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Culver's regent appointments should move board in new direction

Editorial

Daily Iowan

January 15, 2007

[Note: This material is copyright by The Daily Iowan, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Daily Iowan.]

Recently inaugurated Gov. Chet Culver has an opportunity to have an immediate effect on the UI community. The terms Regents Amir Arbisser, Mary Ellen Becker, and Teresa Wahlert will expire April 30. Tom Bedell has already resigned, giving Culver a chance to restructure the outlook of the governing body of the three state universities. This Editorial Board is conditionally supportive of Arbisser and Becker, but Wahlert has worn out her welcome on the UI campus.

The now-stalled hunt for a new UI president has been marred with controversy, mostly centering on the bizarre behavior of the regents. Wahlert, the president pro tem of the board, has been particularly ineffective. The inability of the search committee to find a suitable candidate for UI president should weigh heavily on her, the head of the the search panel. One only needs to remember her Nov. 7 e-mail to UI faculty, staff, and students to be witness to her incompetence: Apparently, she never learned to capitalize the beginning of her sentences.

Arbisser and Becker have been less of a problem, and it is likely that with new direction of the regents, they will find themselves more willing to accommodate the UI community's desires. Culver must maintain the mandatory guidelines for the makeup of the board: at least one full-time student of a regent university and no more than five members of a single political party. He must also keep in mind regional and occupational diversity. Arbisser is a physician from Davenport, and Becker is from Oskaloosa and received her doctorate in educational administration from the UI.

More importantly, the future regents must realize that the state's public universities are not institutions of economic growth - and any economic benefits produced will be side effects of a more educated populace. A liberal education, as well as strong math and science skills, is necessary for the futures of Iowans.

Culver is planning to name Bedell's successor before he moves on to the status of Arbisser, Becker, and Wahlert. Nominations must receive Senate approval by April 15.

Even if Culver decides to clean the proverbial slate and make four new appointments, it is unlikely the contentious relationship the regents have with the UI will change. As long as Michael Gartner remains the board's president, the direction the regents will take is guaranteed to drift further and further from the wishes of the UI community. Bedell has said he wishes his vacant seat could be filled by a new regent president. We sincerely agree with him.

Unfortunately, Gartner has said he will not step down before his term expires, which is grating to the ears of the Iowa City community. However, Culver can remove any regent he wishes, with Senate approval. We hope he keeps this in mind if a Gartner-led board continues to refuse to compromise.