Return to Nicholas Johnson's Iowa Rain Forest ("Earthpark") Web Site

Return to Nicholas Johnson's Blog, FromDC2Iowa
 
 

[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, 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 Gazette.]

  Michael Gartner, the widely unpopular president of the Board of Regents, has made some superficial compromises since a search was abandoned last month amid allegations of everything from conspiracy to incompetence. But even with those minor changes to the search process, too much about what went wrong during the first search is still in place for a shattered public confidence to be restored.

  The biggest issue is the people involved. So much distrust exists on campus and in the public that, for the sake of the credibility of the search and the chances of success of a new president, the leadership slate should be wiped clean.

  That means, first and foremost, the resignation of the Board of Regents. Asking an entire board to resign is not uncommon when things go awry and a fresh start is needed.

  In some cases, several members may be reappointed. But the resignations provide a starting over point and the opportunity to inject some new ideas and energy from new people into the process. That’s what needs to happen here.

  Regent Tom Bedell certainly understands this. He resigned last week for the express purpose of opening a spot for a new leader. ‘‘I think we need to clear the air, we need to rise above some of the controversy and focus on what’s really important in the state,’’ he said. ‘‘I think we need fresh leadership . . .’’

  If other regents aren’t quick to follow Bedell’s lead, a nudge from Gov. Tom Vilsack or Gov.-elect Chet Culver would be appropriate. While ‘‘hands off’’ is generally a good policy for a governor to follow in regard to the regents, it doesn’t apply when there’s a complete breakdown like this. Both men need to devote their attention and leadership to this.

  The UI Faculty Senate would surely cheer the mass resignations of regents, particularly of Gartner.

  The Senate’s vote of no confidence last week put an exclamation point on its dissatisfaction with Gartner’s leadership.

  But here’s the bit that campus leaders need to realize. The search process would be aided if the key leaders on the faculty side resigned their positions, too. Have they been part of the problem? Maybe. Bedell — likely the most credible voice in the debate right now after his frank and honest assessment last week — called the behavior of the Faculty Senate and others on campus ‘‘disgusting and embarrassing.’’

  Certainly, the rhetoric from some has been extreme. Regardless of campus leadership’s culpability, the slate would hardly be cleaned if one side of the conflict stayed in place.

  Leaders such as Faculty Senate President Sheldon Kurtz and Staff Council President Mary Greer should consider that for the good of the search, they should step aside right now, too. Other faculty and staff leaders can play an integral role in the much-needed fresh start. This time, the public deserves a credible search that results in an excellent UI president, not a search colored by personal agendas, or one berated because it’s not the way it’s always been done, or one destined to fail again.