A way forward for Memorial University

Government controls how Memorial University operates through its Board of Regents.

In my opinion, the quality of education seems to have diminished. In the future, MUN should aspire to become one of the best teaching universities in the world. To honour its special obligation to Newfoundland and Labrador, its primary goal should be to educate the young people of the province. It should rededicate itself as a memorial to the young men from N.L. killed in wars.

A search is currently underway to find the next president of MUN. In my opinion, the next president should definitely not be an academic, fixated on growth, who just copies what others do elsewhere and only sees MUN as a stepping stone to somewhere else. Most of all, the next president should be intelligent and honest.

Everyone from N.L. loves N.L. In my opinion, the next president of MUN should be from N.L. Only someone from N.L. could reject government interference. Only someone from N.L. would be highly motivated to do a good job.

Judy Foote, who was a respected N.L. politician, would make an excellent president. So would Elizabeth Davis, who has taken up many good causes, including the Gathering Place. Brian Peckford was a high school teacher before he entered politics. So was Roger Grimes. That says a lot about their character. Nobody becomes a teacher to make a fortune. Either of them would make a good president.

The name of each person who applies for the position should be made public. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous should be automatically rejected. The short list should be established by a MUN committee, not by a search company. Also, each person on the short list should have to make a public presentation and be properly interviewed. Everything about the search must be transparent.