Campus Life : Eye on OU : Year in Review
So...who's been in charge here?
Speakeasy examines the administrators at OU over the past year
By Hannah Groah, Campus Life Senior Writer
Emily Hubbell, Campus Life writer
June 5, 2007 | 8:10 a.m.
If you've been sensing mutiny in the air, you're not the only one. Since this past September, the McDavis administration has received countless blows to its reputation, leaving students, faculty and staff trapped in a heated debate. Here's our take on Ohio University's top administrators and what they really accomplished during the 2006-2007 school year.
Name: Roderick McDavis
Rank: President
Happenings: This year’s record voter turnout for Student Senate elections may be attributed to electronic voting capabilities. Or students may just be trying to get their voices heard. With 3,426 students (78 percent of voters) expressing no confidence in the McDavis administration, it can’t all be about race, can it? A disheartening combination of budget deficits, sports cuts and numerous faculty losses has made the McDavis administration infamous at best. At the end of this year alone, the university will face the loss of five deans and a $9.4 million deficit. Then there were the sudden sports cuts and accusations of rampant academic dishonesty, not to mention the disappointment in an extravagant but flawed Baker University Center. Individually the impact of these events is debatable, but together the result is undeniable. The majority of students lack confidence in this administration.
Salary: $294,665
Name: Deborah McDavis
Rank: First Lady
Salary: $26,528
Name: Kathy Krendl
Rank: Executive Vice President
Happenings: The administrator formerly known as Provost, Kathy Krendl was given her new title effective May 7, 2007, and her new position brings new responsibilities. Krendl now oversees the Offices of Research, University Outreach, Equity, and Diversity, as well as the regional campuses, and she continues to serve as Chief Academic Officer. Today the university, tomorrow the world.
Salary: $222,832
Name: Kent Smith
Rank: Vice President for Student Affairs
Happenings: Spring Student Senate votes revealed student dissatisfaction with the current administration’s lack of listening skills. By all accounts, Smith is a good guy with his heart in the right place. However, when caught in the wake of the RIAA lawsuits and the crumbling of shared governance, good intentions aren’t enough. Could Smith be the ear for which students are calling?
Salary: $185,000
Name: Frank Solich
Rank: Head Football Coach
Happenings: He led the OU football team to its first victory in a MAC Bowl Championship game. Oh, wait. They lost. Big time.
Salary: $249,672