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University of Iowa students add voice to regents conflict

Rebecca McKanna

The Gazette
 
December 15, 2006

[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.]

  IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa Student Government, which represents undergraduate students, became the latest group to call for a change in state Board of Regents leadership with a ‘‘no confidence’’ vote Thursday.

  The UI Student Government voted 45-1 to voice its displeasure with the regents’ handling of the failed UI presidential search and leadership of Regents President Michael Gartner of Des Moines and President Pro Tem Teresa Wahlert of Waukee.

  ‘‘Our university is under assault, and so is the voice of UI faculty, staff and students,’’ said student President Peter McElligott, urging students to vote for the no confidence resolution.

  The student government also voted no confidence in Gov. Tom Vilsack’s ability to make qualified appointments to the regents in a 42-4 vote and passed a resolution 40-2, with four abstentions, expressing gratitude to UI Provost Michael Hogan. Hogan was a finalist in the presidential search.

  Thursday’s vote followed ones taken earlier this week by the UI Faculty Senate, UI Staff Council, UI Liberal Arts and Sciences Faculty Assembly and UI Graduate Student Senate. Each passed ‘‘no confidence’’ votes either unanimously or with only one dissenting vote.

  The votes are symbolic, but leaders of the UI groups have said they hope the votes send a clear message to the regents about their distrust of board leadership.

  Gartner and Wahlert have said they will not resign because of the votes.

  Former President David Skorton left the university in June for the Cornell University presidency. The search to replace him has been controversial because of its secrecy and complaints from search committee members about how regents have managed the search. The controversy culminated in a Nov. 17 regents vote of 6-2 to reject four candidates recommended by a search committee, disband the committee and launch a new search.

  The regents are to discuss ways to restart the presidential search on Monday.