From: Roger Clarke (synergrc@hotmail.com)
Date: Sat Aug 31 2002 - 20:23:35 EDT
Hello, stalwart USASers --
Following immediately below is an abridgement of an article published today in the online Tallahassee Democrat. The article announces FSU President D'Alemberte's decision to step down from that post. FSU-SAS is mentioned in the article.
Below the abridgement is the article in its entirety as it appears at
http://krd.realcities.com/html.ng/site=krsouth&proptype=krd_np&webprop=tallahassee&product=mld&subproduct=democrat&size=sponsor&pos=popup&c1=none
In solidarity,
Roger Clarke
tel: 434-823-4889
synergrc@hotmail.com
PS -- USAS may well want to use this early information to adapt its approach to FSU governing bodies. The article appears to allude to the increasing power of the Gov. Jeb Bush-appointed FSU Board at this time. - R.
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[here follows an abridgement of the article]
Posted on Sat, Aug. 31, 2002
D'Alemberte to step down
Leader plans to leave FSU post as early as January
By Melanie Yeager
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida State University President Sandy D'Alemberte opened the door Friday for his exit next year.
"By January, I will have been here for nine years, and that's a good, long time for someone to be president," D'Alemberte said. The 69-year-old campus leader, known for his Southern gentleman charm and ever-present bow tie, said he doesn't want to leave FSU in a lurch.
In a letter written Friday to FSU's board of trustees, D'Alemberte said he will leave as early as January if a new president is in place. If not, he is willing to serve through the spring legislative session.
D'Alemberte said he envisions three possibilities. The best option would be for trustees to find a new president by January. If they don't, he is willing to continue serving as a "lame duck" leader through the spring legislative session. The third scenario - and D'Alemberte's least-favorite choice - would be for trustees to appoint an interim president.
"In order for us to get the best person by January, we would need divine intervention," trustee Steve Uhlfelder said. "I think the best thing for us to do is take our time and get the best person possible."
[On] D'Alemberte's watch, ... [t]he president paved the way for centers focusing on two of his interests - civic education and human rights. FSU became one of the first U.S. universities to note community service on a student transcript.
D'Alemberte also has weathered his share of controversy during his tenure. This spring he had a standoff with FSU Students Against Sweatshops that resulted in a 100-day-plus student protest on Landis Green.
Students describe him as approachable. ... "He's given students a voice within the university that they haven't had before," said senior Michelle Pletch, student body president and trustee. "On any issue pertaining to student life, the president has always sought out student opinion and taken it into consideration before making any decision."
D'Alemberte did say his upcoming presidential evaluation - the first since trustees became his boss - was one of the triggers for deciding to inform trustees of his departure plans.
Trustees interviewed said they anticipated D'Alemberte's departure would come during their board tenure, which began with their appointment by Gov. Jeb Bush more than a year ago.
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Steve Ellis contributed to this report. Contact Melanie Yeager at (850) 599-2306 or myeager@taldem.com.
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[here follows the unabridged article ]
Posted on Sat, Aug. 31, 2002
D'Alemberte to step down
Leader plans to leave FSU post as early as January
By Melanie Yeager
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Florida State University President Sandy D'Alemberte opened the door Friday for his exit next year.
"By January, I will have been here for nine years, and that's a good, long time for someone to be president," D'Alemberte said. The 69-year-old campus leader, known for his Southern gentleman charm and ever-present bow tie, said he doesn't want to leave FSU in a lurch.
It's not that he's unhappy.
"I could not feel more support than I do from trustees," D'Alemberte said.
He just thinks the timing is right.
In a letter written Friday to FSU's board of trustees, D'Alemberte said he will leave as early as January if a new president is in place. If not, he is willing to serve through the spring legislative session.
"Sandy does an outstanding job, and he can be president as long as he wants to," said John Thrasher, board chairman and an FSU alum. He said trustees will discuss what to do next at their September meeting.
D'Alemberte said he envisions three possibilities. The best option would be for trustees to find a new president by January. If they don't, he is willing to continue serving as a "lame duck" leader through the spring legislative session. The third scenario - and D'Alemberte's least-favorite choice - would be for trustees to appoint an interim president.
