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.

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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.

Students can make appointments with a tutor by calling or emailing the Writing Center, and logging onto Google Documents at the same time as the tutor and in the same document.

“One student who frequently visits the writing center really appreciated the fact that we can help her outside of writing center, because she has a lot she wants to accomplish and is not always able to make it to Rowan because of her busy schedule,” O’Donnell said. “The introduction of Google Docs has generated a lot of excitement from students and professors alike, as we have received many phone calls asking when students could begin making Google Doc appointments.”

Google’s technology allows users to track changes and revisit edits after the session, as well as allow comments on the document from both the student and the tutor. O’Donnell said the center is using the comments as virtual sticky notes where tutors can write tips and suggestions for students.

“Google Docs provides a multifaceted experience for the student. It allows students to receive tutoring at their convenience and in the comfort of their own space,” O’Donnell said. “If someone cannot fit a visit to the Writing Center into his or her schedule, but still wants to receive the invaluable benefit of a consultation, then Google Docs is ideal.”

The Writing Center is incorporating more new technology into its services, with a Twitter account (@ruwc), and it is working on a Tumblr.

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.”

The news release said, “The assessors determined the department’s compliance with CALEA standards, viewed the agency’s operations, and conducted a public information session. The assessors then made a recommendation for accreditation to the commission, which granted national accreditation on Saturday, March 26.”

Kantner said Rowan decided to get nationally accredited through the credentialing authority rather than the state because there are more standards to adhere to. According to the CALEA website, the commission has 464 standards for law enforcement to meet. Kantner said the state only has about 112 standards.

The commission requires self-assessment, on-site assessment and commission review. Kantner said the on-site assessment required the university to pay assessors from the commission to spend three days at Rowan and observe the law enforcement practices on campus.

“It is an investment that is a necessity, I feel that this investment is showing the public that we are very serious about providing the best service possible, to protect the health, safety and welfare of everyone on this campus,” Kantner said.

According to the news release, “CALEA accreditation addresses nine major law enforcement areas and helps law enforcement agencies strengthen crime prevention, formalize essential management procedures, establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices, improve service delivery, solidify interagency cooperation and coordination and boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency, according to CALEA.”

This process began when the late Tim Michener, former director of public safety, transitioned the university from a mainly security campus to having more police officers.

“(Michener) wanted to say ‘okay, here is a set of standards to make sure these officers offer the best protection possible,’” Kantner said.

The university has to maintain the standards that got it the accreditation, and apply again every three years to keep it.

“It’s going to be a challenge because the university is growing,” Kantner said. “But, it’s a great thing for this university bec when people want to send their kid to college, what is the first thing parents ask? Is it safe.”

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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.

“Even before I set foot on campus, I felt very much in sync with the values to which Roger Williams University is committed – diversity and civil discourse, service to the community, a student-centered approach and a high-quality educational product,” Farish said in a press release. “RWU embodies everything I’ve stood for and worked for my entire career. To be invited to lead this campus is a singular honor and truly a privilege.”

Farish will replace Roy Nirschel, who resigned from RWU in early July 2010. According to The Providence Journal, the decision was mutual between Nirschel and the RWU Board of Trustees.

In January, Rowan’s trustees announced that Provost Dr. Ali Houshmand would serve as interim president. Shortly after, Houshmand took over the day-to-day operations of the university.

“We wish President Farish the best of luck in his new position,” according to an e-mail sent  to campus on Tuesday from the office of the president.

Farish’s contract with Rowan expires June 30 of this year, and July 1 will begin his contract with RWU. The Rhode Island school has not publicly disclosed the details of Farish’s new salary.

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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.

The search firm Storbeck/Pimentel of Media, Pa., was hired by the university and is responsible for submitting names of presidential candidates to the university.

Then, the search committee will come up with criteria for the presidential candidates to meet. Armand said the process will be lengthy, and the search committee’s real job is to take 60 or more candidates and shorten the list to about 12.

The search committee will have 11 members; five BOT members, one student representative, and five people from the university community, whose names will be submitted by Milou.

“The first question is, why 11? It is way too small considering the size of the university,” Milou said.

Armand said the number was reached after researching the subject and interviewing different search firms.

“That was one of the questions that we asked them. That answer was pretty much standard. If you get above (11 members), you may not get your task finished as planned,” Armand said.

Milou said the board did not respond to his requests for specific criteria for the search committee, so the University Senate passed a resolution on March 11, which said the senate would develop its own formal process and criteria.

“That criteria was sent to the board, and they ignored it. It was sent out to the university community, and they embraced it. I have applications coming in,” Milou said. “There was no process or criteria of how these people are selected. There was no way the university community would know what criteria the board would be looking for.”

Armand said the BOT has decided to communicate with the university in what they see as an efficient way, through Dr. Christy Faison, special assistant for campus initiatives.

