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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us June 14, 2006 Bates: Reconsider new SOU choice Some local community leaders believe Earl Potter should have been the pick By John Darling For the Tidings Some community leaders are expressing disappointment in the selection of a Texas college administrator as Southern Oregon University’s new president over community “prime mover” Earl Potter, SOU’s executive vice president and provost. Saying he was “deeply disappointed” that the state Board of Higher Education last week “made a decision completely opposite from local input about who was the best candidate,” Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, said he has asked the chancellor and governor to reconsider their choice of Mary Cullinan, vice president and provost for academic affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. “For regional universities, local input should be the key factor and that’s not what happened,” said Bates. “The local community made a very strong recommendation as to the best choice, the person with the connections, the proven record of effectiveness and that was completely ignored.” The Rogue Valley Council of Governments board had unanimously endorsed Potter, said Executive Director Mike Cavallaro. “He is a prime mover who brought together the four major sectors — public, nonprofit, education and private sectors — and without him, SOU would be where it was, an off-to-the-side entity,” Cavallaro said. Bill Ihle, a member of the SOU president search committee and senior vice president for corporate relations with Harry and David, said he told Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner that Potter “knew all the issues, had strong community support, already demonstrated excellent performance and could hit the ground running.” The search committee screened 80-plus applicants and recommended the final three to the state board, without ranking them. The third finalist was Peter Hoff, a professor and former president of the University of Maine-Orno. With expressions of support for Potter came varying levels of acceptance for the board’s final selection. Bates said he had “no particular problem with who they chose,” but wanted the selection process changed so that community leaders and other university presidents in the state played a major role in the decision about new presidents. Bates said he talked to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s staff Friday and it “seemed unlikely” the decision would be changed. The search committee’s student member, Associated Students President Kurt Manceau, said Cullinan is well-qualified “or we wouldn’t put her in the top three.” A new face, he added, has the advantage of bringing in new ideas. “I’m happy,” he said. Alex Pawlowski, area vice president of Liberty Bank, said he was “personally disappointed, because Dr. Potter has done so many good things for the university and community, but being a professional and a member of this community, we have to move on and support the university and the choice of the board.” Lumber executive Howard Sohn of Roseburg, a member of both the search committee and the Board of Higher Education, said the board appointed both community and university people to the search committee, invited the public to all interviews and solicited feedback on its selection Web site. But “only the search committee, the board and the chancellor’s office had access to the full range of information” on finalists, he said. Added Sohn, “It’s unfortunate that there is opposition after the fact. I can understand the disappointment of some who championed other candidates. I talked with Dr. Potter and he accepted the results graciously and is working to make the new leadership a success. I hope his supporters in the community and everyone who cares about SOU follow his lead.” Potter called the search committee “credible and open, with broad representation,” and added that while “no one likes rejection,” he is “committed to seeking partnership with the new president.” Cullinan, in a phone interview from Texas, said that when there are strong candidates for a top job and high interest, “the reaction will be mixed” on the final choice. “If folks are willing to work with me — and a lot have told me they are — then I know we can do great things together,” she said. Her top goals, Cullinan said, are funding, enrollment and retention of students through the end of their degrees — as well as the “absolutely vital” job of staying connected with the Southern Oregon community. Cullinan said she has had brief talks with Potter and “I’m so glad Dr. Potter has already forged those loops and I want to start working with him.” Cullinan added, “I understand the senator’s Bates’ concerns” and that she plans to visit here in June and July to work on team-building in the community and on campus — and to fully engage that process when she moves here in early August. Her job begins Sept. 1. . DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams