The first of California State University Monterey Bay's (CSUMB) three Presidential candidates visited the campus on March 6th. The arrival of the candidates is the culmination of a long selection process begun when Dr. Peter Smith, the University’s only President since its inception in 1994, left the job in early 2005. The three member committee to select the President is now allowing the candidates a chance to articulate their views and present themselves before a final decision is made, following final interviews on March 13.

As is the norm regarding Foundation/Student relations at CSUMB, the students have largely been kept in the dark regarding the selection process. Additionally, the building of social structures that function to disallow the free flow of information from the University to the students is a strong signal that either the decision making bodies are uninterested in facilitating community participation, or actively attempting to conceal its true motives.

As with all issues of governance at CSUMB, the process is marked by a significant debate about the direction the university will go in the future with respect to its founding vision. Founding faculty, reduced in number severely during Smith’s tenure but still retaining positions of great influence within the decision making structure, are deeply concerned with how the new President will respond to the vision statement and its devotion to multiculturalism and representation of the traditionally underprivileged. Read more

see also: CSUMB holds "Funeral for the CSU"