BFA Chair says president must have experience in academics
Bruce Benson is facing tough opposition on the road to CU presidency after the Boulder Faculty Assembly voted him an unqualified candidate, Thursday evening, in a 40-4 decision.
The decision comes as opposition to the sole candidate builds, with the University of Colorado Student Union voting in opposition to Benson’s candidacy the same evening.
Three faculty members abstained from voting.
Check out our 11-part Benson series
“This shows the desire to have a spokesman that has gone through the ranks,” said BFA Chair and physics Professor Uriel Nauenberg.
Nauenberg expressed gratitude for the work that Benson has done for the university, but said academic experience was essential in the role.
“We’re delighted how he’s helped us and we look forward to working with him in the future,” Nauenberg said.
A major issue with both faculty and students has been the process in selecting the candidates for CU system president. Many voiced concerns when the search committee assigned to select the candidates came forward with only one: Bruce Benson.
“The process is broken, I think people agree,” Nauenberg said.
UCSU Tri-executive Hadley Brown expressed similar concerns, citing the fact that only one student was involved in the selection process.
“Having only one student’s voice on the committee marginalizes that voice,” Brown said. “One student is not adequate.”
Both faculty and students have called the decision to nominate Benson rushed and have questioned the reasoning behind nominating one candidate.
Patty Limerick, faculty director of the Center of the American West and search committee member, said the entire process was very complicated and often put candidates in a bind.
Often those being considered as final candidates had to decline. Limerick said this was because being announced as a final candidate for the CU system president could have a negative impact on their reputation with their home institutions, and may even cause them to lose their jobs.
Limerick did express concerns over the selection process, however.
“It’s curious that one student is chosen to represent a very large population.” Limerick said.
CU system spokesman Ken McConnellogue defended the process, saying both students and faculty were given the necessary materials to help inform them of the decision.
“It was a public process, all materials were available on the [Internet], and a student was involved in the selection process,” McConnellogue said.
McConnellogue said some people were unhappy with the results, so they complained about the process.
McConnellogue said the regents would take the faculty’s decision into consideration when making their decision Feb. 20.
“I think the regents are expecting feedback from a variety of groups and the Boulder Faculty Assembly is one they take into special consideration,” McConnellogue said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Stephen Oskay at Stephen.Oskay@colorado.edu.
