Regents blundered by bypassing qualified, diverse candidates

Re: “Interim leader Saliman is picked as sole finalist,” April 13 news story

I am the mother of a University of Colorado student. I am disappointed in the Board of Regents. The issue is not whether Todd Saliman is qualified to lead the university System. The issue is whether the board should have chosen one of the other “highly qualified candidates” (their own words) who would have added much-needed diversity.

The university system has had 23 presidents: 23 white, 21 male and zero people of color to lead the state’s flagship universities.

The students deserve leadership that reflects their diverse lives. Once again, the Board of Regents has denied women and people of color the opportunity to see themselves in the highest leadership. (Let us not forget that last time they chose a president whom women and LGBTQ students protested against because of his political history.)

The university system needs the perspectives and life experiences of people of color, of women in our diverse world.

The Board chose five “highly qualified candidates” as its final pool of candidates. Only one of the candidates in the pool was white man. And yet (or maybe, of course), they choose the white man.

Some may dismiss my concerns as identity politics. But what really is identity politics? Choosing white men 21 out of 23 times? Choosing the only white man when there are four other “highly qualified candidates” who would have brought needed diversity to the highest position in the university system?

As someone who cares deeply about diversity, equity and young people, I give the Board of Regents an F.

Carol Napier, Arvada