EDITORIAL: UW wise to make search open for next president

Posted 4/16/15

 

In a step in the right direction, the UW Board of Trustees plans to publicly identify finalists for the job. That’s good news, considering how poorly UW’s presidential search went two years ago when the university community had no …

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EDITORIAL: UW wise to make search open for next president

Posted

Thumbs up to an open search process for the next University of Wyoming president.

UW President Dick McGinity plans to step down from the job next year, and the university will begin its search for a successor soon.

 

In a step in the right direction, the UW Board of Trustees plans to publicly identify finalists for the job. That’s good news, considering how poorly UW’s presidential search went two years ago when the university community had no opportunity to meet candidates or hear from them.

In 2012-13, UW trustees held a secret search, refusing to publicly release names of finalists for the president position. Only after a judge ruled for disclosure of the names in a suit brought by several news organizations did the finalists become known. The courts made it clear that trustees were proceeding on shaky ground in denying critical information about the state’s only four-year, public university. 

At the UW board’s request, the Wyoming Legislature even passed a law in February 2013 stating that all presidential searches at the university and community colleges can be conducted in secret if their boards wish. Gov. Matt Mead didn’t sign that legislation in 2013, but it still became law without his signature.

On Monday, the governor said in a statement that he is “confident the Board of Trustees will initiate a search process that will be inclusive of the public and the University.”

An open process definitely is in the best interest of Wyoming residents and the university. We’d also like to see legislators revisit the law that allows presidential searches to be closed at Wyoming colleges and the university.

Thumbs up to Rep. David Northrup’s appointment as chairman of the House Education Committee in the Wyoming Legislature.

The Powell Republican is no stranger to public service in education. Northrup previously served on the Park County School District. No 1 Board of Trustees for 12 years, leading as chairman of the school board for six years. He has served on the House Education Committee since 2013, when he began his first term in the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Education is one of the most important priorities for Wyoming, and we’re glad to see Northrup serve in this leadership role.

Thumbs down to a deadly influenza season in Wyoming. Across the state, 26 deaths have been linked to influenza since October.

That is four times higher than the average of 6.5 flu-related deaths a year since the 2000-01 flu season.

“Clearly, this has been a very active and unusually deadly flu season,” said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with Wyoming Department of Health.

Most of the people who died from influenza were older than 65, but the state also saw deaths among younger residents, including one child.

The tragic news is a reminder that influenza remains a serious and potentially deadly disease.

Thumbs up to water returning to the Garland Canal and allied canal waterways in the Shoshone Valley.

After an unseasonably warm winter, the ground in the Powell area is dry and thirsty. Fields have been prepared for the season, and farmers soon will begin irrigating.

Water is the lifeblood of our agricultural community. Its return signals the start of a new farming season, with the promise of summertime not far behind.

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