The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks,
The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and
spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."
Harris Rowe, the longest-serving member on the Board of Trustees, is
stepping down after 33 years - and his friend and fellow board member,
A.D. Van Meter, may soon follow in his footsteps.
Rowe, who was serving as vice chair, resigned Wednesday in a letter to
Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rowe's resignation is effective immediately, even
though his term was not to expire until January 2007.
He said his decision to step down was accelerated by increasing health
problems, including being diagnosed with an early form of Parkinson's
disease that his doctors think they will be able to control.
"I thought I better devote my energies to that, and 33 years is a long
time anyway," said Rowe, who is 81. "I don't walk as well, and I thought
maybe this is the time."
Van Meter said his term is set to expire Dec. 15, and after 30 years on
the board, he said he is not sure if he will accept another six-year
term from the governor.
"I think my time has come," Van Meter said
The governor appoints each member of the board to a six-year term. When
the end of the term nears, the governor decides whether to replace the
trustee or ask him or her to stay on for another six years.
Gerardo Cardenaz, Blagojevich's spokesman, said the governor's office is
already working to fill Rowe's position.
"We do have candidates," Cardenaz said. "We are taking a careful look at
the process until we come up with the right person."
Cardenaz said while the governor hopes the position will be filled
sooner than later, thorough background checks must be conducted to
comply with the state's ethics legislation.
The law, signed by Blagojevich Dec. 9, prohibits lobbyists and their
spouses from serving on state boards and commissions. Molly D'Esposito,
former board chairwoman, was forced to resign from her position Dec. 10
to comply with the new law because her husband is a registered lobbyist.
Rowe was appointed to the board in 1971 by Gov. Richard Ogilvie. Rowe,
who received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College in 1947 and his
law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1950, said he
was wary of taking a position at a university he knew so little about.
"I said, 'Governor, I don't even know anything about Southern,'" Rowe
said.
Ogilvie told Rowe that he wanted a board representative of each area of
the state, including central Illinois, where Rowe lived. The governor
reminded Rowe that he did not have to remain on the board for a long
period of time.
"But he said, 'I was hoping you will get on there, and you will like
it,'" Rowe said. "And as it turns out, I did. And so I stayed."
During his 33-year tenure on the board, Rowe has been a part of major
changes in the University system, including creating the position of
president, which is now held by James Walker.
Rowe said the system used to operate under a university council, then a
chiefs of ward staff, but always felt they needed to operate under one
leader.
Another major change was the present budget system used by the
University. Former President Ted Sanders, who left the University in
2000, instituted the structure to help manage SIU's money.
"We knew when we were in danger of overspending, and there was always a
reserve," Rowe said. "Thank heavens for that reserve in these days of
tight money. It, of course, wasn't enough, but it has helped us
survive."
In January, Blagojevich appointed Glenn Poshard, Roger Tedrick, John
Simmons and Marilyn Jackson to the board. Rowe, who served under six
governors in three decades, said even though he and Van Meter are the
only remaining veterans on the board, he knows his resignation will not
affect it greatly.
"There are new faces coming onto the board, and I think they will be
fine," he said. "It will take them a while to get their feet on the
ground, but there were some good people who were appointed."
Rowe said the board can do many great things for SIU in combination with
Walker, but is very anxious about the president's health. Walker went on
medical leave in September to undergo treatment for prostate cancer.
"They will both do big things for SIU. We are on the verge of some
really great things," Rowe said. "The med school is in full swing, the
law school has established itself and the school of pharmacy and dental
med is doing some really marvelous work. We've got some really good
things going for us in our professional schools. I just hope they can
keep advancing."
Van Meter said he has known Rowe since they attended law school together
at Northwestern University.
"He is an extraordinary person and is very devoted to the University,"
Van Meter said of Rowe. "He served with great care, dignity and honor,
and in this way, he has done everything he could possibly do to further
the University."
Rowe said when the board's meeting calendar came in the mail each year,
he would immediately mark up his calendar. Rowe doesn't expect his
calendar to empty out. Instead, he will spend more time vacationing with
his wife Alice in Michigan and Florida.
Daily Egyptian 
