A Call to Action
Montevallo Students React to Presidential Search
Rabee Kaheel
Issue date: 2/22/10 Section: Opinion
This letter is a call to action. The Montevallo community has been shaken, yes, but broken, never. We will always strive to uphold the integrity, the history, and the character of our beloved University. We are not content with a "we will do better next time" from the Board of Trustees. We want concrete outcomes that will end this dilemma, and "…any re-assurance that the board is taking necessary steps to assure us that the University will not be in the same situation that we are in now in about two three years," as Jason Cooper stated.
A call to action:
We would like for all of the Board of Trustees members who do not support and wish to uphold these same ideals to step down from their positions immediately.
We want fair and equal representation on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee for students, faculty, and staff. It makes no sense that we should have four Board of Trustees members on the search committee when the final decision rests in the hands of the Board itself (self-proclaimed by the Board). It should be noted that nowhere in the Board of Trustees' Bylaws is there mention of decorum and parameters for a presidential search. Simply stated, the Board of Trustees is not currently given sole power to choose the next president of the University. The ideal search panel should be comprised of student, faculty, staff, and alumni representatives from the University of Montevallo. The search panel then forwards one or more candidates to the Board of Trustees, and the elected leaders can then announce one or more finalists to be examined by the Montevallo community, thereby allowing an open channel of communication. This follows the notion of having a Board of Trustees administration governing in a checked and balanced system.
The attention should be allocated on internal educational and administrative efforts, as well as student affairs:
Educational - expanding the curriculum (adding and reviving programs), advocating for research, among others.
Administrative - steadfastly dedicating time, energy, and resources to raising money for the University, promoting the liberal arts focus of the University, and working alongside the administrative offices on campus.
Student affairs - improving and enhancing the efforts of student organizations, taking an active listening role in student concerns, and advocating for the most valuable resource at the University-the students.
We will no longer tolerate a governing body that works against us, but only with us. After all, Montevallo is a family, and family always sticks together.
Sincerely,
Rabee S. Kaheel, UM Class of 2012
Alisha N. Schmitt, UM Class of 2010
A call to action:
We would like for all of the Board of Trustees members who do not support and wish to uphold these same ideals to step down from their positions immediately.
We want fair and equal representation on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee for students, faculty, and staff. It makes no sense that we should have four Board of Trustees members on the search committee when the final decision rests in the hands of the Board itself (self-proclaimed by the Board). It should be noted that nowhere in the Board of Trustees' Bylaws is there mention of decorum and parameters for a presidential search. Simply stated, the Board of Trustees is not currently given sole power to choose the next president of the University. The ideal search panel should be comprised of student, faculty, staff, and alumni representatives from the University of Montevallo. The search panel then forwards one or more candidates to the Board of Trustees, and the elected leaders can then announce one or more finalists to be examined by the Montevallo community, thereby allowing an open channel of communication. This follows the notion of having a Board of Trustees administration governing in a checked and balanced system.
The attention should be allocated on internal educational and administrative efforts, as well as student affairs:
Educational - expanding the curriculum (adding and reviving programs), advocating for research, among others.
Administrative - steadfastly dedicating time, energy, and resources to raising money for the University, promoting the liberal arts focus of the University, and working alongside the administrative offices on campus.
Student affairs - improving and enhancing the efforts of student organizations, taking an active listening role in student concerns, and advocating for the most valuable resource at the University-the students.
We will no longer tolerate a governing body that works against us, but only with us. After all, Montevallo is a family, and family always sticks together.
Sincerely,
Rabee S. Kaheel, UM Class of 2012
Alisha N. Schmitt, UM Class of 2010
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