I am supremely disappointed with the MSU Board of Trustees in their search for MSU's 20th president. The "search" seemed to last only about a week, and the result of it could affect the university directly for a decade, indirectly for several decades.

Did the board interview any other candidates? No. Did they even consider any other candidates? No. Did they hold a forum with the students or faculty for their opinions, and even if they did, would they have taken anything rendered under consideration? Not in the least.

I am in total disbelief over the lack of due process. Maybe presidential searches should be subject to the "open meeting" law, at least if the board is going to make hasty decisions that have extreme long-term implications.

Lou Anna Simon is a great academic administrator, her credentials in the academic arena are impeccable. However, is that all that should be considered?

President M. Peter McPherson wasn't just an academic, he had years of experience in business, economics, and public policy. He worked for several presidential administrations. He helped rebuild a country's economic bulwark after 20 years of war and oppression.

Lou Anna Simon has run academics at a university for the last 20 years. Does anyone else see a discrepancy here? There is no doubt in my mind that McPherson's success is because he has had a multitude of diverse life and work experiences outside of East Lansing. His political ties and experience also brought national credit and prestige to the university.

Simon has virtually no non-academic work experience, and no such political pull. I am certainly going to remember this insulting sham when the trustees come up for reelection.

Jacob Horner
accounting senior