Ball State University's chapter of the American Association of University Professors stated Wednesday that Elliott Pood, dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Southern Mississippi University, was the only acceptable candidate for provost.
William Swart, professor of decision sciences at East Carolina University, and Andrew Bodman, provost at Western Washington University, were determined to be unacceptable candidates.
"We have to note that the president has the power to do the appointing, but we are trying to make sure she makes good decisions," Ralph Baker, president of AAUP and professor of political science, said.
One faculty member said Pood seemed to have the credentials and personality to be able to speak "truth to power" effectively.
"I thought with Pood, he did have the best assessment of Ball State," Baker said. "He may have been off the page, though, comparing to what the president is looking for."
Baker said Pood was impressive because he took up barely any of the public forum time speaking himself and instead let the community members ask questions.
More than half of the 25 members of the AAUP who were at the meeting agreed that the first provost candidate who visited campus - Swart - was unacceptable.
"There are so many reasons for Ball State to be careful of his selection as the provost," Jayne Beilke, associate professor of secondary and foundations of education, said.
She said the suit was a matter of concern for all of the Ball State community.
"It makes you really wonder, 'What if things don't go well here?'" Beilke said. "It continues to raise issues about his time as provost there. He really comes as a candidate with a lot of baggage."
One faculty member, who asked to remain unnamed because of the uncomfortable atmosphere surrounding the provost search said Swart showed an inability to recognize the mistakes he had made.
They said if Swart had recognized the mistakes he had made, the best explanation the university received was an effort to cover it up.
Faculty members discussed the "climate of fear" that faculty members at ECU said Swart had established.
"I don't think a lot of people can handle power well, and one always has to be nervous if you get someone who is not able to do that," Baker said.
The members also brought up the three letters recently published in the Daily News supporting Swart.
One member said the only way so many letters would arrive at the same time is if the "calvary was called in."
Beilke said she had even received calls after her letter opposing Swart ran in the paper.
She said she was concerned that if Swart was hired, the faculty would get treatment such as she has experienced for expressing her opinion.
Bodman didn't receive as much outright opposition as Swart, but some still spoke out against him.
One faculty member said Bodman didn't appear to know as much about Ball State as Swart or Pood. And some expressed concern about Bodman's response to a question at the forum in which he said he hadn't learned anything from an experience during which he disagreed with faculty members at WWU.
Overall, the AAUP members said they were disappointed with the pool of candidates for provost.
"One has to wonder if the pool would have been better if more time were taken," Baker said. "Lets hope we don't have some sort of stigma of the university, but one does wonder."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
