DeVoe Moore/My View

The Sept. 5 meeting of the Florida State University Presidential Search Advisory Committee was disrupted by a very disrespectful representation of faculty and students. For this reason, I feel compelled to voice my opinion as Ray Bellamy and others have.

Is this a standard we should make, coming from one of the leading institutions of higher learning? What are we teaching our students? Are they the leaders we are looking for?

First, how many students were recruited by their professors and instructors? Second, how many students are enjoying the benefit of Bright Futures, Pell Grants, scholarships and other forms of financial aid? Third, how many of these students are working, paying for their education? Fourth, why are they protesting the selection of a president who will only broadly lead the university? He or she will not be teaching their classes or selecting their curriculum.

In a My View in the Tallahassee Democrat (“How to become president,” Sept. 5), Associate Professor Michael Buchler wrote, “I couldn’t possibly attain this job, because I lack one key requirement: connections, lots of connections.” What Buchler overlooked was that, if this presidential search committee were composed of one-third students and one-third faculty, he would have the needed connections with two-thirds of the votes. He could be appointed president while following “due process.”

If FSU could stack a committee with two-thirds of the votes coming from students and faculty, there would be absolutely no need for an open presidential search committee.

The question should be asked: If state Sen. John Thrasher were more liberal like some of the past presidents, would the faculty and student representatives protest as strongly? I did not see a protest in the search committee over T.K. Wetherell or Sandy D’Alemberte.

The Democrat reported ( “Students concerned with FSU presidential search,” Sept. 3) on a request by some students for increased participation in the presidential process. Currently, the selection committee has three students and four faculty representatives. The request was to change the composition of the committee to include a one-third representation each by students and faculty members. I am curious as to the intention and timing of such a request.

It seems rather obvious that the interest in seeking additional representation was in response to the committee’s suggestion that John Thrasher be interviewed for the position. Instead of going forward with this recommendation, the search was halted while the additional candidates were sought. Criticism of Sen. Thrasher centered on his background, with arguments that a lack of higher-education leadership would impede his ability to be successful as a president. Perhaps the critics should have looked to see if he has other abilities with his leadership that would continue to benefit and improve this university.

Admittedly, Sen. Thrasher does not have experience running a university; neither did former presidents Wetherell or D’Alemberte, who always stated that he was my liberal friend and I am proud to be his friend. President D’Alemberte’s commitment turned out to be of great service to the university. President Wetherell’s connections made many improvements to Florida State University, thanks to his political influence at the Capitol.

I question whether the interest in securing more influence over the process would have surfaced if a less conservative applicant had emerged. Scott Jaschik recently reported in Inside Higher Ed that professors are leaning increasingly to the left, while Neil Gross wrote a book for Harvard University Press titled “Why are Professors Liberal and Why do Conservatives Care?” He reports that college professors are “about three times more liberal on average” that American adults.

It has been recognized that professors’ liberal orientations are the norm and that professors have moved even further to the left.

Is this direction we are seeing at Florida State University?

DeVoe Moore is a Tallahassee businessman. He also is director-at-large of the Seminole Boosters and is a member of Florida State’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Contact him at devoe@tacm.com.