When politics matters...

http://www.da.wvu.edu/new/show_article.php?&story_id=27518&archive_date=04-13-2007

After following WVU presidential search for nearly two months as a staff writer for The Daily Athenaeum, a sense of big disappointment filled me at the press conference today as Mike Garrison was announced the 22nd president of West Virginia University.

As an exchange student, the decision has no effect on me whatsoever. As a reporter, though, I care. Dr. Nellis (Garrison is probably the only college president without a Ph.D.) was a fine, fine, exceptional scholar, who took the time to meet us in the newsroom.

I wonder how he felt at this point. From the beginning, the entire process was already planned. Garrison stepped down from his post as chairman of the Higher Education Policy Commission even before his name was released as one of the three finalists. He was contacted by the search consultant. His family connection with Goodwin undoubtedly has given him strong favorable.

Gwen Berger, associate professor of English, said during Wednesday emergency meeting that WVU would look "insular and provincial" if Garrison is chosen. With a leader who has no international experiences teaching or studying abroad (except he left Oxford early), indeed, WVU will become a provincial university. It's hard to see the new president maybe establishing an international campus for WVU.

This state is already poor and isolated. The University is the only reason why many of us, foreigners, come here, to Morgantown.

I'm leaving this town on May 10. But good luck to all the students who will be here next year, who will be lead by a very non-qualified president.