New Bradley President

[BU1999]

Anyone know who the new BU president is going to be?

[Bravesguy]

Ray Lahood wants to be the next BU president

"Independent-minded Republican Rep. Ray LaHood (Ill.) will leave Capitol Hill after 30 years as a House member and staffer if offered the presidency of his alma mater, Bradley University, in his hometown of Peoria. LaHood's liability in seeking the post is that he has no degree higher than a bachelor's.

A LaHood fund-raising coffee scheduled for last Wednesday on Capitol Hill was called off last Monday with a terse e-mail: "Cancelled Till Further Notice." LaHood felt that it would be "a little unseemly" to raise campaign money while he awaited Bradley's decision, though that is common practice by congressional colleagues facing similar situations."

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21220

[BU Bill]

I nominate Dick Versace!

[Stryker]

I talked to Lahood on monday, he came in at work, and I mentioned him going for the president position, however, he didn't sound excited about it and said he probably will not be the next president. I doubt he will actually give up his postion and power in congress for the president job.

[tornado]

I have heard from what appear to be pretty good sources that Congressman LaHood does have reservations about working as a minority party congressman under a Democratic administration which will likely be the setting for the next 4-8 years.
Even as I read that link above, it seems to say he does want the BU job, but has no background in education or administration, so he knows it is a long shot.

The PJ Star actually had an article recently stating that a member of the present Bush administration had also expressed interest in the job as Bradley president.

[brocks]

I'll probably get deleted again (like the last time this subject came up), but to hire LaHood would be to isolate half your alumni base. I would not give a penny to BU while he was prez (and yes, I do give).

[Grassman]

I think Ray Lahoods chances of becoming The President of Bradley are about the same as him becoming the President of the good ol' USA.

[bu fan 9]

I would give a lot more money.

[BUBraves06]

I would give a lot more money.

I think your response exactly makes brocks point. There are plenty of people who would be happy with the choice and continue to support the development of BU. On the other hand, politics are a very important issue to a huge part of the BU community, and it would not be "good politics" to ostrasize a large part of the donors by picking someone from outside their political party.

[brocks]

I really don't mean to be overly political about this. But how would right-leaning BU grads feel about Hillary as BU prez? (And BTW, I'm no Democrat . . . I just have some real problems with modern-day Republicans.)

Can we keep our alma mater a place where education and sports and great memories are most important? I'd be against any politician heading up my (hokie, but true . . .) BELOVED alma mater.

There's plenty of divisiveness in this country. Need we extend that to our University?

[dogsrus]

It seems alot of people are seeing this from a "political" viewpoint. Right vs left...republican vs democrat.....this is NOT politics its higher education.

Its about someone running the University that wants to see it grow, remain finacially sound and help students get a quality education. Perhaps an oversimplification but still basically a University presidents charge.

Ray LaHood may NOT be in the mold of a Broski who comes straight from the world of academics but that doesn't mean he doesn't have qualities that will help BU achieve its goals.

He loves Peoria.....he has contacts. He can raise money, use some of his influence to BU's benefit and has access to people that can advise him in areas he may be weak in.

He lacks in SOME areas but would bring alot to the table IMO.

[brocks]

It seems alot of people are seeing this from a "political" viewpoint. Right vs left...republican vs democrat.....this is NOT politics its higher education.

Its about someone running the University that wants to see it grow, remain finacially sound and help students get a quality education. Perhaps an oversimplification but still basically a University presidents charge.

Ray LaHood may NOT be in the mold of a Broski who comes straight from the world of academics but that doesn't mean he doesn't have qualities that will help BU achieve its goals.

He loves Peoria.....he has contacts. He can raise money, use some of his influence to BU's benefit and has access to people that can advise him in areas he may be weak in.

He lacks in SOME areas but would bring alot to the table IMO.

We must have submitted at the same second. I respect your point, but there is no way to appoint a POLITICIAN as president and keep POLITICS out of it. Just not going to happen. There must be scores of top educators pining after this opportunity. Let's get one of them and avoid making many alums angry.

[Stryker]

I think Ray would make a good president, yes it would be touchy because of the politics involved, but I think he could do a lot in improving and progressing BU in the path it has been taking lately. However, as a demi-republican I would rather see him stay in congress and do what he can at a national level.

[amckillip]

It seems alot of people are seeing this from a "political" viewpoint. Right vs left...republican vs democrat.....this is NOT politics its higher education.

Its about someone running the University that wants to see it grow, remain finacially sound and help students get a quality education. Perhaps an oversimplification but still basically a University presidents charge.

Ray LaHood may NOT be in the mold of a Broski who comes straight from the world of academics but that doesn't mean he doesn't have qualities that will help BU achieve its goals.

He loves Peoria.....he has contacts. He can raise money, use some of his influence to BU's benefit and has access to people that can advise him in areas he may be weak in.

He lacks in SOME areas but would bring alot to the table IMO.

As a college student... It is about politics, a HUGE majority of the decisions made due to the politics of the president have an impact on students. You guys may not think of them but they are what affect us - Alcohol Policy, the kind of groups of campus, heck even whether groups that advocate responsible sex can provide condoms(under Broski they could not). So a presidents politics do play a large part in their job. Also in a college setting where 18-24 yo's are independent thinkers a person with very a conservative mindset my have a bit of culture shock(though, BU's campus is fairly conservative, for a college campus).

As far as fundraising... I am the student who runs the Bradley Fund call center and it would be a terrible idea to hire a politician from either side, you will most definitely alienate a large section of your donor base. Honestly, a presidents job is not to turn heads, it's to mend any fences, and keep good rapport with alumn.

While I feel Broski did a great job raising money and setting a plan for the university, a president who actually met more than 5-10 students a year would be great. One who's wife didn't call all the shots in preporation for board meetings and such and tear down every sign of student life in the middle of homecoming week would be even better.

[dogsrus]

It seems alot of people are seeing this from a "political" viewpoint. Right vs left...republican vs democrat.....this is NOT politics its higher education.

Its about someone running the University that wants to see it grow, remain finacially sound and help students get a quality education. Perhaps an oversimplification but still basically a University presidents charge.

Ray LaHood may NOT be in the mold of a Broski who comes straight from the world of academics but that doesn't mean he doesn't have qualities that will help BU achieve its goals.

He loves Peoria.....he has contacts. He can raise money, use some of his influence to BU's benefit and has access to people that can advise him in areas he may be weak in.

He lacks in SOME areas but would bring alot to the table IMO.

We must have submitted at the same second. I respect your point, but there is no way to appoint a POLITICIAN as president and keep POLITICS out of it. Just not going to happen. There must be scores of top educators pining after this opportunity. Let's get one of them and avoid making many alums angry.

To me Brocks "politics" is just a word. We "politic" or "politicize" things in our own lives everyday. The politics I don't want to see and I don't think we WILL see if RL is prez of BU is the kind that push "agendas" or those that try to shape our country/state and the way we live our daily lives,. i.e. constitutional issues.

Sure RL comes from one political persuasion but aren't we ALL defined in some way by the party we choose to follow and the ideals that it represents.

Bradley is firmly entrenched in who they are. RL is smart enough to leave the Washington type of politics out of Bradley IMO. He knows it wouldn't fly and that BU is BIGGER than he is. He'll just be the capt of this ship and people will make sure he's steers it right down the middle of the "ocean"....