2B - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 6, 1996 THE I2TH PRESIDENT Bollinger is a familiar face for 'U' officials. it1 disagree with him very deeply on a number of ... issues." - Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) By Jodi S. Cohen Daily Staff Reporter Lee Bollinger's old friends in the University administration are excited for him to come home. After two years away from the University, they look forward to work- ing with the former Law School dean once again - this time with Bollinger as their leader and the 12th University president. "I thought this was a wonderful moment in the history of the University," said Vice President for University Relations Walter Harrison. "Lee has always been one of the people I most admire." Bollinger will succeed former University President James Duderstadt, who appointed Bollinger as Law School dean early in his presi- dency. "I have always been very fond of him," Duderstadt said. "I think (he) and (his wife) Jean will make a marvelous first couple." Duderstadt said Bollinger will pro- vide intellectual leadership for the University. Bollinger's courage and strength in his convictions and his "strong sense of values" will make him a strong University spokesperson, Duderstadt said. "I believe strongly that presidents should speak out," Duderstadt said. "That is what higher education needs right now. People of deep conviction and courage. Lee Bollinger has both of these." Harrison said he has known Bollinger since 1986 and worked with him when he was both a faculty mem- ber and then a dean. "I have always had a great deal of respect and affection for him," Harrison said. "He is wise, considerate, thought- ful. He has a great sense of humor." Harrison said that Bollinger's knack for building consensus led many of the University's constituencies to support his candidacy. "The best thing about Lee is that he is a good listener and he tries hard to understand people's viewpoints on a variety of subjects," Harrison said. LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg said Bollinger's leadership skills will be cru- cial to taking the University into the bly some things youc there to here." 21st century. "He is very intelligent and energetic and is very good at engaging people and bringing them together to consider where we're headed," Goldenberg said. "That's the kind of leadership we really need." Goldenberg said Bollinger was a "terrific colleague" whenI School dean. education, but there will likely be more pressing problems in the begin- ning of his term, including decisions about the future of University Hospitals. Hartford said Bollinger brings with him experience from Dartmouth College, one of the pre-eminent institu- tions for undergraduate education. "It has been something Dartmouth has historically taken great pride in," Hartford said. "I think there are proba- "I thought this was a wonderful moment in the history of the University." - Walter Harrison Vice president for University relations can translate from More specif- ically, Hartford said she's inter- ested to hear his opinions on the expansion of living-learn- ing programs. Duderstadt said Bollinger's love for the University set him apart from the other three finalists - all of whom expressed a he served as Law "He was somebody who I think all of us respected and he was somebody who, whenever there was a difficult issue, his views were well thought-out and well considered," Goldenberg said. "I sought his advice and valued it. I hated to see him leave," she said. Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford said Bollinger has the potential to improve undergraduate devotion for higher education in gener- al. "While I think the other candidates were very strong, Lee probably has a deeper sense of appreciation and love for the University," Duderstadt said. Harrison praised the regents for working through a difficult situation and uniting to select a first-class presi- dent. "We are all winners," Harrison said. "He is going to be a great, great presi- dent." FILE PHOTO/Daily Former University President James Duderstadt, who is now an Engineering profes- sor, praised Bollinger yesterday for his "deep conviction" and "courage." Hhas a strongcm ten to academic freedom." -Regent Shirley McFee (R-Battle Creek) Student gov 1 1 leaars pease TV~tl Sel~t1w itLee Bollinger will be the intellectual leader of the University." - Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills) By Ann Stewart Daily Staff Reporter Students who have kept up with the search for the 12th University president said they are pleased with yesterday's selection of Dartmouth Provost Lee Bollinger. "He's someone students will really respect and like to work with," said Probir Mehta, vice president of the Michigan Student Assembly. Many student government leaders said they felt Bollinger's background with the University would be an asset to him as president. Bollinger served as dean of the Law School for seven years. "(He) brings with him an impas- sioned love for Michigan," said MSA President Fiona Rose. Students also said Bollinger's two years as provost of Dartmouth College would give him perspective. "It's important also to come back with a different perspective on U-M and implement programs that would improve U-M," said John Lopez, MSA Rackham representative and president of Rackham Student Government. Some student leaders said they wor- ried Bollinger's ties to the University may prevent him from making improve- ments. "The other three people came from different public institutions that have faced really large cuts in funding that forced them to re-prioritize what they were doing as a public institution,' said Paul Scublinsky, LSA-Student Government president. Many said they hoped Bollinger could re-adapt to a larger, public uni- versity. "I would caution him to know that Dartmouth is not the same as U-M. Different rules apply in public universi- ties," said Anne Marie Ellison, chair of MSA's Student Rights Commission. Most leaders said they were impressed with Bollinger's record on free speech. "I've seen a number of instances where Michigan hasn't been a free- speech-friendly place," Ellison said. "Having someone who is a First Amendment scholar may bode well for the state of expression on campus." Many students said that whether or not Bollinger will be an improvement over former President James Duderstadt remains to be seen, but in many areas they were hopeful. "I think President Duderstadt had a different emphasis, and I think that both the liberal arts and discourse on campus as a whole will be improved (under Bollinger)," said Sean Byrne, MSA Law representative. Many said a lawsuit against the University that tar- geted the search as violating the Open Meetings Act hin- dered the process. "My concern is how this will affect Michigan and other universities Mehf'ta in the future when they search for a president," Lopez said. "What the judge ordred basically prohibited conversa- tion between regents regarding the FILE PHOTO/Daily On the eve of her own election last March, MSA President Fiona Rose encourages a student to vote. finalists." Most students were satisfied with the amount of time the regents took to select a president. Rose, who attended the Presidential Search Committee meeting yesterday at which Bollinger was chosen, said she felt the Board of Regents was correct in acting "with deliberate speed." "There was no point in belaboring the issue," Rose said. Scublinsky, however, said he thought the regents "kind of rushed" the deci- sion and that they should have "left a little time to think." Though they said there was always room for more, MSA leaders said they were happy with the amount of student participation. However, many students not involved in student government said neither the search, nor the decision made a real impact on them. "It didn't really have a lot to do with me personally so I didn't really even look at any articles about it;' said LSA sophomore Cindy Apotheker. Many students said they knew too little about the candidates to have any reaction, and with both upcoming midterms and the national elections occupying their time, students said they were too bogged down to pay attention. "It's just not something that I think about because I have a lot to do and that seems far removed from what my short term goals are" said LSA senior Amit Bhatt. But some students said the preside of the University could have an impact on their college careers "It definitely affects students because presidents push their agendas as they do anywhere" said LSA senior Dawn Osterholt. "Duderstadt was very pro- infrastructure improvement. That's where a lot of money went to:' But some students said they didn't think the search could contribute 4 improvements in the new president: "It's all so bureaucratic," said LSA senior Robert Hunt. "(The University's) just going to be run the same way." Provost Bollinger needs everyone on this board to support him." - Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) i ,: v