This campus has become familiar with the process involved in replacing an empty high-profile position. In the past four years there has been a chancellor, LSU System president, provost, football coach and live tiger mascot search. We find ourselves at the start of another search – one to replace outgoing Chancellor Sean O’Keefe. And while one might not realize the similarities between looking for a suitable Mike VI and a System president, one common thread bounds all the searches this University has undertaken – secrecy. It was under a shroud of whispers and between semesters that O’Keefe was hired to replace Mark Emmert. It was without any public input that System President John Lombardi was brought to campus.  This University is establishing a trend of disregarding input from outside sources when hiring the people who make important decisions about campus.  The people most affected by those who hold high-ranking positions at this University do not work in the LSU System Building. The people who are most affected are the students, professors, faculty and members of the University community.  Despite the impact a chancellor or System president has on these people’s education and employment, they are repeatedly denied the right to voice their concerns over who is hired to fill the positions. The world of academia should be one that values discussion and input, not selects leaders in backroom deals.  The University of Louisiana at Lafayette recently conducted a public search to fill the president position on its campus. Despite criticism from some that doing so would deter candidates from applying, they received more than 20 applications for the spot.  UL-Lafayette has proved an open search can be beneficial and successful.  It is in the best interest of this University and the community that when searching for someone to replace O’Keefe, the previous process not be reused. Instead of presenting the community with one candidate selected by a headhunter, let the people most affected know who is applying. Instead of holding useless forums to meet the solitary candidate and claim to be seeking input from the community, present the University with a slate of possible chancellors.  It is with openness and transparency that the best candidate will be selected, not by those who reside in the ivory tower on Lakeshore Drive without input or discussion.
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