"In order for us to get the best person by January, we would need divine intervention," trustee Steve Uhlfelder said. "I think the best thing for us to do is take our time and get the best person possible."
Despite mounting speculation that he would step down, D'Alemberte had said he didn't want to leave FSU until the new medical school is accredited and the current capital campaign completed in 2005. But the university this week received a favorable report in its medical school accreditation bid, and the campaign has exceeded expectations. So far, FSU has raised more than $301 million - topping the final tally of D'Alemberte's last fund-raising campaign that ended in 1997.
A noted negotiator, D'Alemberte has led the university's charge to secure a quick second review of its bid for the medical school accreditation.
Many accomplishments
Ever the fund-raiser, D'Alemberte often described a university president as "a person who lives in a large, white house on the hill and begs for a living." Foundation President Jeff Robison has said D'Alemberte brought in nearly half of the record $107.2 million raised last fiscal year.
Under D'Alemberte's watch, FSU bolstered its roster of endowed and eminent professors, luring academic gurus such as Pulitzer Prize author Robert Olen Butler and mathematician Max Gunzburger. The school stayed on the forefront of technological advances such as distance learning and became the first university in the nation to have access to LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe, an in-depth database of information now used by more than 1,200 universities and colleges. Campus aesthetics improved as D'Alemberte supported a return to traditional brick buildings and landscaped greens and walkways.
The president paved the way for centers focusing on two of his interests - civic education and human rights. FSU became one of the first U.S. universities to note community service on a student transcript.
D'Alemberte - whose past careers include lawyer, legislator and dean - has a reputation for tireless work on behalf of the university. It's not uncommon for staff members to receive e-mails from him at 3 a.m.
"He's older than I am, and I'd like to see him tired once," said FSU Provost Larry Abele, who said he's been trying to talk D'Alemberte out of his plans to leave for some time. "I think we have a very strong administrative team that works together well."
D'Alemberte also has weathered his share of controversy during his tenure. This spring he had a standoff with FSU Students Against Sweatshops that resulted in a 100-day-plus student protest on Landis Green. He often stuck to his guns concerning athletic decisions, despite an onslaught of e-mails from angry alumni. He questioned coach Bobby Bowden's decision to name his son, Jeff, as offensive coordinator. He prohibited football star Peter Warrick from playing until his theft charges could be resolved.
"I think all of his decisions were built around fairness. You had to respect his decisions even though they were different from mine on several occasions," Bowden said.
'Dark horse'
Uhlfelder was on the search committee of the Board of Regents that initially considered D'Alemberte to lead FSU. He said the former law school dean was "a dark horse" among the finalists for the posts that included Former House Speaker T.K. Wetherell and FSU Provost Robert Glidden. But he has earned the support of students, faculty, alumni and supporters, he said.
Students describe him as approachable. A student once showed up at his front door and asked for help tying a bow tie, and he obliged. He often offers students a ride in his golf cart as he crosses campus.
"He's given students a voice within the university that they haven't had before," said senior Michelle Pletch, student body president and trustee. "On any issue pertaining to student life, the president has always sought out student opinion and taken it into consideration before making any decision."
While leading FSU, D'Alemberte also has battled health problems. He had surgery for prostate cancer in 1996 and another operation last year to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. He said Friday, however, that his health was not a factor in his decision.
Time for change
D'Alemberte did say his upcoming presidential evaluation - the first since trustees became his boss - was one of the triggers for deciding to inform trustees of his departure plans. He thought it was time for FSU to think through a change in leadership. He wants to stay associated with the university. He still has a three-year, $1.9 million grant to research distance learning for legal education in Central and Eastern Europe. He would like to teach law classes. He's being wooed by three or four law firms but said he has no plans for further discussions while president.
Trustees interviewed said they anticipated D'Alemberte's departure would come during their board tenure, which began with their appointment by Gov. Jeb Bush more than a year ago. But they still aren't ready to see him go.
"When you have a president like Sandy D'Alemberte, it's never the right time. You never want to lose somebody like that," said Lee Hinkle, vice chairwoman of the board. "My take on it is we have had a nine-year run with an exceptional president."
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Steve Ellis contributed to this report. Contact Melanie Yeager at (850) 599-2306 or myeager@taldem.com.
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