Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for May 12, 2006 DUNN'S CHALLENGE

From the Paducah Sun...

Randy Dunn was chosen as the university's president by a 7-4 vote.

By Vanessa Childers Special to the Sun

MURRAY, Ky. - New Murray State University President Randy Dunn faces a challenge familiar to his predecessors: He was the faculty's last choice for the job.

"I think that the board will support him, but he will have to win over the faculty, but so did King (Alexander)," MSU Board of Regents Chairman Don Sparks said after Dunn was approved by a 7-4 vote Thursday night.

Alexander, the former president, resigned at the end of last year to become president of the University of California at Long Beach.

Sparks said he had told the board he would vote for whoever had majority support, but Dunn wasn't his first choice.

"Dr. Dunn deserves our support," Sparks said. "He's our president."

Regents Scott Ellison, Marilyn Buchanon, Beverly Ford, Lori Dial and Peggy Hays also voted to hire Dunn. Regents Bill Adams, Terry Strieter, Alan Stout and Vickie Travis voted against it.

Strieter, the faculty regent, said he did not vote for Dunn because the faculty did not support his candidacy.

"I think by the vote the faculty took last week, Randy Dunn was considered the least favorite of the three (finalists). ... We really prefer the board go back and revisit the issue ... like we decided Friday," Strieter said.

Winfield Rose, professor of government, law and international affairs, agreed the search committee should bring in additional candidates later this year.

After the board voted, he spoke with at least one board member to voice his disagreement with the regents' decision.

"We could do so much better, but little minds produce little results," Rose said before he left the meeting room.

Dunn, 48, is state school superintendent in Illinois, overseeing the state's elementary and secondary school system. He is on leave from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he has been employed since 1995. He is a professor and former chairman of the department of educational administration and higher education there.

Ellison, the student regent, said last Friday's meeting came too soon after Dunn's visit and did not allow him to get ample feedback from students. However, in the last week, student feedback seemed to support Dunn's candidacy.

Travis said there was "inappropriate" and "behind-the-scenes" discussion about the presidency that frustrated her during the search process.

"I fear the decision we are about to make is not in the best interest of the university," Travis said before the board voted.

Sparks said while their opinions and means varied, the board members have the same goal: for the university to continue moving forward and "not lose a step."

"I really believe everyone in this room has the best interest of the university at heart," Sparks said.

Sparks called Dunn during the open session to announce the board's decision.

Dunn said during his campus visit Friday that he could not take office until January 2007, but Sparks said at the meeting that Dunn could begin as early as Dec. 1. His contract terms have not been negotiated.

A news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Barkley Room of Murray State's Curris Center. Dunn is scheduled to attend.