QU president off to rocky start

I read the article in the New Haven Register (Feb. 20) on the new president of Quinnipiac University with interest. I am a proud graduate of Quinnipiac University. While there as an undergrad, I was president of my class for all four years. Likewise, I was president of my fraternity and the Political Union. At graduation, I delivered “the talk” on behalf of my class and received several awards. Over the years, I was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, an honorary degree from the law school and served on the board of trustees for almost 25 years, having stepped down last year. I also taught undergrads accounting and law subjects as an adjunct professor. Thus, I feel I’ve earned the right to express an opinion on what seems to be happening at QU since Dr. John Lahey retired.

I have been following Dr. Judy Olian’s rocky start as president with interest and bewilderment. By any measure her predecessor, John Lahey, was one of the most successful college presidents ever. All Olian had to do was follow his footsteps. Instead her actions seem arbitrary, capricious and illadvised. Her decision to spend close to $1 million on mansion renovation so she can live more comfortably, while simultaneously withholding support for the Great Hunger Museum, seems particularly mean-spirited and small minded. Let’s hope she wakes up before it’s too late. Hugh Keefe New Haven