When John Wiley ventured to South Africa earlier this semester, Interim Provost Virginia Sapiro essentially became the acting chancellor of the University of Wisconsin. With Peter Spear having just retired, Ms. Sapiro is so new to the position of provost that, at the time of this editorial's writing, the chancellor's official website still listed her predecessor as holding the job.
But the provost's office is not the only location in Bascom Hall to have fresh — and temporary — paint on the doors. Just down the hall is Interim Dean of Students Lori Berquam, Interim Associate Dean of Students Elton Crim and Interim Associate Dean of Students Trey Duffy.
And the nicest office in the building belongs to Mr. Wiley, a man who will have soon occupied the chancellor's suite for a full five years. David Ward, his predecessor, served eight years in the capacity. Donna Shalala, Mr. Ward's predecessor, served six years. The odds of the freshman class of 2006 shaking Mr. Wiley's hand at the Kohl Center upon their graduation seem remote.
Turnover in the world of higher education is inevitable and it seems hardly fair to blame UW for such. But with this year having seen a particularly notable exodus of high-ranking officials from Bascom Hall concurrent to a particularly vicious streak of tabloid scandals, we are concerned that the school may not be able to fill these posts with the quality individuals it once attracted.
A national academic candidate for the position of provost might inquire as to some of his or her predecessor's job duties, and one must wonder just how "overseeing three felonious professors with sexual convictions who are still on the payroll" will sound. And when one adds in that one of these professors had to be kept discreetly on campus as part of a work release program, things turn outright creepy.
A dean of students candidate might inquire as to why his or her predecessor left the university in the first place. In answering this question, the school is left with two choices: lightly explaining that Luoluo Hong claimed to have been harassed by the vice chancellor for student affairs or explaining that Ms. Hong was a reactionary ideologue who never should have lasted the three years that she did.
A candidate for any job might be interested to learn that the chancellor is personally being sued by the former vice chancellor for student affairs — who, incidentally, is in the office down the hall if you have any questions. But don't worry — even though his sexual affair with a student and protracted sexual harassment of others led to a lengthy internal investigation and attracted negative national press, at least he is also suing that pesky former dean of students.
UW must still be attractive to the nation's finest, though. After all, other than the sub-zero temperatures that have required newly hired professors to purchase parkas and scarves for over 150 years and the annual confrontation between drunken students and overzealous police in late October, this is a great place. And as for all that sexual stuff, please keep it in perspective — the pervert in the city's arts building has far more alleged victims than the professors who molested small children or attempted a pedophilic rendezvous at a Subway restaurant.
Yeah, it's going to be tough for UW to find the sort of national elite it once could summon on a whim.
The good news, though, is that for the short term, the various people boasting of interim titles are all actually not only incredibly decent transitive office-holders but, indeed, candidates wholly capable of assuming the offices permanently. Mesdames Sapiro and Berquam have, in particular, distinguished themselves to an extraordinary degree this semester and, for that, the entire UW community ought to be supremely grateful.
Then again, if they decide they aren't up for sticking around, at least the school can recruit on the strengths of its exceptional relationship with the state government.
The editorial board ([email protected]) is comprised of one graduate student, three seniors and a junior, majoring in political science, journalism, Gonzo journalism, literature, rhetoric, the shared interests of Stanley Kubrick and Vladimir Nabokov, baseball dynasties, morality gone awry and the study of George Carlin's seven dirty words. Having now convened and adjourned more than 50 times, board members only regret not getting Darryn drunk, failing to opine on more matters sexual in nature and once censoring the phrase "juvenile Trotsky wannabe" from an editorial. Otherwise, they feel as though it's been a good ride and would like to thank you for reading. (And, oh, what dedication if you've made it this far.)
