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FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF LEADING PACK TO TAKE OVER AT CAROLINA
It only took six and a half months, but the Associated Press is finally picking up on the story we broke last December: President Bush’s former top aide Andy Card is the frontrunner to take over the job of president at the University of South Carolina.
Current president Andrew Sorensen will be retiring at the end of the month.
Last week The State reported that Card was among seven choices being considered by a presidential search committee, which includes USC faculty, and the full board. Although The State didn’t name names, today’s AP story confirms that Card is among the options, but he is “keeping quiet about his aspirations.”
Since late April, at least five people, including the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, have written letters on behalf of the university alumnus and transportation secretary for President George H.W. Bush. [...]
The university isn’t saying much about candidates being interviewed, although members of Loadholt’s committee have met with Card and with other candidates. [AP]
From what I know, Card’s competition includes Ray Greenberg, the current president of the Medical University of South Carolina, faculty favorite Harris Pastides, the university’s vice president for research and health sciences, and William Hubbard, the chairman of the USC Board of Trustees.
I know for certain that Card is being pushed heavily by political folks including some members of the administration and board of trustees who think the school needs a big name with fundraising capabilities and that, if offered the post, he would gladly take it.
And I certainly hope they go with Card because USC needs a leader who is not a lackey of academia but someone with real world experience and relevance to move the school forward.
Yeah, right, because the Bush Administration has been such a success – can’t wait to see what mess Carolina would turn into.
I’m sure you’re busy and it’s difficult to always get all the facts correct, but I have one correction for you:
Herbert C. Adams is the current chairman of the USC Board of Trustees. Miles Loadholt, chairman of the USC Presidential Search Committee has been elected chairman and will become chairman later in the Fall.
“…USC needs a leader who is not a lackey of academia but someone with real world experience and relevance…”
See, I can tell what motivates you to make a statement like this; the whole anti-ivory tower/egghead caricature which only accurately depicts a few liberal arts professors and maybe a couple history scholars.
And that assumption is completely incosequential to what are actually the bad aspects of USC leadership over the past half-decade or so.
Sorensen said “Let’s do research a whole lot!” and this much of his plan was good.
Then he went on to implement that plan by spending lots of money on things that don’t directly impact the quality or volume of research happening at USC. This part of the plan was bad.
Lots of money for construction companies and developers though; even if the actual facilities remain poor quality. I didn’t want that parking anyway and all these trees make for good promotional pictures.
Lots of money to poach a few strong reputation faculty. Faculty who get here and realize they can’t do their work because the facilities are terrible, and they can’t get competent grad students to work under them because the school doesn’t have a good reputation and the stipends are far far below average for the region.
Sorenson chased after every new research fad and gimmick with a fist full of student’s money, and now we’ve got very little to show for it except a 5% tuition hike.
Now this is the part where I summarize how you are wrong adam: Sorenson did not fail because he was too academic or did not understand the real world; Sorenson failed because he did not understand what is needed to make good research happen. Card will be even more ignorant of this, and so the bit of good Sorenson did accomplish will be washed away if Card is his replacment. He’ll confuse his responsibilities with those of a real estate developer and education will be the casualty.
Just what we need, one of the biggest names in the biggest joke for an administration in the last 50 years.
I’m thinking Bush Level Four Bio Lab. The current Administration wants to install animal research/biolabs in metropolitian areas. Card is a shoe-in for establishing bio weapon research right here in downtown Columbia close to where you are raising your kids.
The Fort got a bunch of new air traffic with base realignments. If you live in Forest Acres or downtown, you already know about heavy air surveillance that goes on from time to time. It’s difficult to miss unless you are so involved in watching Homer Simpson or As the World Turns ,that you miss it….
But biolabs and bio research is the new push… and Carolina already got some contract for something along these lines so look for more with Card at the head of the school.
Nothing good will come from Andy Card. He’s a name dressed up in a suit, with a very depressing resume, or that’s what the general public thinks of him anyway…..
Get a real academic please……….not a Republican politician.
Yes,
Why bring in someone that can raise money, bring in big name speakers, get in any door in DC and Columbia and has proven to be a leader that can work with both sides of the aisle. This Phd. stuff is foolishness. Several schools have gone to presidents without Phds. Clemson, Missouri, Colorado, West Virginian, Oklahoma and Michigan State.
Card is just the kind of heavy hitter the U of SC needs rigth now. He has the resume to be strong in both the academic and political worlds. Here’s hoping the U of SC makes the big hire, like it did with Spurrier in football.
Some how I don’t think Mr. Card is very popular in Washington right now, otherwise he would have a big lobbying contract lined up making many times what he could ever hope to make as President of USC. The fact he does not tells me no one up there wants him; and if that’s the case, he is not opening doors.
But that aside, I can’t think of anything worse for the reputation of USC with other institutions than to have a President who can’t even receive an honorary degree from another University without being booed off stage.
Further, USC’s shining star is its international business program. Maintaining that program requires maintaining relationships in other countries. Want it be fun to watch a former Bushie, trying to build relationships with other countries. I guess we can kiss that program goodbye.
Finally, if its a wall street model we want (i.e. short term money over long term substance) why don’t we also bring in Alberto Gonzales as Dean of the law school, and Carl Rove as head of ethics while we are at it. Also why not bring Holderman back as well. He raised a lot of money and he is out of jail now. Maybe everyone is forgetting there is a difference between famous and infamous.
“Strong in the academic …world”? You’re kidding, right?
“Lackey of academia”?. Um, lessee — aren’t universities the supposed core of academia? Shouldn’t university leaders serve the institutions they represent?
With Card, SC will add nothing more other than to its laughingstock academic reputation.
we already had andy card once at USC…his name was Jim Holderman! But McLovin, you were to young to remember that and you didn’t live here then.
Yep, just what we need…movement in the right direction. And who shall take us to the promised land? The former Chief of Staff to the President of the United States of America. The same POTUS that has moved America in the supposed “right ” direction since 2000. Jesus Christ people…do you really need more than 8 years to figure out that the Bush Administration has been a “Koolaid Drinkers’ Paradise” for stooges that want a bureaucratic job? Andy Card was supposed to raise the bar for the Bush Administration. Instead, he becaome complicit in it’s mediocrity…AND BELIEVE ME MEDIOCRITY PAYS AND PAYS BIG!!! Unfortunately, if the Bored of Trustees play the Card card, it’ll be the Carolina Community that pays. Send him to Clemson to keep Brad Scott company.
Glad to see that your prophesy was as inane as I thought it was. Perhaps the Trustees have some common sense and intelligence after all. I’m SO glad Card isn’t a finalist, let alone President.
http://www.sc.edu/presidentialsearch/
Whoops, looks like some Ivory Tower schmucks will be put in charge of a university. Aw dang it all with that book learnin’.
HALLELUJAH!!! There’s hope for us all!