USG nominates Allen to provide student perspective

With only four months remaining in the Board of Trustee’s time frame to find a new university president, Chairman Roger Tedrick said Tuesday that a pool of applicants is forming.

However, in the interest of protecting candidates at their current jobs, Tedrick said the board would not make any of the names public. Further, he could not comment on the number of applicants.

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The search began in June when James E. Walker announced he would retire shortly after this school year. Trustees’ chairman Glenn Poshard resigned from his position to apply for Walker’s job.

Two bodies are helping in the search – Baker-Parker Inc., a professional firm once-used to hire SIU-Edwardsville’s chancellor, and a 22-member advisory committee consisting of people from both campuses.

The search firm is assembling a list of applicants that will be given to trustees and the committee Oct. 17, Tedrick said.

The advisory committee received a briefing from the firm on how to handle a search of this magnitude, said Harold Bardo, committee chairman.

There will be no new business with the advisory committee until they receive the list of candidates to review, Bardo said.

Alexis Allen, nominated by the Undergraduate Student Government, serves as the lone voice of non-graduate students at the Carbondale campus.

Allen said she has yet to consult with any students, but she heard committee members voicing opinions.

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“A lot of people talked about working with the state to get money, mainly,” Allen said. “That was one I heard over and over again.”

Administrators have lamented a non-increase of appropriations resulting from a state budget crisis.

Without revealing names, Tedrick and Bardo made members aware of a “strong internal candidate,” who could only be Poshard, Allen said. In much of the state, Poshard, who narrowly lost the 1998 election for Illinois governor, has strong political ties.

Committee members were encouraged to talk at length with those they represent, and Allen said it seemed like the group’s opinion is highly valued. Allen said she plans to try to represent the students strongly.

“If you come talk to me, I will make sure to convey it to the committee,” Allen said of student feedback. Allen has an office on the third floor of the Student Center within USG, which she said would be the easiest way to reach her.

Reporter Zack Quaintance can be reached at [email protected]