First presidential search forum features input from Cornell students

By Adrial Lobelo '02

The university's Presidential Search Committee, charged with identifying Cornell's next president, sponsored an open student forum April 30 in Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium of Goldwin Smith Hall, which drew about 25 students. It was the first of four planned forums. (Read the story on the presidential search process.)

Bernd Goehring, a third-year graduate student in medieval studies, makes a suggestion during the April 30 forum in Goldwin Smith Hall. Frank DiMeo/University Photography

The discussion was led by a panel from the search committee's subcommittee for students, including Leslie Barkemeyer '03, student-elected trustee; Patrick Carr, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly; and Jan Rock Zubrow, alumni-elected trustee. They were joined by John Isaacson and Barbara Stevens, representing the national search firm Isaacson, Miller.

During the discussion of expectations for a new president, several students stressed the importance of increasing and stabilizing funding for ethnic studies programs. Other points that were emphasized as being important for a new president were sensitivity to environmental issues, faculty recruitment, fund-raising and a continuing emphasis on undergraduate research opportunities.

"Cornell is recognized as a nontraditional Ivy League school," said Carl Jones Jr., a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, in pointing out the university's diversity. He urged the search committee to select a president who would support ethnic studies, especially the Africana Studies and Research Center.

Said Noah Pollock, a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: "We're not in a vacuum. What we do has impact on society. We have a responsibility for the way we teach, do research and work." He cited the efforts of the newly formed Environmental Stewardship Council, a joint student-faculty organization that makes policy recommendations to the university. Pollock recommended that the search committee select a person who would make it easier for new environmental and social initiatives to come forward.

Others felt that a new president's energies would be better directed toward enhancing the school's profile through strategic hiring decisions. "[The selected] president needs to be academically oriented toward recruiting the best faculty," said Jonathon Ludwig, a junior in the College of Engineering.

Kristin Vyhnal, a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, commended the panel for holding forums and soliciting student input. "I feel good about [this process]," she said.

Further comments for the search committee can be sent by e-mail to cu-pres-search@cornell.edu.