VPAA search fails, University officials unsure what's next
Brennan Stebbins
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
Rod Anderson, president of the Board of Governors, refused to comment on the failed search when reached Wednesday afternoon, calling it a personnel matter.
"I'm through talking," Anderson said.
When questioned further about his reaction to the failed search, Anderson responded: "I run a business here. I don't work for you," and hung up.
Anderson called The Chart twice afterwards and apologized for hanging up on The Chart reporter, and said the school would start from the beginning and try again.
"I'm disappointed that a candidate wasn't found in the search, as I'm sure everyone is," he said.
The reaction from faculty was also one of disappointment. Stephen Schiavo, an associate professor in the computer information science department, said he and many faculty members believed Johnstone would have been a great choice for the position.
"My impression of him (Johnstone) is that he was great thinking and speaking on his feet," Schiavo said. "He thought before he spoke. He spoke articulately, and I speak for a lot of faculty in thinking he had an appreciation of what we do for a living and the role we play, or should play, in a university."
Schiavo said Johnstone could have played a large role in "easing some of the discomfort going on."
"If he were to be managing the faculty and representing the faculty it would have made, I think, our job and the president's job much easier over the coming years."
"I'm through talking," Anderson said.
When questioned further about his reaction to the failed search, Anderson responded: "I run a business here. I don't work for you," and hung up.
Anderson called The Chart twice afterwards and apologized for hanging up on The Chart reporter, and said the school would start from the beginning and try again.
"I'm disappointed that a candidate wasn't found in the search, as I'm sure everyone is," he said.
The reaction from faculty was also one of disappointment. Stephen Schiavo, an associate professor in the computer information science department, said he and many faculty members believed Johnstone would have been a great choice for the position.
"My impression of him (Johnstone) is that he was great thinking and speaking on his feet," Schiavo said. "He thought before he spoke. He spoke articulately, and I speak for a lot of faculty in thinking he had an appreciation of what we do for a living and the role we play, or should play, in a university."
Schiavo said Johnstone could have played a large role in "easing some of the discomfort going on."
"If he were to be managing the faculty and representing the faculty it would have made, I think, our job and the president's job much easier over the coming years."
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