Spring Break
Students apathetic to chancellor search
Three attend Search and Screen Committee listening session Wednesday afternoon
Brian Reisinger
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Campus News
"As Student Senate president, this is very important - one of the most important things we could do," he said. "I'm excited that we get to express our opinions at the Student Senate meeting."
Student Senator and committee member Jeff Baldovin, one of the three who attended the meeting, said he thinks many students doubt their opinions will make a difference in the committee's ultimate selections.
"I think students don't understand that their opinions are going to be heard," he said. "It's frustrating to me ... (students) are the ones that come here. It's their school."
Hooper said his plans to attend Student Senate, as well as his regular attendance at University Senate, are part of his efforts to maintain an open dialogue with university employees and students.
The student component of that dialogue, he said, is critical to select a chancellor who is connected to students, which is important at a student-centered university like Eau Claire.
"It's a different kind of university," Hooper said. "I think we need a chancellor (who) supports that."
Students aren't the only constituency that isn't actively participating in the process, he said. University faculty and staff also have been relatively inactive.
"Student turnout is not a whole lot worse than faculty and staff," he said.
Hooper credited that inactivity to a lack understanding of the search-and-screen process.
"I don't think the campus community at this point in time understands the process," he said.
Many members of the "campus community," he said, may be waiting to express their views until the finalists are announced in January, something he advised against.
The committee already has met with Eau Claire community members and the Chamber of Commerce and has a meeting with area legislators slated for Monday.
Student Senator and committee member Jeff Baldovin, one of the three who attended the meeting, said he thinks many students doubt their opinions will make a difference in the committee's ultimate selections.
"I think students don't understand that their opinions are going to be heard," he said. "It's frustrating to me ... (students) are the ones that come here. It's their school."
Hooper said his plans to attend Student Senate, as well as his regular attendance at University Senate, are part of his efforts to maintain an open dialogue with university employees and students.
The student component of that dialogue, he said, is critical to select a chancellor who is connected to students, which is important at a student-centered university like Eau Claire.
"It's a different kind of university," Hooper said. "I think we need a chancellor (who) supports that."
Students aren't the only constituency that isn't actively participating in the process, he said. University faculty and staff also have been relatively inactive.
"Student turnout is not a whole lot worse than faculty and staff," he said.
Hooper credited that inactivity to a lack understanding of the search-and-screen process.
"I don't think the campus community at this point in time understands the process," he said.
Many members of the "campus community," he said, may be waiting to express their views until the finalists are announced in January, something he advised against.
The committee already has met with Eau Claire community members and the Chamber of Commerce and has a meeting with area legislators slated for Monday.