Students rose to action with a petition in support of Interim Regional Chancellor Bill Hogarth after the Regional Chancellor Search Advisory Committee did not recommend him as a finalist for the permanent position last month.
Mark Lombardi-Nelson, student body president, had a seat on the search committee and helped narrow the pool of 74 candidates.
During airport interviews for the final six, of which Hogarth was included, Lombardi-Nelson spoke to fellow committee members with “conviction” — and tears in his eyes — about how Hogarth has “put his heart into being our chancellor.”
In doing so, Lombardi-Nelson felt he expressed the interests of the student body.
“He is by far the best person I have ever worked with in my life,” Lombardi-Nelson said, explaining that while SG sees a lot of “red tape” when trying to make changes on campus, Hogarth has always tried to greet them with “green lights.”
Though Lombardi-Nelson was disappointed with the committee’s decision to not include Hogarth in the top three, he commended its fairness. When students approached him looking for a way to reverse the decision with a petition, he saw it as his duty to help draft it.
Sophia Constantine, an SG deputy, along with nine other students, were the main proponents in creating the petition. Within 72 hours, petitioners acquired about 340 signatures.
“The student body embraces him,” Constantine said. “He has a heart. He cares for the students.”
SG also drafted a resolution to formally endorse Hogarth as chancellor but retracted it in fairness to the other candidates, who would be visiting campus the next week. The resolution is now back up for discussion.
“It’s flattering. It means a lot to have the students’ support,” Hogarth said. Despite his disappointment at not being recommended as a finalist, he said he will continue to work on the needs of the campus.
Christina Johnson, who signed the petition, believes it is worth the fight.
“I’ve talked with [Hogarth] personally a few times and he really has the school’s best interest at heart, especially the academics,” she said. “He has some awesome plans for the future if reinstated. He’s done an awesome job so far, so why kick him out?”
But not all students are willing to support their current chancellor.
“I am perturbed by his past as the chairman of the International Whaling Commission, especially now that our campus will have a fish tank which, in essence, arrests the freedom of whatever marine life goes into it — a fish tank in which he played a major role in getting,” said Andrew Kramer, a junior.
On Feb. 8, Lombardi-Nelson presented the petition to Judy Genshaft, USF’s president. Genshaft told him the students’ voice is critical in the decision for chancellor but it is not the only voice being taken into consideration. The views of faculty, administration and the community as well as whether Genshaft believes she and the candidate can work well together are all components.
Press coverage also became an issue, Lombardi-Nelson said. Not wanting candidates to be greeted with headlines about students petitioning to keep them away, SG agreed to back down for a while.
As rumors fly and Genshaft ponders her decision, SG is losing time to pass its resolution to endorse Hogarth. Lombardi-Nelson said discussion of how to move forward should take place over the next week.
But whether the petition and resolution (if passed) influence Genshaft’s decision, Lombardi-Nelson is satisfied in knowing that Hogarth will still have 10 to 12 pages of signatures saying, “we love you,” from the students.
There is still no deadline for Genshaft’s decision, but it’s rumored that the new chancellor will take over in June or July.
Chelsi Kallis is a correspondent st the Crow’s Nest. She can be reached at chelsikallis@mail.usf.edu.
Tyler Killette is news editor of the Crow’s Nest. She can be reached at news@crowsneststpete.com
