Though some students and faculty were stunned by the MSU Board of Trustees' quick decision naming Provost Lou Anna Simon the university's next president, many East Lansing officials said Simon's historic relationship with the city proves she's the best candidate for the position.

"I think this was an outstanding decision by the trustees," Mayor Mark Meadows said.

"I can't imagine finding a better candidate for the position in a national search, and I think the trustees couldn't either."

Meadows and many other city officials said the provost's presidential appointment will only help to strengthen an important relationship between the city and the university.

"I am hugely excited about working with Lou Anna Simon," Meadows said.

"She is connected and committed to the relationship we have with the university."

Having a history at MSU is a huge asset for Simon, Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh said.

"I am pleased to see she was chosen," he said.

"Whereas a new president might have to build relationships with the community, she has seen the history of our relationship and I am hopeful she will build on it."

How MSU's president views the relationship between the university and the city is important because both groups always will be closely entwined, East Lansing officials said.

The two share a lot, including police and fire protection and a need to serve students and faculty who live in the city and attend the university.

"The biggest issue we share is a constituency - students and faculty that live and participate in both systems," Singh said.

Because there are so many shared issues, the city and the university must have open communication in order to collaborate in the problem-solving process, Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said.

"Open lines of communication are absolutely critical for us," Golden said. "What we do affects the university and what the university does affects us."

Though city officials said this communication is important, it wasn't always as strong as it is today.

While there was communication when President M. Peter McPherson was appointed to the university's top post, officials said certain circumstances forced a more complete relationship as the years passed.

"Things got to a point where they were not as strong," Singh said.

"Negative circumstances made us realize we had to bring our relationship to the next level."

After the March 27-28, 1999 riots, the city and the university were propelled into a situation that forced them to develop stronger ties.

Both groups wanted to work together to reduce the possibility of future destruction.

McPherson, Simon and the East Lansing City Council worked to form the Alcohol Action Team and the Community Relations Coalition, two groups composed of students and residents who work together to develop bonds.

"The relationship was always there but never to the level of sophistication that it was after the riots," Singh said.

Officials said Simon's reputation for communication gives them hope the relationship they have built will only continue to get stronger.

"In the past, she has demonstrated a commitment to using communication as a management tool," Meadows said.

Golden, who has worked with Simon in implementing programs after the riots, said she is looking forward to collaborating with her in the future.

Golden wants to work with Simon to develop research on alcohol use and health-related issues involving the community.

"(Simon's appointment) just creates more opportunities for us to work together," Golden said. "Simon is really going to be a wonderful asset."