In the wake of the State Board of Higher Education’s decision to not renew University President Richard Lariviere’s contract student government leaders have had mixed feelings on the subject.
ASUO President Ben Eckstein declined to say whether or not he supported the decision. Eckstein said that he would be testifying about the subject at the board’s meeting today.
Eckstein commented that he favored a “holistic approach to higher education” and that the state board was “the right place” to discuss such topics. He did say that he has “a lot of respect for President Lariviere.”
Eckstein earlier told KEZI, “I don’t believe that the proposals President Lariviere advocated for at a statewide level were good for students.”
Others were not strongly opposed to Lariviere’s removal.
“I think its ridiculous,” Sen. Laura Hinman said.
Hinman said that she and others would be testifying at the state board meeting tomorrow, and that she has asked the Senate to consider a resolution in favor of Lariviere’s retention at this week’s Senate meeting, the last of the term.
“I feel the principle of university governance has been violated,” Hinman said. “Its just about what’s best for our university.”
She added that she felt that Eckstein’s comments in the media amounted to “openly opposing” any effort to support Lariviere.
Sen. Bri Woodside-Gomez said that Lariviere “has so many great ideas to fix our university.” She added that while she didn’t always support his proposals, she was glad that at least something was being done.
When Sen. Ben Bowman heard the news, “The first thing that struck me was the timing. Mid year seemed interesting to me.”
“It sounds like he didn’t really have a functional relationship with the state board,” Bowman said.
He added, “I can see both sides to the argument.”
EMU Board Chair Sen. Kaitlyn Lange said that was “sad and very concerned.”
“I think the decision was made without getting any input from the community it affects the most, the university community,” Lange said
Indeed, Eckstein noted, “The ASUO was not consulted in this decision.”
Lange added, “The way this has gone about has not given him the respect he deserves.”
Mixed reactions to Lariviere’s removal
Daily Emerald
November 26, 2011
More to Discover