We at The State News want to start off the semester by welcoming former Provost Lou Anna Simon to her new role as president of MSU. It's an undeniably big job, and we are confident she will represent the university in a dignified and intellectual manner. With that confidence, though, comes some things we would like to see from the new president in future months and years.

Former President M. Peter McPherson left some very large projects on the table. Most notably, a push to begin a $1 billion project that would put a Rare Isotope Accelerator on MSU's campus has yet to be finalized. Plans to move MSU's College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids also still need to be worked out. In the final months of his presidency, McPherson continually indicated his intentions to see these and other projects through, and yet they now sit on the new president's plate. Figuratively, of course.

President Simon, it's not your fault that you will likely have to shoulder these responsibilities, but it is your duty. It is important that such important initiatives not be left to die, but are taken up with vigor.

Projects Simon began as provost also have to be looked into. Her push to reorganize the liberal arts program at MSU drew a lot of fire initially, but needs to be finished now that it has begun. It is our hope that Simon's position as president will make her more capable to complete the project expeditiously.

But there is more to take into consideration than existing projects. Although Simon might not have the financial background McPherson possessed as president, it is important that she do her best to keep tuition costs down in the face of a disappointing Michigan economy. She also needs to express student interests to East Lansing officials who seem to think about anything but students, at times.

Again, we are confident that President Simon is capable of her new position, but there is a cornucopia on her plate at the moment.

Let's hope she's hungry.