“There has been a letter that did go out from (BOT Chair) Helene Reed, and it was about the process. We did send a letter to the senate to respond to his concerns,” Armand said. “That’s the way we are handling it, we are being open about this, if (Milou) has concerns we have directed him to our liaison, Dr. Faison.”

Milou said the e-mail from Faison was not enough, and wants more direct communication between the university community and the board.

“(Faison) is the mouthpiece of the board. Through her, the board is communicating what they want, instead of meeting with me and other university leaders,” Milou said.

Armand said the university and the BOT want this process to be as transparent and inclusive as possible. She said after the committee shortens the list of candidates, focus groups will be held and surveys will be conducted to include the entire university community.

“We have a time frame that we are looking at, we want to do a thorough vetting of candidates, and we want to have time for the university in large and small groups and in surveys to contribute their opinion,” Armand said. “We will pay particular attention to what students’ opinions are.”

Milou said he wants to open the lines of communication between the BOT and the university. He said he has invited both Armand and board member and search committee co-chair Dennis DiFlorio to speak at the next University Senate meeting on April 1 April 8, but has not received a response.

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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.

Kegler’s offered a shuttle service from Heritages Dairy Stores on Mullica Hill Road, Campus Terrace Apartments and Barnes & Noble.

“We are still in the process of determining the exact shuttle schedule, but judging by the grand opening, it will very foreseeably become a staple of the establishment,” Vogel said.

Joe Ciuffo, senior marketing major, said he likes having another place to go in town.

“I really like that they aren’t competing with Landmark, rather taking the nights that weren’t huge there in the first place. It is always nice to have another option, and another place to go with your friends. I’m also hoping that the competition keeps the prices at a good level, since gas isn’t.”

Vogel said the goal is not to be in competition with Landmark, but rather to reach a different demographic.

“One of the bar’s goals is not to be in direct competition with Landmark. Kegler’s is a grass roots bar, designed for the local demographic and consumer, by the local demographic and consumer,” he said.

Kegler’s has drink specials every night, and offers karaoke on Wednesdays. According to Kegler’s website, the bar will always serve $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers.

On Friday nights, the bar offers a beat the clock special. At 9 p.m., beer is 25 cents and every hour the price raises by a quarter.

“I liked the fact that the beers got bigger from 25 cents to 50 cents,” said Ashley Jones, junior education major.

Vogel said the bar is willing to be flexible, and the group is determined to cater to Rowan students.

“Kegler’s is what we make of it. It is designed as local bar to meet local demands, especially the demands of college kids. As the demand of the Rowan college student changes, so will Kegler’s,” Vogel said.  ”We are always open to any and all feedback (good or bad) and will continue to work progressively to making Kegler’s everything Rowan students and the local community wants it to be.”

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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.

And Tornetta gave Collingswood High School special honors. Tornetta said Collingswood runs one of the largest high school blood drives in the region.

“It’s nice for them (Collingswood High School) to get involved with something like this, and get in the habit of giving blood,” said Kathy Goulburn, who is a Collingswood High School math teacher, and also acts as student council adviser.

According to the Red Cross, blood donation is beneficial not only to the receiver, but also to the giver. Donors get information such as the blood pressure, type and hemoglobin levels.

Kim Roos, a Collingswood math teacher and junior class adviser, said that this year, the blood drive is more important than ever. Because of Southern New Jersey’s weather conditions this past winter, snow has stopped people from going out and donating.

“It saves lives,” Roos said of donating blood. “We have a severe blood shortage now, and this is important.”

The Red Cross recently introduced its Recovery 2011 project, which encourages blood drive sponsors to go above-and-beyond their yearly goals.

“Since Jan. 1, across the country, we’ve been unable to collect approximately 30,000 units of blood—due to inclement weather. Locally, we are about 3,000 units off from our overall blood supply,” Tornetta, of Red Cross, said. “We are still playing catch-up.”

Collingswood High School Student Council Secretary Jen Morrison, 17, said the borough’s annual drive is an event even students look forward to participating in.

“We get to represent the Red Cross, and our school, with this event. It’s a good way to get people out and enjoying something that’s for a good cause,” Morrison said.

Tornetta said the American Red Cross advocates the importance of introducing high school students to blood donation.

“We introduce them to the idea of donating blood at an early age, with the idea that it is a good experience—and not a painful process,” said Tornetta. “Those (the high school students) are the people who are still donating five or 10 years later.”

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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.”

Houshmand combined University’s Ethics Liaison Officer, Human Resources, Equity and Diversity and Employee and Labor Relations. Robert Zazzalli, previously Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, will oversee all of these departments.

“It is about efficiency, and what departments work best with others. There are different alignments of the university that two departments would be better working closely than if they were apart,” Cardona said.

Previously, Public Safety and Athletics, which were previously under the oversight of Student Affairs, will now report directly to the office of the president.

Former Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Carmen Jordan-Cox has “requested to return to the classroom,” according to the e-mail.

