Page 42 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

would do what, and when.
"She was very forceful," Schwartz said.
However, those same qualities helped her earn some critics at the university. Ann Withorn, a
professor of social policy at Umass Boston, said she and other faculty were critical of
appointments that Gora made within the university. After hiring a popular faculty member to
serve as acting provost, Withorn said, Gora removed him in favor of an outsider. The move
upset many faculty.
"What she needs is insiders that are really connected to the communities," Withorn said.
But Withorn conceded that Gora struggled with many problems that were not her own.
Withorn said Gora is a smart administrator who does her homework.
"Some administrators are total cardboard characters," Withorn said. "She's not that."
Schwartz emphasized Gora's ability to prepare, describing a situation where she arrived at a
meeting full of people she had not met, but knew everything she needed to about them.
"You give her a memo to read before you go meet with her, she's read it and knows it,"
Schwartz said.
Marilyn Buck, a member of the search committee that identified Gora, said she had a similar
experience when Gora first met with the committee.
"She walked around and introduced herself to each person that was there," Buck said. "She
also knew what each person's responsibilities were and why they were on the committee."
Joe Losco, professor of political science at Ball State and a vocal critic of the process used
to hire Gora, said he was pleased with her selection.
"I think she's an excellent choice and one that shows that she probably would have been
selected by an open process," Losco said. "She comes very highly recommended by her
faculty."
Losco and other faculty criticized Ball State's Board of Trustees as the search began
because of the private nature of both the selection of the search committee and the selection
of the final candidates. A confidentiality agreement entered into by members of the Board
and the search committee meant that the name of no candidate, other than the final choice,
would be made public.
Tom DeWeese, chairman of the Board, said confidentiality is the only way to attract top-level
candidates. However, Gora's candidacy for the presidency of Lewis and Clark College in
Portland, Ore. became public last month. She withdrew from the search at the end of April.
Either way, Schwartz said Ball State has obtained a strong leader.
"It's hard to imagine they would hire her if they wanted a yes-man kind of thing," Schwartz
said. "She's far from that."

Home • News • Your News • Calendar • Weather • About NLI • Contact • Advertise
Updated: October 21, 2004, 4:35 pm

Copyright © 2004 Ball State University • Use of this site indicates your agreement with our Terms of Service.

Figure 2.2 Cont’d.