On Sunday, the Tallahassee Democrat's editorial called for a reconsideration of headhunter Bill Funk's suggestion that the elephant in the room needs to be dealt with before the FSU president search can continue (or whether it needs to): http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/07/20/opinion-deal-thrasher/12859453/
This appears to come on the heels of Gary Fineout's article that suggested that the search remains a sham.[1]
Dr. Michael Buchler's My View response printed in today's Democrat clearly explains why this suggestion was and remains highly problematic: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/07/22/michael-buchler-tilt-search-thrashers-favor/13017839/
I am trying to understand the argument as to why Thrasher's candidacy needs to be dealt with separately, but come on, folks, the deadline for applications isn't until September 2. For the hundredth time, applications will likely come in on the 2nd--and the new headhunter said he would encourage people to wait until the 2nd to apply. Just because no new apps have arrived since the "re-opening" of the search doesn't mean they won't arrive at the last minute. And I'm still not totally convinced that academics will not apply--especially knowing the criticism regarding the frontrunner for the position. However, the ad posted in The Chronicle on Monday definitely does leave the door wide open for non-traditional candidates: https://chroniclevitae.com/jobs/0000838716-01
If Thrasher wants to remain a candidate, then he needs to be vetted just like any other candidate--through the proper search format. But if the fix is still in, then the BOT and PSAC's leadership's empty rhetoric and commitment to political cronyism will be exposed once and for all and they'll have wasted all of our time--and additional money--with a sham search. The results of both can be devastating for this university that has worked so hard the last four years to increase its academic acumen. Indeed, if the fix is still in, the question remains: is a university in which faculty and students have no power in decision making really a university that values "excellence in teaching, research, creative endeavors, and service and strives to instill the strength, skill, and character essential for lifelong learning, personal responsibility, and sustained achievement within a community that fosters free inquiry and embraces diversity," as the FSU mission statement reads? Or is it a business that happens to teach some classes on the side? Or is it just another arm of the political establishment in Florida?
If the leadership truly cares about this university, then more needs to be done to ensure a fair, open, and transparent process, including increased faculty, student and staff representation on the PSAC and a commitment to leadership with academic experience in teaching, research, and administration. As has been said by various folks, including the Democrat, maybe it is time for Thrasher to consider withdrawing his application: the search is still viewed as a sham, and the implication that a Thrasher presidency is due to cronyism rather than merit and the divisiveness that his candidacy brings will continue to greatly affect the university's reputation.
