2008 Woodie Awards
Help Wanted
Staff Editorial
Issue date: 9/22/04 Section: Opinion
We here at Suffolk are welcoming people - or at least we here at The Journal would like to think so.
When we heard the news that university officials had created the position of university Provost and hired one we were happy to welcome Ms. Patricia Maguire Meservey to our community from one of our rivals, Northeastern University.
However, along with our excitement came a bit of resentment that university officials had once again glanced over the population they work with and for. As far as we can tell there was absolutely no student involvement in the appointment of Ms. Meservey.
Many notable searches here at Suffolk have included student committee members. The searches for Assistant Director of Student Activities, Director of Diversity Services, Assistant Director of Residence Life and even the Assistant Dean of Students all had student representation on the selection committees.
When Univeristy President David J. Sargent was asked by The Journal why there was no student involvement in the search for the Provost his response was simple.
"We generally do not involve students in any of our searches," he said. Granted a senior university official position is different than hiring a new Director of Diversity Services but as students we deserve a voice up on the 25th floor of One Beacon.
We took the chance to ask Ms. Meservey what she thought about being hired with absolutely no student involvement. "It is usually a difficult situation for universities in recruiting senior officials and I trust that the faculty would be able to hire someone who would well represent the students interest. I look forward to having regular and constructive conversations with students to address their particular needs and concerns."
We are sure that Ms. Meservey is a wonderful person and a perfect choice for the position, but we would have liked the chance to have been included on the search. At any rate, welcome Provost Meservey.
When we heard the news that university officials had created the position of university Provost and hired one we were happy to welcome Ms. Patricia Maguire Meservey to our community from one of our rivals, Northeastern University.
However, along with our excitement came a bit of resentment that university officials had once again glanced over the population they work with and for. As far as we can tell there was absolutely no student involvement in the appointment of Ms. Meservey.
Many notable searches here at Suffolk have included student committee members. The searches for Assistant Director of Student Activities, Director of Diversity Services, Assistant Director of Residence Life and even the Assistant Dean of Students all had student representation on the selection committees.
When Univeristy President David J. Sargent was asked by The Journal why there was no student involvement in the search for the Provost his response was simple.
"We generally do not involve students in any of our searches," he said. Granted a senior university official position is different than hiring a new Director of Diversity Services but as students we deserve a voice up on the 25th floor of One Beacon.
We took the chance to ask Ms. Meservey what she thought about being hired with absolutely no student involvement. "It is usually a difficult situation for universities in recruiting senior officials and I trust that the faculty would be able to hire someone who would well represent the students interest. I look forward to having regular and constructive conversations with students to address their particular needs and concerns."
We are sure that Ms. Meservey is a wonderful person and a perfect choice for the position, but we would have liked the chance to have been included on the search. At any rate, welcome Provost Meservey.