Many students, faculty and staff spent their lunch period in thenewly-renovated Journalism Building Tuesday afternoon discussingthe future of the University, media and the government andUniversity funding.
Student Government sponsored the event, which was the secondtime this semester Interim Chancellor William Jenkins has met witha group of students in a forum setting. The first session was heldin the University French House.
“I think this is a great opportunity for students andfaculty to express any concerns they are having,” Jenkinssaid.
The initial topic of the forum was “Media andGovernment,” a heated issue surrounding the upcomingpresidential election. The discussion took a graceful shift as manystudents began to express concern regarding the chancellor searchand the financial status of the University.
Jessica Stewart, a political science senior, asked the firstquestion concerning the potential tuition increases for futureUniversity students.
“I hope we do not have tuition increases,” Jenkinssaid. “It worries me because health care and higher educationare the first bills [for funding] that may be cut.”
Jenkins assured Stewart and others the LSU System as a wholewill continue to work with the government to receive federalfunding. He said that with an increasing budget, the Universitywill need to raise half the funding for facility updates privately,and rely on federal funding for the other half.
“There are other states that are in the same predicamentand even worse shape than us when it comes to tuitionincreases,” Jenkins said. “We are one of the few statesthat may have the good fortune to receive some federalrelief.”
Chloe’ Wiley, a mass communication senior and president ofthe Mass Communication College Council, asked whether the mediacoverage will hurt or enhance the current chancellor search.
Jenkins said the search committee must be extremely cautiousabout revealing the identities of potential chancellor candidates.This is a precautionary measure designed so the search will notaffect potential candidates’ tenures at their currentposition at their universities.
“We are dealing with a situation where the initialcandidates are super-sensitive about putting their name on thelist,” Jenkins said. “We have no other alternativebesides holding early conversations in the strictest ofconfidence.”
Jenkins assured students and faculty that finding the nextchancellor will be very difficult because of the process ofinterviewing and receiving commitment from potentialcandidates.
Jenkins said the job of the next chancellor has changedtremendously because he or she will spend 60 percent of his or hertime off campus. The chancellor spends a majority of his or hertime establishing contracts and developing relationships withbusinesses around and concerning the campus, Jenkins said.
“You must never underestimate the powerful role ofpersonal relationships,” Jenkins said. “LSU makesamazing contracts in the investments we attract.”
Jenkins admitted he was unaware of the problems and frustrationsthe larger math classes were creating, but he assured students thathe will discuss the matter with Provost and ExecutiveVice-Chancellor Risa Palm.
“What students must understand is that in the next five to10 years, students will be exposed to a very different distributionof learning,” Jenkins said.
The final question Jenkins answered was the challenge Universitystudents and alumni must undertake to help the University become anationally – recognized flagship school.
“Your accomplishments and successes as students here andyour future successes will reflect upon LSU,” Jenkins said.”I have travelled the state, and the pride for LSU isphenomenal, and it is the success of the faculty and staff at LSUthat attracts an appreciation from the state.”
Jimmy Vermaelen, SG co-director for student involvement, said SGis attempting to find different venues for the chats and would loveto get more student involvement.
“We have trouble getting the word out and getting studentsto ask questions at the forum,” Jenkins said. “We wantto survey students to see what time is convenient for them to cometo the discussions.”
Vermaelen said SG is attempting to create a discussion groupnext semester titled “Chats about the Chancellor,”where students will be given the opportunity to discuss concernsand ideas they may be having about the chancellor.