Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Yesterday, as you know, the trustees of Purdue named Ricochet's own Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana, the new president of the university, a post he will take up when his term as governor expires at the end of this year.
From an email that Mitch sent to friends early yesterday morning, breaking the news in a few compact paragraphs that display both dignity and intelligence:
I will have to earn the honor of this appointment through strenuous work to build the understanding, alliances and personal relationships, especially with faculty, required for a successful presidency. I likewise look forward to as much direct engagement with Purdue students as they are willing to have with me.
Off campus, I hope to become an audible and credible voice for the critical role of higher education in the nation's future, and an effective advocate of Purdue to those who might support its growth in quality and reputation.
I am troubled but persuaded by the many who assert that American higher education is now challenged to modernize its traditional practices and to reconfirm its value to students and society. Perhaps Purdue, a premier community of problem-solvers, can lead in this transition and the innovations that will shape it.
The balance of this calendar year, I will use the time not consumed by my current duties to begin this process of earning by learning. Effective immediately, I will recuse myself from any partisan political activities or commentary.
Mitch Daniels, one of the finest political minds I've known since we became friends back in the Reagan White House, to remove himself, permanently, and immediately, from politics. When I read that, I felt what my parents must have felt when Frank Sinatra announced he was giving up singing--I felt what they felt, or something worse. Bored with retirement, Sinatra was performing again in a matter of months. Mitch? He does what he says he's going to do. He's done with politics for good.
But I can choke back my disappointment long enough to offer an old friend heartfelt congratulations. And I can't wait for the stream of innovations that Purdue is certain to produce under Mitch's leadership. Come to think of it, maybe this won't be so bad. If Mitch does half as much for higher education as he has done for state government--well, just think of it.
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Look on the bright side, Peter. He will have more time for Ricochet contributions while at Purdue than he would have serving in the White House.
Dec '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
It all now makes sense. Why would a guy at the end of his professional career want the hassle of being President when he could settle in as a college President instead?
May '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Before they called him President of the United States, they called Eisenhower President of Columbia University.
Apr '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
What exactly does a president of a university do? Whatever it is I'm pretty sure I could do it.
Apr '12
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
I can already see the Marxist professors now plotting their revenge. There is nothing Marxists hate more than a successful free-marketeer.
They must be terrified of Daniels.
Dec '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Like anyone who is among the best at what they do, a top-quality university president does a tremendous amount of good work while making it look easy.
Fund-raising, overseeing curriculum development, wrestling with faculty, executive leadership. The list goes on.
Of course, the below-average ones do very little while making it look very difficult.
Jul '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Effective immediately, I will recuse myself from any partisan political activities or commentary.
I find this difficult to believe. You don't reach Governor without a passion for partisan politics. It's something that cannot be turned off like a switch.
Dec '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
The university presidents I've known have been at the helm of smaller liberal arts colleges. They've set the vision for the school, planned infrastructure improvements, and raised money...lots of money. In fact, fundraising seems to be the most important part of the job. It can be tough work, particularly since the business mentality of a good president is often at odds with the worldview of the faculty who serve under him. But I think that Daniels, a businessman academic, will thrive at Purdue. No news there. The real story is that Purdue had the good sense to pursue him in the first place. That's heartening.
Jun '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Check out the precedents: Ike became president of Columbia before running; I believe Garfield was a university president too.
I don't think we've seen the last of Gov. Daniels.
And I echo Karl's comment--being a university president is a way better gig.
Peter: Look at the upside. Ricochet now has its own higher education blogger to go along with Dr. Rahe. When you consider the "education bubble," and other issues facing American education, he and Dr. Rahe can be our guides.
Edited on June 22, 2012 at 5:27pmMay '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
But wait, didn't Mitch write: "The balance of this calendar year, I will use the time not consumed by my current duties to begin this process of earning by learning. Effective immediately, I will recuse myself from any partisan political activities or commentary."
Nothing to worry about. Come January 1st he'll be back in the fray!
(Hey, a guy can hope, can't he?)
Jan '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Peter: By any and all means. get Mitch Daniels to agree to regular reflections on higher education. He's in a unique position, and his perspective is too valuable to let pass. He's a successful "practical" politician, now in charge of an "academic" institution.
If drama is conflict, then Mitch Daniels is the hero-protagonist in the middle of the clash between the academic and the practical. And, since he's a conservative plunging into a decidedly liberal bastion, his story will be a true drama. It'll be the story (and maybe the blueprint) for how a society divided by ideology can learn to work together. It'll have the lurid flair of reality TV, but it'll be about a serious man confronting serious issues.
Seriously, get that guy a contract!
Apr '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Hey, I can do it.
Jul '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
As not only a former Hoosier, but a former professor within the...well, let's say the Indiana Higher Education System, so as not to be too specific...I was pretty excited by the Governor's decision. My wife was even more excited: "Think of what Mitch did to Motor Vehicles! Imagine what he can do to Purdue!" (She is referring to the fact that the average wait time in Indiana at the BMV is phenomenally miniscule...and that the Governor personally monitors the average time.)
Myself, I am not so sanguine. University presidents of the last thirty years have succeeded by doing nothing. A reformist university president--a near-oxymoron, alas--requires all the capabilities and instincts that Machiavelli wished to see in a Prince.
This makes me wonder what other Ricoteers inside or on the fringes of academia would advise the Governor. What are some measures, tactics or reforms that he could plausibly introduce?
My first suggestion: make undergraduates work a lot harder than they now are. More homework, more labs, more everything. Most of cultural problems on campuses come from undergrads having too much free time.
May '10
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
For a man who placed personal needs above the call of country, an academic presidency is the ideal role. He can do with it as much or as little as he wills and get paid ridiculously large sums. And if he is careful his personal little bubble can remain intact and comfortable. He certainly won't be bothered putting his talents to work on any challenging problems that will actually better the lives of mere average Americans.
Jun '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Peter,
I feel your pain, but I'm so happy for my Alma Mater. It's a perfect match--right center state, right center alums, right center student body, slightly left center faculty. With the Governor's business and political savvy, he'll be a President for the history books--Boilermaker history books that is.
If anyone can burst the higher ed bubble, Governor Daniels can, and he'll strengthen the already very strong outreach to business (and jobs for grads).
Parents, don't let your babies grow up to be Hoosiers (of the IU variety).
Hail Purdue!
Feb '11
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
As to the responsibilities of a college president, you can find a number of lyrical accounts by googling "the very model of a modern college president;" they all seem to plagiarize one another to some degree.
And you'll have that tune in your head for the rest of the day!
May '12
Re: Congratulations, Mitch, Even if This Does Break My Heart
Hail, Hail to Old Purdue
All Hail to our Old Gold and Black
Hail, Hail to Old Purdue
Our Friendship May She Never Lack
Ever Grateful Ever True,
Thus we raise our song anew
Of the Days We've Spent With You
All Hail our own Purdue!
Edited on June 23, 2012 at 4:10am