Trustees need to communicate with the rest of campus

Rowan’s Board of Trustees recently tasked the University Senate to submit seven names to be part of the search committee to find a new president.

University Senate President Dr. Eric Milou asked the board to be more specific about the type of person they were looking for to be on the search committee. The trustees sent a message through their liaison, Dr. Christy Faison, telling the senate that they are looking for people that are knowledgeable and passionate about the university.

Obviously, in the search for the next president, that is not enough criteria for the search team. So Milou and the Senate passed a resolution with their own criteria, and rightfully so. In addition, Milou invited the trustees to come speak in front of the senate at the next meeting, but said he received no response.

There is a giant lapse in communication between the leaders of the university, which has the potential to be detrimental to the process of finding our next president. If the leaders of Rowan can’t stay on the same page, we’re all in trouble.

We applaud Milou for realizing the gravity of what the senate was asked to do, but it is unnerving to see that the trustees are unable to provide clear and specific criteria on what they are looking for in a search committee candidate.

Whoever is chosen to be Rowan’s next President will have the power to shape the future of the university. The students understand this, the University Senate understands this; it is time for the trustees to get on board and join the discussion.

To view this article, click here.

© Copyright 2011 — The Whit. All Rights Reserved

Writing Center incorporates Google Documents into its services

Students looking for a tutoring session don’t have to leave their couch anymore.

Through Google Documents and its real-time editing capabilities, students and tutors can log on to and be editing the same document from two different locations.

“This allows the student and tutor to edit the document together. They can both make changes and see what the other person is doing at the same time,” said Meghan O’Donnel, writing arts graduate student and writing consultant for the Writing Center.

Rowan Public Safety receives national accreditation

Last Monday, it was announced that the Rowan University’s police force will be the first university force in the state to receive national accreditation, as well as the first force in the county to receive the honor.

For the last five years, Rowan Public Safety has been working on receiving national accreditation for its law enforcement efforts on campus.

Michael Kantner, Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and the Office of Emergency Management said, “It is a commitment to excellence. When law enforcement and public safety agencies undertake the process of being accredited, they are saying ‘I will make sure we will live up to the highest standards in our profession.’”

The university sought accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

“Rowan Public Safety takes great pride in the professionalism and leadership of our officers,” said senior director and head of the accreditation team, Reed Layton in a news release. “CALEA accreditation means that we’re achieving the highest possible professional standards as we serve the community.”

Farish takes position as new president of Roger Williams University

President Dr. Donald Farish has accepted a position as president at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, concluding his 13-year run as Rowan University’s president.

RWU announced Tuesday that Farish will be the tenth president in the university’s history. Farish told the Rowan trustees he is resigning at the end of this semester, one year before his contract was to expire.

Farish was a finalist in four presidential searches, but said at a press conference on Tuesday that he was hoping he would be chosen by the Rhode Island school.

Faculty senate wants more input in the search for new president

The search for the next Rowan president is about to begin, but the University Senate and the Board of Trustees are already experiencing a miscommunication.

A lack of process and formal criteria, as well as direct communication, has some in the senate frustrated.

The BOT requested that the University Senate, by tomorrow, submit the names of seven candidates to be chosen for the search committee to find the next Rowan president. Current president Dr. Donald Farish told the trustees he is resigning at the end of this semester, one year before his contract was to expire.

Dr. Eric Milou, mathematics professor and University Senate President, said he requested that the board offer more specific criteria for membership on the search committee for Farish’s replacement, but got no response.

“We thought the criteria that we announced was good based on what we were looking for, which was an inclusive search committee. Some of the criteria was looking for people that are passionate, the senate was actually asked to contribute rèsumès or whatever they wanted to that process,” board co-chair Barbara Armand said.

Kegler’s Bar opens in Glassboro, offers students more option

Kegler’s Bar: Tap In celebrated its grand opening last weekend, welcoming students with 25 cent drink specials and $2 shots.

SGA President Jon J. Vogel took a class project and turned it into a new hangout in Glassboro.

“The process actually began as  a ‘class project’ stemming from my Management Field Consulting class that all entrepreneurship majors have to take. Originally myself, Leah Hershey, Ilene Fritsch and Dennis Todero (director of operations, Kegler’s Bar) were involved,” Vogel said.

Last Friday, the bar opened its doors to a large crowd of Rowan students and local residents, located in Glassboro Bowl and Recreation on Delsea Drive.

Vogel said the grand opening brought in 489 people, and he received positive feedback.

“We thought it was important to get involved because an opportunity existed with this venture/initiative and we felt that we could help Dennis Todero exploit this opportunity and provide a service to Rowan students and the Glassboro community,” Vogel said.

Annual Student Council Blood Drive Collects 150 Pints Friday

Collingswood High School students streamed in and out of the gymnasium doors Friday, taking time out of their day to donate blood and platelets at the school’s annual Red Cross blood drive.

The gym was filled with donation tables and Red Cross professionals, and students were scattered between the recovery area—with water and cookies—and the seating section, waiting for their turns to donate.

Organized by the high school’s student council, the blood drive has been an annual event for more than 25 years.

Last year, student council broke their own record—by having more than 170 people donate in one day.

The school ended this year’s drive with 150 units of blood collected for the Red Cross.

Red Cross Communications Manager Anthony Tornetta said both high school and college blood drives make up a large part of the Red Cross’ blood supply.

Houshmand restructures administration as first order of business

In an effort to consolidate departments and conserve money during budget season, Interim President Dr. Ali Houshmand’s first order of business was to rearrange the jobs and titles of several faculty members.

Houshmand sent an e-mail to the campus detailing his personnel decisions and how they will effect the university. According to the e-mail and Media and Public Relations Director Joe Cardona, the changes will have no direct impact on the budget for the university.

“While we have made many important changes during the past several years, a realignment of some divisions and reassignment of some duties will create a more efficient administrative structure,” Houshmand said in the e-mail. “These changes will not increase the overall salary budget for the university. The reassignments will be subject to review and approval by the new president.”

BOT needs to outline the new chain of command

With the announcement that Provost Dr. Ali Houshmand has taken over the daily activities of university president, rumors are circling that Dr. Donald Farish is not even on campus to perform any duties at all.

The president’s office did not return phone calls from the Whit, but last week Joe Cardona, Director of Media and Public Relations said that Farish is still considered president, but Houshmand’s “duties have expanded.”

Cardona would not elaborate on Houshmand’s duties, but said, “(Farish’s) roles are assigned by the Board of Trustees.”

The question stands: who is really running this place?

Houshmand takes over daily operations of the university

Provost Dr. Ali Houshmand is now taking over more day-to-day duties at the university, formerly handled by outgoing president Dr. Donald Farish.

The Board of Trustees announced on Jan. 20 that Houshmand is Interim President as of June 30, the last day of Farish’s revised contract.

Farish will continue presidential duties that are specified by the BOT, but Houshmand is taking care of duties such as next year’s budget.

“Farish is still president, he has roles that are assigned by the BOT. I won’t get into specifics, but the provost is handling the day-to-day operations,” said Joe Cardona, Director of Media and Public Relations.

On Tuesday, Houshmand announced to the faculty through an e-mail that he expects a smooth transition and plans to focus on budget planning.