DS View: Waiting Game
Kelley's response to selection as the new president puts UND between a rock and a hard place.
Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Opinion
In light of the recent controversy surrounding the decisions made by the UND presidential search committee forwarding only one candidate on to the State Board of Higher Education, there has been yet another unforeseen alternative to the unquestionably odd circumstances that saw only one candidate selected. As of press time, Robert Kelley had yet to decide whether or not he would take his position as the next president of UND.
Kelley told officials that he would need two days to consider whether or not he would take the position.
If all indicators point to Kelley accepting the offer, it seems like a needless waste of two days to mull the decision over, but being that we have no other choice we'll agree to play the frivolous waiting game.
As most students are already aware the State Board of Higher Education interviewed Kelley, and voted almost unanimously to disregard the fact that only one candidate was selected (when three were expressly requested) when they decided not to interview the remaining top to candidates.
We'll have to concede that the issue is now in the past.
It would seem that the SBHE is completely fine with the UND Presidential Search committee's inability to follow simple procedures designed to ensure a quality candidate is chosen to lead this fine institution. And while we feel that Kelley is indeed a fine candidate, his seeming reluctance to accept UND's offer, despite the high probability that he eventually will, begs the question of what would happen if he decided not to accept his position as the next president of UND?
What would happen if, for any reason, Kelley, chose to refuse UND's offer?
In the one percent chance that such an outcome would occur, UND would be made painfully obvious of just how foolish their decision was to only select one candidate.
Essentially we've put all of our eggs in one basket, and this is a risky move regardless of whether or not Kelley accepts the offer.
This is just another illustration of why the original process designed to choose the president was put in place for a reason, and when the committee chooses to disregard that directive it puts UND in a binding position.
This process was supposed to prevent the possibility of placing UND in the position that the illogical actions of the presidential search committee and the SBHE have put UND in. If he accepts, no harm no foul, if he refuses however, what then? No matter what the outcome, however, we, the students, will need to live with it and move on. In this situation that has been endlessly stressed upon, the campus needs to understand the importance of dealing with the outcome.
Instead of mulling over the possible alternatives, the campus needs to remain united in the decision that both Kelley and the SBHE decide upon, because in all honesty, it's not like we have a choice in the matter anymore.
So, for better or worse this situation is at best over with and it is now the time to move on. Whether or not you trust in the outcome, one must make the best of it.
Kelley told officials that he would need two days to consider whether or not he would take the position.
If all indicators point to Kelley accepting the offer, it seems like a needless waste of two days to mull the decision over, but being that we have no other choice we'll agree to play the frivolous waiting game.
As most students are already aware the State Board of Higher Education interviewed Kelley, and voted almost unanimously to disregard the fact that only one candidate was selected (when three were expressly requested) when they decided not to interview the remaining top to candidates.
We'll have to concede that the issue is now in the past.
It would seem that the SBHE is completely fine with the UND Presidential Search committee's inability to follow simple procedures designed to ensure a quality candidate is chosen to lead this fine institution. And while we feel that Kelley is indeed a fine candidate, his seeming reluctance to accept UND's offer, despite the high probability that he eventually will, begs the question of what would happen if he decided not to accept his position as the next president of UND?
What would happen if, for any reason, Kelley, chose to refuse UND's offer?
In the one percent chance that such an outcome would occur, UND would be made painfully obvious of just how foolish their decision was to only select one candidate.
Essentially we've put all of our eggs in one basket, and this is a risky move regardless of whether or not Kelley accepts the offer.
This is just another illustration of why the original process designed to choose the president was put in place for a reason, and when the committee chooses to disregard that directive it puts UND in a binding position.
This process was supposed to prevent the possibility of placing UND in the position that the illogical actions of the presidential search committee and the SBHE have put UND in. If he accepts, no harm no foul, if he refuses however, what then? No matter what the outcome, however, we, the students, will need to live with it and move on. In this situation that has been endlessly stressed upon, the campus needs to understand the importance of dealing with the outcome.
Instead of mulling over the possible alternatives, the campus needs to remain united in the decision that both Kelley and the SBHE decide upon, because in all honesty, it's not like we have a choice in the matter anymore.
So, for better or worse this situation is at best over with and it is now the time to move on. Whether or not you trust in the outcome, one must make the best of it.
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