Sanders announced Monday his intent to vacate his position with SIU in February to become president of the Educational Commission of States, a Denver-based educational organization. He leaves behind a tenure shrouded in controversy, with many students and faculty resentful of his management style.

When Sanders fired former chancellor Jo Ann Argersinger in June, the decision created increased student and faculty resentment. Sanders cited conflicting management styles as the reason for Argersinger’s termination, prompting a public outcry from the University community.

Protest groups Students for the Excellence in Education and Southern Illinois HOPE have called for Sanders’ resignation since Argersinger’s firing.

USG President Sean Henry said Sanders’ decision to leave the University will help alleviate negative feelings among SIUC students and faculty with SIU leadership. Sanders will meet with Henry at 10 a.m. today at the Stone Center to discuss Sanders’ leaving.

“I think it will be a good thing for him and the University,” Henry said. “This will bring new leadership to the University and help unite the student body.”

USG Vice President Brian Atchison echoed Henry’s sentiments and said that when the unpopular Sanders leaves office, the University community will be able to concentrate on banding together.

“Hopefully, this will get us over the divided line,” Atchison said.

“We need to concentrate on getting back to a University as a whole again, and not just a Argersinger side and a Ted Sanders side.”

Throughout his four-and-a-half-year tenure, Sanders’ leadership abilities were called into question by students, faculty and various administrators. Sanders was criticized for being unable to attract sufficient state funding and deal with declining enrollment, and was perceived by many as an isolated university president.

Henry said Sanders’ inability to attend USG constituency head meetings and sit in on USG meetings was an ongoing disappointment, adding to Sanders’ negative image.

Despite some initial student and faculty jubilation, Graduate and Professional Student Council President Ed Ford said the Board of Trustees will hire a president who will follow in the direction they want.

“I can’t see a president being named that will change the direction of the University as a whole,” Ford said. “The key is going to be having people get involved regardless of who’s here and who’s not here.”

As the board considers the procedures to attract a new University president, questions still remain about how SIUC can choose a leader concerned with filling the student-friendly image that students desire.

Evergreen Terrace Senator Chuck Miller said that when Sanders exits in February the students and faculty must unite in a common goal the advancement of SIUC.

“I have the desire to see some unity in our University,” Miller said. “We need to pull together now. For so long we’ve been so divided with all of the protests, students feeling their rights were violated, and Ted Sanders had his name in the middle of everything.”

While USG has not taken an official stance on Sanders’ resignation, Miller wants USG to discuss presenting the board with a list of qualities needed in the new president. USG’s next meeting is Dec. 8 in the Student Center Ballroom D.

While Sanders’ resignation leaves another void in University leadership, Miller said it’s time to put past conflicts behind to concentrate on SIUC’s future.

“Change is never easy, but we can make change a good thing,” Miller said. “What happens now is based on the attitude of students and faculty.”