[media-credit name=’SUNDEEP MALLADI/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]The University of Wisconsin welcomed a new face to Madison Wednesday as it prepares to name a permanent dean of students.
During a forum at the Red Gym for Timothy Gordon, the current associate dean of student services and registration at Northwestern University, students had the opportunity to question the dean of students candidate on a variety of topics.
The other finalists for the position are Brian Rose from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and current UW Interim Dean of Students Lori Berquam, both of whom will have their own forums in the next couple of weeks.
With 13 years of experience in higher education, Gordon said a dean of students should act as a bridge between students and administration.
"[The dean of students] is the middle of the wheel — connecting all of the spokes; connecting ideas and concepts," Gordon said.
Transitioning to a state-funded school from a private university like Northwestern, Gordon would deal with a different set of budgetary concerns.
Part of the dean's job is juggling the multiple monetary needs of the students, Gordon said.
"Resources are certainly very tight," he added. "So the dean has to be creative and innovative in terms of helping students and faculty think about what they want to accomplish, and need."
When asked about mediating conflicts between administration and students, Gordon said he would open up dialogues to make sure all opinions are heard.
Even when forced to side with administration during a conflict, Gordon said he always provides a rationale for why.
"I've been very clear about why decisions were made and what the parameters are," Gordon said. "Sometimes we have to make choices — and the reality is the resources aren't infinite."
Gordon also fielded several questions about student climate and diversity. In the past, he said he has selected a random set of students to informally meet with to analyze campus climate, as well hold "issue summits" to open up the lines of communication.
During a portion of the forum, students were asked to express their areas of concern with the university.
UW senior Jennifer Knox said she was concerned about the Business School curriculum and the number of students and faculty who are not "culturally competent."
When asked about the line between hate speech and free speech on college campuses, which has been a issue of contention at UW over the years, Gordon shared his own experience as a person of color. Gordon, who is light-skinned, said a student used a derogatory term around him, not knowing he was black.
"It's at least important to start the dialogue — there are obviously parameters with university policy in terms of what crosses the line," Gordon said. "From my own personal perspective, I've had the opportunity as the person of color who people don't always see as a person of color — I can be part of conversations that aren't completely comfortable."
Gordon also shared a story from when he identifying himself as a homosexual during a diversity presentation. He said he was forced to call in campus security to protect him from a student who had targeted Gordon for a violent attack.
"My role of a dean never changed during either of those cases," he said. "They are all teachable moments."
Stella Luong, executive staff member of UW's MultiCultural Student Coalition, said Gordon's presentation created a great forum for students.
"I felt that the environment he had for the students was great … I was really impressed," she said. "He also expressed his priority of talking with students; that's very important to any dean of students."