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."

Wendler staying, so now what?

For the time being, Wendler's opportunities for success remain linked to SIUC, whether he likes it or not.

No one could fault Wendler for wanting to advance and improve his position. After all, ambition is a trait that tends to impress search committees.

The question is, would the move to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi really have been an advancement or would it merely have been a change of venue?

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a smaller, younger campus with fewer students. Would this change really have enhanced his career, or was it simply an opportunity to escape SIUC? Wendler hasn't gone out of his way to clear this up.

At his holiday coffee last week, when asked by a DAILY EGYPTIAN reporter if he had applied to other universities, he replied that he hadn't interviewed for another position "yet." The logical assumption is that he may still choose to do so.

Of course, Wendler is free to apply anywhere he wishes and is under no obligation to share with us any plans he may have to seek employment elsewhere.

His choice of words is telling, however.

Rather than quell rumors that he is trying to find a way out of SIUC, he left the possibility open.

It could be plausibly argued that Wendler's remark reveals nothing about his plans, that we are reading too much into a laconic response. To be sure, his manner was glib as he circulated through the crowd to the lilt of Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Reporters approached him diffidently, and while he didn't rebuff their advances, the exchanges were short.

Perhaps, in his festive holiday mood, with visions of a satellite campus presidency dancing in his head, Wendler was loath to burden the occasion with a serious discussion of his future. Maybe he was just being pragmatic. After all, what is his incentive to build relationships in Illinois if he is packing for Texas?

Therein lies Wendler's problem.

Where will his focus be now that he knows Texas A&M Corpus Christi is not in the offering?

Will he continue to seek a new situation?

Will he concentrate on the campus stewardship with which he has been entrusted, or must we settle for his fragmented attention?

Will he open up to the students and faculty, and make himself available to the Faculty Senate and the campus community?

Will he mend fences or burn bridges?

We're waiting to find out.

Welcome back, Chancellor Wendler.

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