Indianapolis, IN

Mon 01 October 2007

So, I’m thinking about university presidents. It seems that my old alma mater is in the news. Not much news comes out of Terre Haute or from Indiana State University, as compared with Ball State or Purdue or IU or IUPUI. But it seems that ISU is looking for a new university president. Lloyd Benjamin III was president when I was in college there. I graduated in 2002, and from what I remember, there wasn’t much action behind him. I mean, he wasn’t the president where there was a lot of news behind him. Not to say that he didn’t do anything, I’m sure he was a busy man. It’s not a job that I would particularly want to have. But to help them find the right guy for the job, the university has hired a consultant. ISU is paying this consultant a maximum of $90,000 with up to $20,000 in “incidental expenses associated with the search.” According to the board president, he knows it’s a lot of money, but he wanted the assurance that they’d get the best candidates for the job. Hell, I can find you a president for that kind of money. Was this job as a consultant posted on Monster.com? Why didn’t I see it? Is $110,000 really necessary to find a new president? That kind of money would almost pay for four full ride scholarships. But then again, that would be giving back to the students, and that just couldn’t possibly be. Ok, I know, it probably comes out of different budgets. Like, there is $12.47 allocated to students and $1 trillion allocated in spending on frivolous whims. So, ISU’s getting a new president. And I hope they get what they paid for.

: Indiana State University, Lloyd Benjamin III, university presidents, consultants