The announcement by Chancellor Sean O’Keefe on Wednesday that he will be stepping down as head of the University on Feb. 1 garnered myriad responses from students, faculty and donors – some agreed, disagreed or just didn’t care.
It became evident as the story unraveled yesterday that O’Keefe’s departure was part of an alleged push by newly-hired LSU System President John Lombardi and some members of the LSU Board of Supervisors to see the former head of NASA out of the University.
Some members of the University community think that O’Keefe served the University with great dedication and achieved everything he was brought here to do while others think he failed in his leadership role, and his time to leave had justly arrived.
His resignation was discussed in classrooms, over lunch and in offices around campus. The overall impact of having the top official on campus leave is yet to be determined.
This editorial board is unable to reach a consensus on whether his resignation was appropriate, with some members with the opinion that he was an accomplished leader who should have remained and others thinking his time to depart had arrived.
This editorial board can agree that regardless of our opinions, enough discussion was not held on the issue.
Many close to the departure had told newspapers, students and faculty that O’Keefe’s possible resignation would be addressed at the meeting today. However, that time for discussion and analysis will never occur.
O’Keefe, whether of his own accord or otherwise, opted to resign yesterday. He is leaving this University much the same way he came, quietly and without input from those who are most affected by his tenure at this institution.
We will never know if he had the support of the faculty or members of the Legislature. We will never know if students felt he was adequately working to make their campus better. The only public discussion held on the issue was a handful of editorials, letters and an advertisement in The Advocate purchased by several business owners.
Instead, Lombardi and the powers that rule decided for us. They made the decision to push O’Keefe out before determining how the community he serves feels about him. We recognize that the position of Chancellor is not an elected one, but Lombardi failed to allow the Board of Supervisors to weigh in on the issue, the only body that is allowed to vote on O’Keefe’s position.
We wish Sean O’Keefe the best of luck in his future endeavors and are looking forward to covering the search for a new chancellor in The Daily Reveille.
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