When Ball State inaugurated President Blaine Brownell in December 2000, he made it clear the university's main focus was the students.
"Ball State must be a student-centered institution in every sense of the word," Brownell said in his inauguration speech.
By the way the Board of Trustees has operated the presidential search, Brownell's idea is headed out the door when his term officially ends Friday.
The Board released an e-mail Wednesday, announcing that one more faculty member was being added to the search committee. The faculty already had four representatives on the committee, while the students have a single voice.
In an explanation of their actions, the Board wrote "we take faculty comments about the process seriously."
Faculty members said the addition hurts more than helps the situation because the Board once again did not consult faculty.
The Board's comment is also an insult to students, who form the core of this institution. It directly contradicts what Brownell considered a priority.
It seems the Board has its own agenda, and student interest is not a part of it. While the trustees have tried to shut the students out of the process, Student Government Association is doing everything it can to make student needs heard.
At Wednesday's meeting, SGA members began to discuss ways to improve the presidential search. The student senate also invited Sarah Atkinson, the student search committee member, to listen to questions at their next meeting.
It's only a start. The Board must keep going.
It should be apparent to the Board and the search committee that the students and faculty are not content with the presidential search process. The Board's efforts to quell the objections of these parties are inadequate and disrespectful.
There is time to save the search before the Board chooses a president to serve its own interest.
The Board should hold forums to help faculty air any major complaints about the search and what faculty members are looking for in a president.
Adding another student to the committee will help convey student concerns to presidential candidates and the search committee. However, the method of choosing a member must change.
The existing committee members have all been appointed. Instead, the board should offer applications for the students interested in a committee position. This will give any student the opportunity to apply while helping the Board choose someone who both accessible and will help voice student concerns.
Ball State's last president focused his policies on student needs. The Board should not consider this search to be any different.
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