According to faculty, friends and family, MSU President M. Peter McPherson will be remembered as a forward-thinking, dedicated and tireless leader.
McPherson's accomplishments and character traits were discussed on Friday, when about 50 people attended a reception for the university's 19th president at the Kellogg Center's Big Ten room. McPherson, who has spent the last 11 years at MSU's helm, will leave his position on Jan. 1.
"President McPherson is one of the longest-serving presidents at MSU and the university has achieved remarkable milestones under his leadership," said MSU Board of Trustees Chairman David Porteous.
Hors d'oeuvres were devoured as those in attendance listened to Porteous, President-designate Lou Anna Simon and other faculty members and employees discuss McPherson's contributions to MSU.
Simon, who will take over McPherson's position, said he worked to build MSU's international reputation. Citing budget cuts and public distrust in universities, Simon said McPherson has done a lot for MSU.
"The hand that was dealt to Michigan State wasn't a very good hand," Simon said. "But because it was skillfully played with great passion and dedication, Michigan State's in a much better place today."
Konrad Gelbke, director of MSU's Cyclotron, said McPherson believed MSU had a chance to get the national Rare Isotope Accelerator project when colleagues said the chances were one in 10,000.
John Hudzik, dean of International Studies and Programs, said McPherson's dedication helped develop the study abroad program into one of the nation's best.
But not everyone wanted to give McPherson accolades. Also present were about 20 members of MSU's Students for Economic Justice and Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan. The groups quietly walked around holding signs bearing slogans such as, "Does McPete listen to 'U'?"
Group members said while at MSU, McPherson should have worked to join the Worker Rights Consortium - a group of universities and students who work to insure university apparel is not manufactured in sweat shops.
"This is not a personal attack," said George Moyer, linguistics junior and SEJ member. "We just want to show that people do disagree with his policies and we want to raise awareness."
McPherson said the protest was part of MSU's vitality and laughed when his wife, Joanne, told him the students couldn't wait to give him the heave-ho.
McPherson said the accomplishments discussed by speakers were the result of not only his work, but contributions made by faculty and university employees.
"Even the struggles were fun here," McPherson said. "I love this campus."
