Students voiced their presidential expectations to 10 members of the committee that will select candidates to replace university President Richard Freeland last night.

Despite the low turnout of about 20 students, participants voiced their concerns to the committee for close to 90 minutes, specifying co-op, community relations and interaction with students as important priorities for a new president.

Most members in attendance were current and former members of the Student Government Association (SGA), or active members of other student groups.

Student leaders said the meeting was still productive, even though, for the most part, they were the only ones in attendance.

“Fourteen thousand people all have different opinions of what they would like to see in a university president, but to stand up and actually fight for that position is something that people feel like others will do for them,” said SGA President Ashley Adams, one of the moderators of the forum. “It’s most important to have quality, not quantity – and on that level, we exceeded expectations.”

Members of the committee said they were impressed with the level of the conversation.

“When they tell us there is going to be a forum, you dream up all sorts of scenarios,” said George Chamillard, the committee’s chairman. “But I was blown away by how productive and thoughtful the comments were.”

Peter Kunzel, the sophomore criminal justice major who is the only student on the committee, also said he found the forum “amazing.”

“We thought we could fill the room, but for the first forum, we couldn’t have asked for more,” he said.

Most of the students who spoke out eventually brought their remarks back to identifying a president who forges a connection with students.

Latin American Student Association (LASO) President Sergio Marrero said a student-savvy president would help solve a number of the problems the administration is facing, such as increasing the endowment and giving the campus a more collegiate atmosphere.

“We need a president who is student-centered, someone who says ‘I’m concerned, I want to meet your needs.’ That doesn’t happen and it should,” he said. “Then students will connect and want to give back.”

Michael DeRamo, SGA vice president for academic affairs, said good student relations will also be necessary to improve academic programming in various colleges.

“Student advisory groups are an important tool to bridge the gap between students and the administration. Students who otherwise wouldn’t feel comfortable sitting in a room with a dean now have a chance to make that connection,” he said.

Along those lines, former SGA President Michael Romano said strong character was also an important quality in a president.

“I’m more interested in the person than the agenda,” he said. “Everyone in this room is going to press the president for different things, and I want someone who is in good character who will value everyone’s viewpoint.”

Other students said the seating of a new president would provide the university with an opportunity to reexamine its co-op program.

“Students have had a range of experiences, and I think we should take time to reflect,” said Adriana Campos, SGA vice president for administration and public relations. “It’s time to reevaluate from the bottom up.”

Several students also offered ideas for programs they would like to see implemented by the next president.

Former SGA Vice President Allyson Savin said the university could expand its positive influence in the community by requiring every student to participate in a fixed number of community service hours throughout their college career.

Representing Students for Environmental Action (SEA), Imanuela Costiner said the university should focus on becoming more energy efficient both to save money and become more environmentally responsible.

“We are facing an energy crisis on this campus,” she told the committee.

Another former SGA president, Bill Durkin, also urged the committee to find a candidate who would focus on making the university less dependent on funds from tuition to finance its endeavors, and more dependent on outside donations.

“Unlike our competitors, the financial burden is heaped onto the shoulders of the students here,” Durkin said. “We have to find a president who will enhance the endowment and alumni connections to tackle this problem.”

The 10 members of the committee said little throughout the forum. Officially, their proceedings are confidential, but they offered the forum to listen to the ideas of students when narrowing down the field of candidates.

Chamillard said the committee was still in the process of identifying the challenges the university faces.

The next forum is primarily for faculty. It will be held in the beginning of next semester, but the date has yet to be announced. –>