In her place, Dean of Students Richard Jones will oversee the office of Student Life (previously Student Affairs). The rest of the semester will serve as a transition period for the department, and Jordan-Cox will begin teaching in the fall.

“What happens is there is an expansion and a contraction of divisions. In the expansion mode, a few years back, public safety and athletics were added,” Cardona said. “And now we are looking at how we are going to look at the university today, but also tomorrow and moving into the future, and you have to look at what makes sense to be where they are.”

The Division of Administration and Finance has been divided into three departments: general counsel, Division of Operations and Facilities and the Division of Finance.

“Employee relations was under administration and finance, but what does facilities have to do with human resources? By creating a division of employee and labor relations, you took all of the offices from two and brought them into one division,” Cardona said.

Rick Hale, Vice President for Administration and Finance, has been acting general counsel on an unofficial basis for about one year, since the position has been empty.

He serves as a head legal-counsel for the university, a position Rowan created in order to have legal aid on campus rather than using the attorney general’s office in Trenton. Barbara Kleva, who retired last year, previously held the general position.

This general counsel on campus is in addition to the outside law firm hired by the Board of Trustees for $50,000 in October.

Cardona said this allows Hale to focus on the legal aspect of partnerships such as the one which created Cooper Medical School.

Michael Harris, previous Vice President of Facilities Operations, will now be the Vice President of Operations and Facilities, which will now include Events, Conferencing and Scheduling, Environmental Health and Safety (previously Public Safety) and Procurement Services.

Dr. Thomas Gallia, Vice President of University Relations and President’s Chief of Staff, will now also oversee media and public relations as well as university publications (previously run from the president’s office) and university events.

These changes will be in full effect by next semester, but the transition period for these departments has already begun.

Cardona said former President Donald Farish has little to do with the changes, and is instead focusing on transitioning out of his position, attending different functions and gatherings, and finishing projects he had been working on for the BOT.

“Whenever there is a change in leadership, an opportunity to make other changes and realignments occurs. With Farish, he wasn’t really involved in that piece, because he was looking at ‘okay well my term is going to end’, but when there is a change in leadership there is an opportunity to be more efficient,” Cardona said. “It’s a lot of change, and if we do it right, you wont even notice the change.”

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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?

The Board of Trustees revised Farish’s contract in December, and in the contract it states, “President Farish agrees to continue to perform any and all duties as may be reasonably requested by the Board of Trustees consistent with his position as president, be cooperative in working with Rowan employees and abide by all policies, procedures, rules and regulations of Rowan during this time period.”

But what happens if the BOT doesn’t give Farish anything to do?

With all of the politics and personality conflicts involved in Farish’s contract being terminated a full year early, it wouldn’t be surprising if the BOT let Farish skate by on a no-show job just to take the decision making away from him. But is that what is best for the university?

According to Cardona, Houshmand is currently acting as president for day-to-day duties on top of his job as provost. When it comes to jobs, like creating the university’s budget for the next academic year, Houshmand will be pulling double duty. Something as delicate as the budget, especially in a time of state-funding cuts, should be handled by as many experience people as possible. Having Farish and Houshmand on the same team during the process could make a world of difference.

Through this entire process, the BOT has been quiet. There has been little word about the formation of the transition team to find Farish’s replacement. There has been little outreach from the board to the faculty, staff and students. All of this is echoing exactly what got the university into this mess: zero communication down the ranks.

If nothing else, students and faculty deserve to know who is in charge. Splitting the duties of president doesn’t sound like an efficient way to run a university, and paying Farish to do very little is certainly not helping anyone.

The board needs to come out with a clear plan, outlined for the students. Not communicating leaves room for rumors and uncertainty, and fear of the future. The BOT needs to start turning the view of the campus towards the future, but that can’t happen if we are uncertain of the present.

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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.

“We must make what some may consider to be dramatic changes—and quickly. If we are to achieve even half of our potential, we must take a fresh look at how to continue to improve and expand our academic offerings. We must not wait for the state to provide more funding, but instead we must become even more self-sufficient. Most importantly, we must all come together for the betterment of the institution,” Houshmand said in the e-mail.

Cardona said that he was unaware whether Houshmand would be receiving a salary increase. Currently, the provost is paid $317, 205 annually.

The BOT bought out Farish’s contract for $600,000 over two years, including health benefits. His former contract ran until June 30, 2012.
As president, Farish was paid $300,000 annually in addition to receiving housing and other amenities provided by the university. In 2002, Rowan purchased Farish’s home in Woodbury for $685,000, and spent an additional $701,000 renovating it through private donations, according to a 2002 Whit article.

Cardona said there will be an interim provost named once Houshmand takes presidential duties full time, and that most likely it will be through shifting job titles within the university.

In the e-mail to faculty, Houshmand said, “In the coming weeks, I will announce several initiatives to move the University forward, beginning with developing next year’s budget.  Please watch for these announcements and be prepared to join your colleagues and me to develop the best possible future for Rowan University.”

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