22 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2002

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S he says she is close with her family, tances at Iowa understand her decision to leave
prefers to start the day by 5:00 a.m. and the state when offered the position at Michigan.
end it by 9:00 p.m. and describes herself "They understand. Sure they do. They know I'll
as someone who is open, honest and informal. still love Iowa too."
And while those things may be up for debate Coleman, who is the only woman president
once she arrives, the most important thing of a Big Ten school - though the University
about her is undisputed: She is the person of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and the Indi-
selected by the Board of Regents last week to ana University at Bloomington both have
become the 13th president of the University female chancellors at their campuses - has
of Michigan. had a lot of experience with challenges while
Mary Sue Coleman will soon be in charge of working to combat Iowa's financial problems
many important decisions, including speaking for and other concerns, but some believe she will
the University on issues like affirmative action face a new set of obstacles in Ann Arbor -
and the Ed Martin case. But the University of including everything from maintaining the
Iowa president has another important decision to University of Michigan's sought-after level of
make first - who to cheer for during sports diversity to discovering the truth about what
events. happened between former Ford auto worker
"Well of course, I'll root for Michigan when Ed Martin and the four Michigan players who
Michigan is playing Iowa, and I'll root for Iowa he has admitted to loaning illegitimate money
when they are playing anybody else," she said, during their high school and college careers.
adding that she believes her friends and acquain- Even size-wise, Coleman has spent the last
seven years heading the 28,768 students at
Iowa. The University of Michigan student
body, at 53,000, is almost twice that.
But she showed no fear of the challenge of
heading such a larger school, instead saying
that she has a lot to learn about the University.
"I think I'm very experienced and I look
forward to the challenge. It's a wonderful

university," she said, adding that, as president,
"you always have good people around to help.
The president certainly doesn't do anything
alone."
"It's a great place. I just want everything get-
ting better."
She said she sees the role of president as hav-
ing many facets.
"It's the visible symbol of the University, it can
often be the voice of the University ... (the presi-
dent) can give the message of the University to
the entire world."
Coleman spoke fondly of Iowa, where she
said she has "loved every day" of being there.
She added that "it's bittersweet to leave."
"I am close to a lot of people here," she said,
adding that during her time at Iowa, she has made
a lot of memories and has faced her challenges.
"We've made a lot of progress ... and it has been
great (working at Iowa). I've really, really enjoyed
it."
She said she hopes the legacy she leaves
behind at Iowa and what she will be remembered
for after she eventually leaves the University of
Michigan are one and the same.
"I hope I'll be remembered as a positive advo-
cate, untiring advocate, for the university and
what it was trying to accomplish, and trying to
help it move forward," she said. "And I hope peo-

ple will think the same thing about me at Michi-
gan ... I don't think (colleges) can rest on their
laurels. We always have to be looking at ways to
move forward."
She stressed that she would like members of
the University community and academica to
focus on her accomplishments as a leader and
not as a woman, saying that she would like to
be remembered simply "for being a good
president."
"I said at the press conference - and I
believe it absolutely - that being president is
a tough job. I look forward to doing it the best
I can possibly do it," she said. "I'm going to
try to work hard for Michigan and for the stu-
dents of Michigan, and we won't always
agree."
She added that she tries to listen and be open
and accessible, especially to students.
"I am pretty down to earth, informal, and I hope
the people at Michigan will like that," she said.
With regard to moving forward on issues cur-
rently facing the University, Coleman said she is
looking forward to starting her work on the many
initiatives already underway, including projects
focused on the undergraduate experience and
information technology.
She said she would like to see one of the Uni-
versity's biggest projects - the Life Sciences

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