Personable. Hardworking. Active in the community.
These are some some of the traits USC students said they want to see in a new university president.
Among all the characteristics students said they hope the new president has, there’s one thing many agree on: They want a president just like Harris Pastides.
Diversity and inclusion
“Similar to Dr. Pastides where he’s very charismatic, good at public speaking, does his best to connect with students when he’s on campus sort of thing,” second-year finance real estate student Sean Maher said. “So you feel like you know your president as opposed to just being the figurehead.”
Many students said they didn’t really know what policies fall under the president’s purview, and they haven’t put much thought into what they want in their next president.
Other students have fond memories of Pastides — giving out doughnuts in the library during exam week or taking selfies with students, for example — but some said they feel there’s still room for improvement with a new university president.
Katelynn Wall said she wants to see more diversity and inclusion on campus and thinks a new president could help implement that change.
“I would say Pastides didn't come to any of the minority events and I didn't see that, so I would like the new president to come to more minority events that we have on campus,” said Wall, a second-year retailing management student.
Like Wall, other students said they want the university to focus more on diversity, especially in Greek life. Some students in multicultural fraternities and sororities said they're dissatisfied with the attention Pastides gives organizations dominated by white students. They said they would like a president who gives the same attention to minority students.
A challenge underclassmen specifically would like to see a new president take on is bridging a cultural divide between freshman students and the rest of campus.
“Someone who’s really interested in helping students and helping freshmen adjust to more on campus and just overall being involved,” said Niya Truesdale, a first-year public health student.
'Money on my mind'
“You know we have the Darla Moore School of Business which is beautiful, right. I'd like more donations of that caliber, but maybe to our other colleges,” said Davis Latham, second-year political science and economics student and a candidate for speaker of the senate.
While Latham said he is concerned about the state’s lack of higher education funding, second-year hospitality student Hikaym Rivers said he is more concerned about his own costs.
“It seems like the school is just trying to make a buck out of every little thing that we do,” Rivers said.
Roi Faroud, a third-year international business student from the Honduras, said he would like to see a new president find more ways to help international students financially.
“We make part of why USC is good,” Faroud said. “We have the best international business program and I feel that there’s not enough recognition right now for international students.”