COLUMN: Pres. barely has room for lunch
Résumé for Marie Griffin …
Work experience: President of Utah State University.
That’s right.
In September, I spent a day by President Kermit L. Hall’s side, learning the ins and outs of running a university.
The president picked me up from the Taggart Student Center at 7:45 a.m. in his white 2001 Buick Park Avenue.
I rode shotgun with him to the Copper Mill Restaurant, where we met university administrators and city leaders for breakfast. The group was holding its semester meeting to make sure the university and city are on the same page. It took us a minute to get situated, because the president was on crutches while recovering from knee surgery.
President Hall invited his colleagues to address all comments to me.
Gary Kiger, interim dean for the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, jumped on the president’s instruction.
“Madame President, about that budget request …” he said, jokingly.
Those in attendance took turns giving a rundown of their jobs and projects. President Hall talked about compact planning, which is the process of evaluating and applying university goals.
The president has a governing presence.
When he talks, people listen.
President Hall’s a straight-shooter. This guy doesn’t mince words.
He knows what he wants – what he feels will benefit the university – and goes after it.
That’s a compliment to him. But I couldn’t help wondering if some people don’t offer their opinions or reservations because they are intimidated. I guess a person in such a position knows the effect he has on people.
After breakfast, President Hall had a private meeting I couldn’t attend. There were a couple of those throughout the day.
When we met up again, it was time for a conference with the committee designated to search for a new Student Services vice
president.
The president always has a meeting.
I noticed he often tries to sit back and let others feel involved. He comments here and there, and every now and then he’ll crack a little joke. President Hall has a dry sense of humor. His jokes were easy to miss at times. Though my responses were often delayed, I like that kind of humor.
I took a break at noon for lunch. When I went back to the president’s office, I learned he hadn’t had time to do the same. His staff assistant, Rose, tossed him a granola bar from the stash in her drawer.
We then had a meeting with Celestial Bybee, president for the Associated Students of USU. Celestial said the president meets with her whenever she needs.
We presidents collaborated on issues affecting students – the budget, the Fieldhouse and others.
OK, so I mostly just
listened.
Afterward, I attended one of the president’s bi-weekly meetings with the vice president for Research, Brent Miller. It was interesting to sit in on a one-on-one chat about the university’s status with respect to research. I was asked to leave only for a couple minutes at the very end.
Our last meeting was with the committee that evaluates Aggie Ice Cream, then President Hall was off to get his hair cut before a date with his wife to the university’s musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
At about 5 p.m. I realized I didn’t have time to be the president anymore. I had to go back to being news editor and produce the next day’s paper.
So, I resigned as president of USU. Kermit Hall resumed his position, and I left with his sincere invitation to contact him if I need anything.
Marie Griffin is the news editor of The Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to amarie@cc.usu.edu.