A little more than a week ago, the Lincoln Parish Journal published an editorial encouraging Louisiana Tech faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and fans to pay close attention to the process of selecting the university’s next president.
We encouraged people to get involved and make their voices heard. This Thursday is the first real opportunity.
The Louisiana Tech Presidential Search Committee will hold its inaugural meeting and public forum Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Integrated Engineering and Science Building on the Tech campus. We hope anyone who cares about the future of Louisiana Tech will make every effort to attend.
And we hope they show up in force. There is power (and impact) in numbers.
There has been plenty of discussion since Jim Henderson announced his plans to retire at the end of the year about what Louisiana Tech needs in its next president. We certainly have our opinions and have shared many of them.
But Thursday isn’t about a particular candidate. Thursday is about the process and making sure those charged with helping select Tech’s 16th president understand what the Louisiana Tech family expects from it.
That message doesn’t need to be delivered angrily or confrontationally. In fact, it shouldn’t be. It should be delivered professionally and courteously.
But it should also be delivered with conviction and unity.
If you believe Louisiana Tech’s next president should have significant experience in higher education, say it. If you believe an earned doctorate should be a requirement, say it. If you believe the next president needs to understand Louisiana Tech and what makes it different from other universities in this state, say it.
If you believe Tech needs a president who understands the importance of academics and research, enrollment and retention, fundraising and athletics, make that known.
And if you believe Louisiana Tech needs a president who will advocate for the university and fight for its best interests when necessary, the committee needs to hear that, too.
This is the time to say it.
Thursday’s meeting is also important for Ruston and Lincoln Parish.
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker recently told the Lincoln Parish Journal that Louisiana Tech is the economic driver of the city and parish. Walker, who was named to the search committee, understands firsthand just how closely the futures of the university and community are tied together.
The City of Ruston has invested in Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech has played an enormous role in Ruston’s growth. The two have worked together on projects that have brought jobs and investment to the community, and there are opportunities for even more of that cooperation in the future.
So we hope Ruston residents and business leaders show up Thursday, too. They have just as much reason to care about who occupies the president’s office on the 16th floor of Wyly Tower.
There is another reason attendance matters.
The members of this committee need to see how much people care. It’s one thing to talk about Louisiana Tech around the dinner table, at the office, in the stands at Joe Aillet Stadium or Thomas Assembly Center, or on social media. It’s another thing to show up.
Imagine the message it would send if the room Thursday were filled with Louisiana Tech faculty and staff, students, alumni, donors, fans and Ruston residents.
Not an angry crowd. Not people looking for a confrontation. People who care about Louisiana Tech and are willing to take the time to respectfully make that known.
There will be plenty of time to debate candidates once the search reaches that point. Thursday is about making sure the process starts with an understanding of what Louisiana Tech means to the people who have invested their careers, education, money, time and emotions into it.
The Lincoln Parish Journal made its position clear in our Sept. 28 editorial: Louisiana Tech deserves the right fit, the right leader and the right voice on the 16th floor of Wyly Tower.
Thursday is an opportunity for the Louisiana Tech family and the Ruston community to make their voices heard about what that means.
Show up. Use your voice — respectfully, professionally and with conviction.
This process is too important to sit out.
(The Lincoln Parish Journal is owned and published by Malcolm Butler, Dr. Judith Roberts and Kyle Roberts.)
