March 4, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 79 No. 21
PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN
Andrew Rogerson, candidate for university president and provost of Sonoma State University, speaks at a forum Feb. 25.
Second candidate discusses vision with students
PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
Robert Nelsen, candidate for university president and special advisor to executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for UT System, speaks at a forum March 3.
Friend-raising, not fundraising, final candidate says at forum
ROBERT WILLIAMS REPORTER
ETHAN METCALF EDITOR
he second of three candidates for university president spoke Feb 25. to a crowd of a dozen students at the student forum in the Clark Student Center. Andrew Rogerson, provost of Sonoma State University in California, spoke on why he chose MSU and what he could add to the university. “First and foremost, let me be very clear: For a university to succeed in the future, it must be student centered. All decisions should be based on the simple question: Will this benefit the students?” Rogerson said. Rogerson continued, talking about the qualities the new president must have. “This new president needs to be a change agent, one who can make MSU the preferred destination campus in Texas, and improve all opportunities for students here at this university,” Rogerson said. Casey Hansard, sociology junior said every student should be attending the forums during the presidential search. “This is the time for any student with questions or concerns to get them answered. Students may not realize it now, but having a new president is going to affect everyone associated with the university,” Hansard said. “I think that’s pretty big.” Hansard said he’d definitely be attending. “I feel like I’m obligated to because I am a part of this university and I pay to go here.
he last of three candidates for University President spoke to about 150 attendees at a forum March 3. Robert Nelsen, special adviser to executive vice chancellor for academic affairs for the University of Texas System, spoke about the strength of liberal arts schools, further integrating technology for students and faculty, raising retention rates, and a litany of other subjects as students, faculty, staff and community members asked Nelsen a range of questions. “This university is dedicated to students,” Nelsen said. “That’s why I want to come.” Nelsen said he has three major priorities for the university: Making MSU a destination university, increasing retention, and increasing enrollment. “This university should be a destination university, a university of first choice. I told them we’ve got to come up with a plan in the first 90 days on how we make it a destination university,” Nelsen said. Nelsen said he is qualified to turn the university’s retention and enrollment problems around because of his experience doing the same thing at the University of Texas—Pan American. “I had to go through a 23 percent budget cut of a $269 million budget. That’s a huge cut. We did it, but we came through on the other side,” Nelsen said. “We
see ROGERSON pg. 3
see NELSEN pg. 6
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BOARD OF RE GE N T S W IL L A N N O U N C E I T S C H O I C E M A R C H 9 A F TER S P EC IA L M EETING
Study Abroad
pg. 3
Michael Mills, director of housing and dining services, wil take over the study abroad program starting June 1.
Student Poet
pg. 3
Brett Lincoln, mass communication junior, dabbles in spoken word poetry, basketball, social justice, and more.
Double Wins
pg. 7
Men’s and women’s basketball took home victories against Cameron University March 1.