BOT made whole again
Gov. Rod Blagojevich wasted no time appointing a new member to the SIU Board of Trustees after Harris T. Rowe, the board's longest serving member, resigned a month ago. We are pleased to see the governor taking swift action, rather than leaving us to wait for months wondering who will fill the board.
We are also pleased with his pick. Keith Sanders, who replaces Rowe, is a Southern Illinois native, originally hailing from Benton.
Not only is he from the region, he has meaningful ties to SIUC, having taught here for 22 years and serving as dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts, which is now the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.
He knows firsthand the importance of keeping SIU open to students who are the first in their families to attend college. He was the first in his own family to do so.
Sanders' experience in higher education is substantial. On top of his time spent at SIUC, Sanders is a former executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Board of Trustees Chairman Glenn Poshard welcomed Sanders' appointment, saying he has proven himself as an innovative thinker and a willing risk-taker.
The "Southern at 150" plan, in which SIUC is to become a top 75 research institution by its 150th birthday in 2019, will undoubtedly require some innovative thinking and certainly carries with it a degree of risk. By that standard, Sanders appears to be a good fit, given that the board has expressed a strong commitment to the plan whether Chancellor Walter Wendler stays or goes.
The board's seats are filled for now, but they may not be for long. A.D. VanMeter, who has served on the board since 1975, has indicated he may step down as well when his term ends in January, leaving another vacancy. If Blagojevich must make another appointment, we urge him to do it as quickly as possible.
Poshard's seat will also be up for reappointment, and Blagojevich has not declared yet whether he will reappoint him. If Poshard wishes to stay on the board, Blagojevich should confirm his position without delay.
Our University needs solid leadership. Right now, we are led by an interim president due to President James Walker's leave of absence, and we may soon be losing our chancellor, as Wendler is interviewing for the position of president of Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The continuing uncertainty surrounding our top administrative leaders makes it that much more important for the University to have a dependable and focused Board of Trustees.
The DAILY EGYPTIAN congratulates Sanders on his appointment. The Southern Illinois region could use another local representative on the board, and we believe he will fill that role admirably.
We commend the governor for acting quickly to make the appointment. He has proven it can be done.
From now on, Gov. Blagojevich, we'll be expecting it.
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