I'm sure the historians will remember the James Walker years as the years of no management at SIUC. To be fair, when you are fighting cancer is no time to run a university system. Glen Poshard appears to be providing leadership and making the kids at SIUC attempt to do something. Good work Glen. It is a shame is didn't happen years ago.
I need to find a full copy of the 17 page document to look over. There has to be funny stuff in there. What is written about in the DE article linked to here sounds downright intelligent.
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One of the big problems Wendler has is his insistant focus on Saluki Way. Yes, that side of campus could stand some fixing up but, when the discussion is about nothing but the athletic facilities, no wonder the rest of the campus feels left out.
Before becoming President of SIU, Glenn Poshard spoke at the A/P Staff Constituency luncheon. His remarks centered on our University's mission and at times he reminded me of Delyte Morris assuming the role of champion of downtrodden, underserved Southern Illinoisans.
Morris was indeed a man with a mission, and he wasn't about putting out fires and or whittling away at small problems. He was devoted to creating a University with a mission.
In the interval between Morris and Poshard, we have become confused about mission and an institutional culture has arisen that is inappropriate for dealing with the students who enter our University.
It is well and good to maintain one's intellectual vigor through scholarship and research. But we must also be mindful that our entering students have much lower ACT scores than those students who can succeed in a research university culture.
I predict that President Poshard will be a consistent advocate for the students and those faculty who wish to teach them. I predict that, by remaining mindful of mission, he will try to change the institutional culture so that excellence in teaching is rewarded.
Make no mistake, Glenn is not here to pad his resume or make a few bucks. He is here for the institution, as we all should be.
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