Candidates for USM’s presidency began touring campus last Wednesday, meeting various factions of university government, including representatives from the various senates and departments across all three campuses.
Of the four candidates, two-Bob Smith and Selma Botman-visited last week, and two-David Belcher and Nancy Kleniewski-will be on campus this week. Anyone interested in meeting-or questioning-the candidates is invited to attend the open meetings which are being held once on each campus for each candidate.
At the meetings held last week, it became clear what various factions of the university are looking for in our next president.
Based on representatives who posed questions at each meeting, the faculty showed concern for the current hiring freeze, and are looking for a President who can find a way to resolve our current budget crisis by bringing in money rather than cutting from an already tight budget.
One faculty member, Kaitlin Briggs, tried to explain the difficulty in finding a clear definition of what USM needs in a president.
“It’s clearly contradictory,” she said, “The situation now has to be attended to, but at the same time as our plans for the future. We need two almost oppositional things.”
To candidate Selma Botman, Jane Kuenz of the English department spoke of difficulties in securing support and funding at the state level, “We need a partner, but we also need a fighter.”
The professional staff seems to be asking for a president who is available for their concerns in addition to those of the faculty. Candidate Selma Botman was quick to make known that while she has never worked in a university that had a separate senate for the professional staff, her goal was to meet their needs.
“I don’t know yet what your president’s schedule is like,” she said, but she would always try to be available.
The students as well are looking for a leader to represent their needs.
“What we’re looking for is a strong voice for the university,” said Emily Fitch, chair of the Student Senate. “We need someone who will be a strong advocate for student needs, who is not afraid to stand up to the Board of Trustees and really say what we need. If students say that high tuition is a huge problem, we need someone to go and say ‘my students are in need.'”
Fitch, as well as other student leaders on campus, thinks it’s important for to have a president who regularly interacts with students.
On the student front, it seemed that Selma Botman was the clear victor of the week-after being asked by a history professor, in jest, if she would be interested in teaching a course in her own discipline, Middle Eastern history, Botman lit up.
“I’ve actually always taught a course!” Her interest, which is modern Egypt, has been the subject of several courses she has taught and co-taught throughout her career in higher education.
“I teach for pretty selfish reasons. I love it! And it keeps the administration honest. You know the faculty, and you know your students better.”
In addition to her comments on teaching, much of her introduction was centered on students and student needs. Focusing attention on students, she says, is sure to reap results in meeting the goal of universities: to help students meet their goals and graduate.
One representative from facilities management questioned candidate Bob Smith’s hands-on knowledge of heating and cooling systems.
“I have a reason in asking,” he said, as he got surprised glances from the crowd and the candidate. After Smith’s attempted, though searching, answer was given, the representative offered an explanation.
“We’re short-handed. We work with 55 to 60 year old systems. The rooms are too hot, the rooms are too cold, and we’ve lost students because of it.”
The bearded man leaning against the back wall continued, “We have a skeletal crew and can’t keep up with the work. It’s just as important that our president knows the inside community, knows about the daily operations of the university, rather than just be focused on outside commitments.”
Smith, again, tried to find an answer. “Part of the problem is that you’re under-funded.”
The crowd snickered, mocking his answer, but Smith continued, recovering by sharing his extensive and impressive history of raising large amounts of money for the universities for which he has worked. He has proven fearless in searching for billions of dollars of funding for the universities employing him, unafraid to approach the state as well as private donors for large amounts of cash, and is very encouraging to faculty in seeking grants for their work and research.
Botman, it seems, meets the needs of the people, while Smith meets the needs of the budget. Emily Fitch, chair of the Student Senate, is hoping that a candidate next week will provide a happy medium between these two obviously important functions. Ben Taylor, the vice chair of the Student Senate, is not sure that lines will be so clear-cut.
“I don’t think one will stick out as an obvious choice,” said Taylor. “The presidential search committee whittled around 63 applicants down to 4. I have faith in that committee. I think I’ll be impressed by everyone. It will be a matter of picking out details. I’ve read through all the resumes and I think we’re going to be well off, no matter who we choose.”
For more information on each candidate and for schedules of the open meetings being held this week, visit www.maine.edu/board/USMPresidentialSearch.php.