Bill Archer still can't shake that bad-boy image.
The Daily Egyptian editorial board met with him and his rival for the seat of Student Trustee - a position of key importance since the student sits with the Board of Trustees, the University's major decision-maker. Archer knows his stained stint as Undergraduate Student Government president, which included a circus-like senate and accusations of dormroom marijuana use, has figured negatively in this campaign. But now, he's assured us, he's grown up.
"The first time I interviewed with the DE, I wore shorts and a T-shirt. The second time, I think I branched out and put on khakis, and this time, it's like hey, I'm serious about this," said Archer, stroking his suit. "Never before have I owned as many pairs of good shoes and good clothes."
Archer's campus governance has resulted mostly in chuckles, and here and there, a little respect for the say-what-I-feel candor so uncharacteristic in politics. But it's laughable now that he would consider running for a position that begs for a more persuasive and soft-handed sort of charisma.
That's why Ted Clark already has a distinct advantage as a student trustee candidate. But it's not just the polished mannerisms that make Clark the obvious choice. The first-year medical student has a tremendous amount of board experience, serving his entire college career on various committees, such as the campus land-use committee, Grassroots, Psyche and the Student Recreational Advisory Board.
He considers his crowning achievement to be his work on the Student Health Advisory Board, where he helped push for a new health services building. Now the new facility is at the top of the campus land-use plan agenda. Clark wants the student trustee position to be more of a two-way street. He would like to provide students with information on the issues that are coming up for the board, using such platforms as guest columns in this paper.
He's already started talking to the presidents of priority one Registered Student Organizations and representative councils, and his noticeable work ethic is something to be admired. There's only one hitch to Clark's obvious advantages to the position: he will be in Springfield after the summer is finished, and it's practically unheard of for a trustee to reign three hours away from home base. In Archer's discussion with the Daily Egyptian, he hammered this one point alone to prove that he should be the chosen one. We were hoping to hear some real ideas on improving upon the position such as those provided by Clark. Instead we got, "I'm here."
But Archer has a valid point. The student trustee should be available to students, but Clark has made an interesting case for himself. He plans to spend the summer understanding the ins and outs of his constituents and establishing volunteers in the trustee office who will be in constant contact with students and Clark. He wants all meeting minutes forwarded to him by e-mail. He also plans to visit the Carbondale campus twice per month. Also, he hopes his time in Springfield will give him an advantage as far as access to state legislators and lobbying forums.
If anyone can pull it off, it's clear that Clark can. We endorse him, but not without our reservations that he makes good on the tough throne he's chosen by ruling from afar.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
