MUN remains mum on search for new president

Nearly seven months after Memorial University president Axel Meisen left the post prematurely to take up a job in Alberta, the institution remains without a permanent president.

And the university is saying very little about it.

Meisen left his post at the end of the last year to take up the position of chair of foresight at the Alberta Research Council. Initially, Meisen had planned to leave at the end of his term in August of this year. Vice-president academic Eddy Campbell has been serving as president in an interim capacity since the beginning of the year.

At the time of Meisen's departure, the university issued a release saying a permanent president would be found soon.

"Anticipating Dr. Meisen's departure in August 2008, the board had already begun the selection process for a new president, hoping to recruit an individual by early spring to start work by September 2008," board of regents chairman Gil Dalton said in the release.

"His earlier departure won't really affect that process," Dalton added.

Deep into the summer, the position has yet to be filled.

Neither the university nor the board of regents is giving interviews.

"The chair of the board of regents has been consistent in his approach to media requests regarding the search for a new president," Ivan Muzychka, MUN associate director of communications, wrote in an e-mail. "He would prefer to wait until a president has been found, at which time he will gladly do interviews. The process is obviously a confidential one and the university would rather not parse details pertaining to the work of the search committee while it is still at play."

Muzychka said the presidential search committee includes representatives from the university and the community.

"The committee is making progress, but the process will take more time," Muzychka said.

Cameron Campbell, director of external affairs with the Memorial University Students' Union, said the union has received few updates on the process.

"We're not really privy to most of the information, except for the fact that we don't have a president yet," Campbell said.

However, Campbell said he understands the university's silence, given that many candidates for the position are likely to be faculty members at other universities.

"It can be frustrating, but we realize the need for confidentiality," Campbell said.

Campbell said he hopes the next president will keep as a priority the combination of low tuition and a high level of service.

"We're definitely looking for someone who's going to keep the interest of students in mind," he said.

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