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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1987)
Editorial In true fairness retain Paul Olum The Stale Hoard of Higher Education's executive com mittee has committed a grievous error in forcing University President Paul Olum to retire in 1989. In the best interests of everyone involved, the board should reconsider the decision. Not only are there a number of major projects currently underway at the University that could fall apart if Olum departs prematurely, but the executive committee’s action failed to take into account the opinions of University faculty and students as well as a multitude of other individuals and organizations. Furthermore, when the decision reached by the board's executive committee was announced Oct. 28. no reason was given as to why Olum was being ousted. Ami none has been heard since. ('.ranted, presidents of the board's public four-year col leges and universities serve under the guidance of the board. It also is true that only executive committee approval is needed to end a president’s employment. Hut statements uttered recently by lioard President James Petersen of Iji Grande and higher education Chancellor William Davis don’t wash. Petersen told the Register-Guard on Oct. 29 that the decision was the In-st way for the board and the University to make a smooth transition to a new administration. And when Davis was cornered by a mob of angry students and faculty members outside Susan Campbell Hall on Thursday, he commented dryly, "1 support the board's right to make a decision." Davis then added that the ex ecutive committee had taken into account student's interests. Needless to say, the committee has taken into account virtually no one’s interests. Olnm has drawn support from city officials, state legislators, labor unions, business leaders and alumni. At Thursday's rally it was revealed by an alumni association representative that chapters around the country have been polled and that more than 100,000 alumni support Olum. In light of the lack of masoning behind the state board's decision, external political pressure may be the real reason Olum is being forced out. It is no secret Olum has publicly taken on and sparred with the board, the Legislature and Gov. Neil Goldschmidt in the past. Goldschmidt, for one, recently questioned Olum's statement that although the quality of University programs was high, faculty salaries were ridiculously low. "You can't have it both ways,” Goldschmidt scolded. The secretive nature of the executive committee in arriv ing at the decision also raises questions about a hidden agen da and whether Oregon’s public meetings law was violated. During the six months the committee mulled over Olum’s fate, no one else was consulted. And during the executive committee's deliberations, no minutes of the meetings were kept. Suspicions and emotions are running high at the mo ment as exhibited by Thursday’s rally and march. The board should reconsider its executive committee's decision if it has any sense for what is best for the University. If the board as a whole decides that Olum should go, it will be thumbing its nose at not only the University com munity, but the entire state. » FUNO^ (Raising* G£TLOST' CONDUCTINC f\ SfAOOTH TRANSITION HERl‘\ Letters Praise Olum The University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors was disturbed to learn that the Ex ecutive Committee of the State Hoard of Higher Education has asked Paul Olum to step down as University president 18 months from now. The reasons given for this decision an? mainly procedural, stressing the orderly transition to a new president and the tim ing of such a transition to coin cide with inception of the 1989-91 biennium. These are not compelling reasons to terminate a man who has been and still is an outstan ding president. Under adverse economic con ditions. Olum has presided over the University when: 1) There has beun consistent improvement in student quality. 2) There has been enrollment expansion when enrollments were projected to fall. 3) There has been a strengthening of the instruc tional and research faculty. -1) He has brought major Oregon Daily Emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam weefc and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. at the University of Oregon. Eugene. Oregon. 97403 The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General SUM Advertising Director Production Manager Classified Manager Assistant to the Publisher Susan Thelen Michele Ross Kelli Mason Jean Ownbey Advertising Sale*: Ten Boring. Gary DeLossa. Tom Leech Catherine lll|a, Rick Marti. Laura McKinney. Heather Mull. Joann Nelson Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorkildaon. Joan Wlldermuth N*ws and Editorial Diaplay Advartialng and Buamaaa Claaalttad Advartialng I. attar Par tact Oraphlca Production Circulation 686 S511 686 3712 686 4343 686 SS11 686 4381 686SS11 Stanley Nelson Scott Msben Eden God bey Angela Muniz/Steven Hoenisch Aaron Knox Shu Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaas Entertainment Sports Segment Editor MC Hutto Night Editor Carolyn lamberson Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special Issues Editor Associate Editors Community Higher Education Administration Student Government Activities General Assignment Entertainment Stephen Maher Michael Drummond Carolyn Lamberson Will Holbert Reporters: Craig Harris Gary Henley. Andrew LaMar. Jett Morgan. Ingrid Petersen. Caml Swanson. Kelvin Wee Photographers: Sherlyn Bjorkgren, Christophs Chabaudie Andy Cripe. Clitt Elzel. John Giustina. Bobbie Lo. Gregor Okorn Andre Ranleri, Ted Shepler. Michael Templeton. Dan Wheeler Production: Sandra Oaller f Ad Coordinator Kelly Alexandre. Ronwin Nicole Ashton, Virginia Baniaga. Laura Carhart. Eva Cohen. Stephanie Drynan. Dolores Fer rero. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Deirdre Kelly, Eliot Knight. Chris Knox. Jung Lee. Bobbie Lo. James Mason. Angie Muniz, Ted Shepler. Linda Sperl ing. Lisa Svanevik. Ingrid White. Kelly Williams. Serena Williams. X Kang Xie federal funding for the expan sion of science facilities on campus. 5) He was chosen by his presidential colleagues to preside over the Pacific-10 Conference. t>) He has vigorously defend ed free speech on campus. 7) He is u firm advocate of his institution's interests. H) He has skillfully negotiated with antagonistic groups to develop a plan for a research park in Eugene, and his presence may lx? a key element in its success. 9) He has been instrumental in the development of plans for an upcoming capital campaign and his involvement is vital for its success. 10) He is mentally and physically in superb condition. Perhaps the state hoard was not fully aware of these ac complishments and many more — when it reached its decision. Had it consulted University faculty, we are sure that it would have extended President Olum's tenure in order to complete such pending projects as an effective provost search, a successful capital campaign, and the launching of the Riverside Research Park. Barry N. Siegel President, University AAUP Home-rule This letter seconds the theme of the President of the Chamber of Commerce. The University will not be a better institution of higher education through ef forts to centralize control of it in the state board or its staff The disagreement is not bas ed on Paul Olum’s-personality nor his age. in my opinion, hut instead upon his defense of the freedom of each university to grow in wisdom and stature and ability to foster knowledge needed for future economfi development and intellectual achievements. President Oium has become a target of the enthusiasts for cen tralized control in a politically appointed board and its staff. With L.B. Day’s death and my absence from the legislature it must appear to the advocates of centralized political control of the institutions of higher educa tion that Olum is isolated and can be put out of their way by putting him out to pasture. We need you to stand up for a strong and vital University and for a strong measure of '‘home rule” powers in its governance. Future generations of Oregon students, workers and scholars will benefit if you do. Edward N. Fadeley Former Slate Senator Superb leader The unanimous vote of the University Assembly in support of Dr. Olum. published in the Oregon Daily Emerald on Nov. 5. deeply underscores a posi tion taken by the University Alumni Association in an Oct 30 letter to the State Hoard of Higher Education. In that letter, we expressed the "strongest possible opposi tion" to the state board's ap parent decision, stating that we were "confident we shared those feelings with the students and faculty of the University." We also expressed a belief that the board had "greatly underestimated the importance of Dr Olum to the University — and the commitment of the University community to him." Our state board consists of people dedicated to public ser vice and higher education in this state. In this case, however, we are convinced they are mak ing a serious mistake. The University Alumni Association joins the faculty and students of the University in asking that our superb president be retained until the 1992 retirement date he hail set for himself. )ohn Gragg President. University of Oregon Alumni Association
