he is anxious to get started," Cantelon said, adding he
does not know where he fits in that administration.
'John and I are talking about how to best deal with these things."
Ellis said. "When I decide how I want the University organized. Ill
tell you."
Ellis said Tuesday, the day he was appointed, he would not fill
the position of vice president for Public AfTairs. instead would
create a vice president for Administration. Ellis vacated the public
affairs position when he became interim president in July. He
would not comment further Friday.
Doug Friedrich, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and
associate vice provost for Research the last four years, is rumored to
be in contention for a vice president's position.
Friedrich said he does not feel it is appropriate to discuss whether
he has been asked to fill any new positions at Central, although he
would say he "has not accepted any new positions."
*1 have not been appointed 'acting* anything It is not appropriate
for me to talk about whether I'm considering acting provost or
acting dean," Friedrich said.
The graduate studies dean also has a special assignment to the
president, being in charge of the affiliation with Michigan
Molecular Institute of Midland.
Friedrich is however, a finalist for vice president of Academic
ISee "Provost"—page 20
At least one of the five
presidential finalists still is
interested in a career at CMU.
Thomas Wallace, vice president for Academic AfTairs at
Old   Dominion   University   in
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re-apply for president and also
is considering the provost
position.
With the impending retirement of CMU Provost John
Cantelon in August, it is
possible some of the five finalists recommended by the
Presidential Search Committee
will apply for the job, according
to some members of Central's
Board of Trustees. Wallace is
the only candidate who said he
would try for the job.
The other presidential finalists were Robert Berdahl, dean
of the College of Arts and
Sciences at the University of
Oregon; Joan Wadlow, interim
vice president for Academic
AfTairs of the University of
Wyoming;     Arthur    Slavin.
ISee "Wallace"—page 20
Township debates motel plan
by JACKIE BRAUN
LIFE Asa't. News Editor
A letter protesting construction of a 64-unit motel
on University park property will be written by the
Union Township Board, township officials decided
Wednesday.
The board is protesting construction because the
facility creates unfair business competition for area
motels. Herb Hills, Union Township Planning
Commission member, said.
"We recommended to the township board that
they write a letter to the Governor or some other
state officials protesting the use of University
property for private enterprise," Hills said.
Members of the planning commission are private
businessmen  who  could  be  affected   by  the  new
LIFE-line
News Brief
Index
Denise Tyiska. director of minority student services at
Western Michigan University appears today at 7 p m. in the
Bovee University Center Auditorium.
Weather
Partly cloudy east and
mostly cloudy west with
chance of snow showers
Monday. High* mid-teens to
low 20s. Mostly clear and cold
east Monday night, mostly
cloudy with scattered snow
showers west. Lows 10 below
to 8 above zero. Partly cloudy
east and mostly cloudy with
scattered snow showers west
Tuesday. Highs around 20.
Grnup meets Tuesday
competition.
"The planning commission is made up of private
businessmen who brought it to their (the township
board's) attention. They reacted vehemently to the
University because it's involved in private enterprise and is giving advantages to private enterprise," 6aid Robert Sullivan, who is both a member
of the planning commission and the township board.
Provost John Cantelon said the protest letter was
a "complete surprise" to him and displeasure
concerning the issue had "never been expressed
before."
Cantelon. president of the Middle Michigan
Development Corp. Board of Directors, said he could
not comment on the issue until meeting with the
MMDC board Feb  19
ISee "Park"—page 2
Academic Senate to review search results
LIFE-wire page 2
Profile page 3
Comment page 4
Bloom County page 4
Entertainment page 6
Spotlife page 7
Sports page 14
Classified* P*ge 18
Police Report* page 19
Placement Notices page 19
by PAT BRAY
LIFE Staff Writer
The regular agenda for tommor-
row's Academic Senate meeting
may be delayed to allow the
senate a chance to discuss the
presidential search result*.
A-senate Chairwoman Pamela
Weaver said Sunday she has
asked for a meeting today with
members of the senate's executive
board and other interested people
from the University. She »aid the
meeting ia to "to try and get a feel
of what is going on."
"There is, of course, a lot of
conversation on campus and there
is a wide range of opinion,"
Wesver added.
She said the Monday meeting
will not necessarily be confined to
just the search.
Weaver said there is a "good
possibility" the agenda will be set
aside.
Marjie Williams, executive
secretary to Weaver, said she
expects discusaion about the
search will take over the agenda.
"I would not be surprised if it
happen*, but what exactly will be
brought up, I don't know,"
William* said Sunday.
The Presidential Screening
Committee, which considered
hundreds of applications for the
position and sent the names of five
finalist* to the Board of Trustees,
was sppointed by the A-senate.
The board set aside the list of
finalist* to appoint interim President Arthur Ellis a* CMUs ninth
head administrator Feb. 4
Members of the screening
committee expressed discontent
with the board at the last senate
meeting Jan. 28.
Dennis Thavenet, Presidential
Search Committee chairman, said
at the meeting if a president was
appointed soon it would mean the
"search had been set aside."
The senator* al*o expressed
concern the board had not communicated with the screening
committee, since it released the
names of the five finalists, and
they had not used the committee
or consultants hired by it in
acquiring   information   on   the
finalist*.
At that meeting the A-senate
set aside the agenda to discuss the
search process. Then, by unanimous vote the senate passed a
resolution calling for the board to
release information about the
search.
In other business the A-senate
ia scheduled make a number of
appointments to some standing
committee*. There is one seat
each open on the athletic, alumni
and arts and science committees.
The undergraduate committee
will make a report on adding ADS
360  to  the  business  curriclum.
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be the third required Engluh
course for business majors.