2008 Woodie Awards
In Our Opinion
USC presidential search deserves more attention
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Viewpoints
Searching for a university president is like finding a prom date; ask early, or all the good ones will be gone.
While many students and alumni will pay closer attention to the search for basketball coach Dave Odom's replacement, USC President Andrew Sorensen's replacement will have a far greater impact on the lives of people to whom the university's success is important.
When President Sorensen announced his plans to retire last December, he set a date of July 31 for leaving office, giving the school a little more than seven months to find a replacement.
Two months later, we're still in the beginning stages of our search, having narrowed the field to four search firms, but no candidates.
While the search committee will most likely find someone who can do the job, it's important to remember that we're dealing with the people who couldn't open the new baseball stadium on time.
And if we're looking to find a new president by July 31, he has to have a contract, tie up loose ends at his or her old position and be installed in his new office and be ready to go by Aug. 1.
If that's going to happen, the presidential search committee and the university need to get going, and soon.
No one wants to start next year in presidential limbo; it would be the equivalent of taking your cousin to prom, and no one wants that.
While many students and alumni will pay closer attention to the search for basketball coach Dave Odom's replacement, USC President Andrew Sorensen's replacement will have a far greater impact on the lives of people to whom the university's success is important.
When President Sorensen announced his plans to retire last December, he set a date of July 31 for leaving office, giving the school a little more than seven months to find a replacement.
Two months later, we're still in the beginning stages of our search, having narrowed the field to four search firms, but no candidates.
While the search committee will most likely find someone who can do the job, it's important to remember that we're dealing with the people who couldn't open the new baseball stadium on time.
And if we're looking to find a new president by July 31, he has to have a contract, tie up loose ends at his or her old position and be installed in his new office and be ready to go by Aug. 1.
If that's going to happen, the presidential search committee and the university need to get going, and soon.
No one wants to start next year in presidential limbo; it would be the equivalent of taking your cousin to prom, and no one wants that.
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