[beachmouse]

Florida State names state Sen. John Thrasher its new president | Tampa Bay Times

While I'd prefer that someone with more of an academic background get named as president of a flagship university, there are times when it's good to go outside the system. But in this case, not only does it look like massive quid pro quo (Thrasher was chair of Rick Scott's re-electon campaign, and most of the trustees who voted for him ahd been named to FSU's board by Scott) but the guy also seems temperamentally unsuited for this kind of job.

His interview was a disaster where he threatened to walk out of the interview after being heckled by a handful of students, said he'd have to 'consult with the science departments' before he could state a position on global warming, and only got a 30% approval rating from people who were at the job talk. In comparison, the other finalists were in the 70% approval range when surveyed after their talks.

He was all set to get hired for the job last spring when the faculty senate gave that whole idea a vote of no confidence. So the BoT claimed they were going to reopen the hiring process and then hired him anyways. So let's see if his strength in fundraising can offset what FSU is probably now going to lose because a number of donors not named Koch are going to be rather WTF?

[Fl1150]

I hate this so much hope by the time they officially decide to pick someone to do the job they come to their senses and see the mistake this would be.

[beachmouse]

He probably would have been a perfectly excellent Vice President of Institutional Development (ie. chief fundraiser) but ego wouldn't let him be limited to that.

And instead he's walked into a 'buck stops here' role that could get pretty ugly. Guy gets upset enough by a handful of giggling sorority girls and threatens a walkout. So how is he going to handle it if another high profile FSU athlete is accused of rape and twenty major media outlets decide to show up at his office door wanting a comment?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

He probably would have been a perfectly excellent Vice President of Institutional Development (ie. chief fundraiser) but ego wouldn't let him be limited to that.

And instead he's walked into a 'buck stops here' role that could get pretty ugly. Guy gets upset enough by a handful of giggling sorority girls and threatens a walkout. So how is he going to handle it if another high profile FSU athlete is accused of rape and twenty major media outlets decide to show up at his office door wanting a comment?

Give it a few weeks, shouldn't take long there.

[vaughanwilliams]

Other than their football scores, FSU seems to be on a downward slide.

[Crane's Rooster]

This is a horrendous decision. Given his sensitivity during the interview process how will he handle future controversies at the school be they academic, athletic, financial or operational??? Students protests, its what they do, you can look it up in the college student handbook and by-laws, it's right next to the dress code that mandates flip flops and an American Eagle shirt. Anyways, I digress. I have always believed University head positions should be reserved for life long academics because at the end of the day, the final product you are delivering is a quality education to the students and the future employees and leaders to society.

[GABESTA535]

Crust shoukd openly announce that he'll fire Thrasher immediately upon taking office. Could win more votes.