February 04, 2008 10:38 PM UTC

Benson is everything CU was looking for in a new Prez

• 0 Comments
• by: Dabee47

Strangely, this is the first time I’ve felt the need to post a diary on anything here at Pols.  Perhaps even more strange is that it’s in defense of a republican.

As a CU grad, a grad student, and employee, it pains me that so many of you have finally decided to wake up and realize the Regents were picking a new president.  The “outrage” so many people are expressing about Benson being chosen as the sole finalist (read: next president) is nice to see…but ya’ll are late to the party.

More than 6 months ago the Regents and the search committee, headed by Steve Bosley, posted their “Presidential Job Description” and “Desired Experiences, Capabilities and Key Character Traits.”  You can read them here.

https://www.cu.edu/regents/Pre…

https://www.cu.edu/regents/Pre…

What you’ll find is that Benson is exactly what they were looking for.  Months ago, many of us were concerned over the lack of academic experience the search committee felt was necessary for the next leader of CU.  We were almost alone in our fight.  When Bosley made it clear that the next president would likely be a “fundraiser-in-chief,” in a sense, we grew more concerned.  Yet again we fought alone while most of you were oblivious.

So here we are.  The Regents have found a candidate that fits exactly what they were looking for and now you’re outraged.

Benson will be trotted around the campuses over the next week, some of you so-called “activists” will show up to the Q&A sessions and voice your complaints; but when the Regents meet in a week or two for a final vote, Bruce Benson will be confirmed as the next President of the University of Colorado on a 7-2 ot 6-3 party-line vote.  

There was a time when you could have done something.  Unfortunately, that time was months ago before the Regents even approved the job description.  But the vast majority of you did not.

So, before you wail and moan about the selection of Benson and complain about his republican hinjinx and his lack of an MA or Ph.D, ask yourself if you really did all you could to prevent this.  With the exception of a select few, the answer is a definitive “no.”  Waking up and jumping on the Regents at this late date isn’t going to sway the republican majority that wants Benson as President.  There was a time when something could have been done…waiting until Benson was the sole finalist isn’t it.

For what the Regents want, I think Benson is a good pick.  Sure, I’d prefer an academic with demonstrated fundraising skills…but if the University is only interested in the latter, it’s hard to argue against Benson…