By Chip Skambis
The Search Committee to find the 12th President of the University of Florida hosted a public forum earlier this afternoon. A group of faculty, students and Gainesville residents attended and offered feedback as to what qualities they would like to see in the University’s next president. A wide variety of faculty, students and Gainesville residents discussed and presented the qualities they wished to see in the next president of the University of Florida. Most said they want a president with political savvy to deal with a legislature intent on cutting education budgets. The discussion became a little tense when members started talking about whether or not the president should be an academic. Ralf Remshardt, a theatre professor in attendance advocated for an academic president along with many other faculty members.
[audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Remsart1.mp3]Marcus Motes was a business grad student sitting at the same table. He particularly wanted to stress that no person should be ruled out solely for being involved in the private sector.
[audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/MotesQA.mp3]All attendees agreed that the president should have some sort of political savvy and graduate-level degree.