Legit search

Earlier this week, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis announced the formation of a new provost search committee - a committee that, unlike its predecessor, abides by the guidelines set forth in the Faculty Handbook.

This is not a drill.

The old committee had 23 members, of which six were faculty members. Unfortunately, the Faculty Handbook dictates that search committees for academic administrators comprise six to 14 members, with faculty members holding a majority and a faculty member serving as chair - all rules that the old committee violated. Faculty Senate took a strong stance, passing a no-confidence resolution in the committee's structure and recommending that invited faculty members decline membership.

After the resolution, the president added more faculty members to the committee, but Faculty Senate members voted to stand firm with no compromise: A by-the-book committee was the only one they would recognize.

The walls of Cutler Hall often seem to be impenetrable, and the concerns of faculty, students and staff often seem to reflect off soundproof walls. This time, however, it seems the upper administration heard those voices loud and clear.

The president announced the new committee - a 14-member force that includes eight faculty members and will be chaired by a faculty member - on Wednesday through an open letter to Faculty Senate Chairman Sergio López-Permouth.

No, administrators shouldn't always bow down to the whims of the people, but officials should take action when constituents have a legitimate complaint. Faculty Senate's complaint, for example, was legitimate. And now, when the university hires a replacement for Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl, that replacement can be found in good faith by a valid search committee - in other words, OU's new provost can be legitimate, too.