v w wU w -IRr v 4 -The Michigan Daily - Thursday, May 30, 2002 THE 13TH PRESIDENT Faculty 'excited' by choice, surprised White not chosen By Shoshana Hurand and Karen Schwartz Daily Staff Reporters Dropping the second bombshell of the summer, regents appointed University of Iowa President Mary Sue Coleman the 13th president of the University of Michigan. The decision, announced early yesterday morning, elicited a general feeling of approval from faculty across the disciplines. As the first woman president in the school's history, Coleman's appointment was met with enthusi- asm by many female faculty mem- bers. "I'm very excited," Graduate Stu- dent Instructor Lani Pascual said. "Thirteen presidents and our first woman." She included Coleman's background in education and research as major qualities the new president will bring to the school. Medical Prof. Denise Kirschner was also pleased that the selection committee and regents chose to hire a woman with a science back- ground. She said it shows that the university is open to leaders of dif- ferent genders and those with a sci- entific background. "It's different when a woman takes the helm," Kirschner said, adding that women have their own approach to doing things and that it will bring a different perspective to the administration. Yet some University faculty did not see gender as an issue in the appointment. "I don't view this as a landmark," said Dennis Severance, professor of computer and information systems at the Business School. Severance added that he does not feel the gen- der of the individual should have an effect on the hiring process. He said he was surprised interim President B. Joseph White was not selected given that he felt White was the general favorite during the inter- view process. He added that "if the committee has done their work then I'm quite satisfied." Coleman's appointment did not surprise History lecturer Jonathan Marwil. "She's research-oriented," he said, adding that with her background in the sciences, she probably under- stands "the politics" of sciences. "Given Michigan's plans to devel- op the life sciences, her appoint- ment makes a lot of sense," he said. LSA Dean Shirley Neuman spoke highly of Coleman in an e-mail written yesterday. "This is a great appointment of a very strong scholar with a distin- guished record of university admin- istration. We're tremendously excited," Neuman said. "And we're also very pleased to have appointed Michigan's first female president." Recognizing Coleman as "a fine scientist," Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Gilbert Omenn called her a "national leader in high- er education" and noted her interest in the big picture. "She is broadly interested in the entire university," he said. CHANGING OF THE GUARD "I'm going to be on the job until August 1, when (future) President Coleman arrives. - B. Joseph White Interim University President | DEBBIE MIZEL/Dal FILE PHOTO Incoming President Mary Sue Coleman (left) will officially replace former University President Lee Bollinger (above) Aug. 1 after a five month search. *.J Bollinger left in ~ ~> .December 2001 to assume the top position ~ ~ at Columbia University. The University Board of Regents moved interim President B. Joseph White (above left) into his current position J an. 1, 2002. During the five months that followed, ~ the regents handed the task of finding suitable candidates to replace Bollinger over to a 16- member committee chaired by Rackham Dean Earl Lewis, who said the committee investigated more than DEBBIE MIZEL/Daily 200 nominees. - Additional FREE Help - Expert Instructors - Current Test Materials . Online Learning " Satisfaction Guarantee Mention this ad when you enroll in any full course and receive $50 off the cost! 800/2REVIEW www.princetonreview.com WHITE Continued from Page 1. what they mean ... what the future may hold," he said. White also said he dedicated his peri- od of service as interim president to the memories of the 18 alumni who died at the World Trade Center and their loved ones. "That set a very high standard for me in terms of the quality of the job I feel I needed to do here. I feel that's been accomplished," he said, As for the future, White said he plans to be "on the job" until his title expires Aug. 1. Until then, White said his focus will be on ensuring that the routine work of the president's office continues unin- terrupted and meeting with Coleman so there is a smooth transition. "The single most important thing is that I do my best to help her understand the culture at the University," he said, referring to the variety of elements and departments that make up the University and community. After August, he said he plans to return to faculty work, teaching and research and "gradually resume the life I was engaged in a year ago at this time." White complimented Coleman on her comments earlier in the day and praised her leadership style. "President Cole- man's remarks after the election were warm, funny, heartfelt and down to earth and if I were to choose the leadership approach that is valued at the University, all those words would be part of it." Good IoJ &dGreat Service Your Ilace or OUPS!!! Everyday 10:30am until 4am!!! Chicago Deep Dish & Taditional Iizza pasta Wings s T urgers 2C ipatis Lunch Specials Kids Menu peservations TUjen for Large Groups e 734-564-8686 "Of all the pizzas we tasted, pizza house was the only one that actually drew raves. I would definitely order this." -Ann Arbor Observer Voted Eest: pizza Chipatis ae Out Late Migi Munckies Overall estaurant Dinner Fries Pestaurant for Large Groups rMichigan Daily Peadership poll'02 Plenty of parking! Forest St. Structure now open! I i PRESIDENT Continued from Page 1 named president Coleman said. "Iowa is a fabulous place to be" she added. "I was very happy at Iowa. Many good things were happening at Iowa.... I agreed to become a candidate because the University (of Michigan) is such a great university," she said. As president at Iowa, Coleman said she was involved with students on a number of levels, ranging from making Madonna videos of herself for the school's Dance Marathon to working with student organizations and student government to making herself available for student com- ments. The president always makes an appearance at the school's Dance Marathon, she said. "I always make a fool of myself," Coleman added. Besides her Madonna imperson- ation, Coleman said she would "like students to know that I'm an open per- son, accessible, that I care about the ideas students have." At Iowa, she visited sororities and fra- ternities, answered student e-mail and started a fireside chat program co-spon- sored by the University of Iowa student government, where 500 students a month are invited to informally meet and discuss topics of interest, she said, adding that the event is publicized and open to all student, regardless of if they receive an invitation, she said. Coleman is the first woman president at the University, but said she did not feel that being a woman holding the title would change the job description. "This is a hard job, a stressful job for men and women and I think the pres- sures are the same," she said. With regard to issues the University is currently facing, including the Martin conviction, Coleman said she looks for- ward to the challenges as opportunities. "I am committed to having the truth come out and I am dedicated to making it right because that's what we should do," she said. As far as the president's role in the Ed Martin investigation and other issues, she said integrity is a central issue. "The president is going to be involved with the regents to see that the informa- tion comes out. It is extremely important for the public to have absolute confi- dence in the integrity of the University," she said. "I believe in evervthingr that the U~ni- Sept. to Sept. 02/03 Leases Still Available...Call Soon! Call (734)995-5575 or email:tparon@earthlink.net 821 Packard (corner of Greenwood) 8 bedrooms large, 3 stories lots of parking new carpet & blinds 3 and 1/2 bathrooms + laundry (separate 2 bedroom apt. included) $4100 + utilities 506 W. 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