Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford is missing.
It’s a strategy used by leaders when they don’t know what else to do — they hide. If you’re out of fresh ideas, you hide. If your popularity dips to embarrassing lows, you hide.
Staying out of the limelight is what’s easy, and there’s the hope that some fateful redemption will arrive to save you from the storm.
Have you seen the vice chancellor lately? Where are his sarcastic quotes in this newspaper? Where are his dreaded visits or authoritative memos?
He’s missing, and we know what’s going on.
Stafford sits idly in his Holladay Hall office playing with shark teeth and reminiscing about the golden days when students loved him and his chain of command only said, “yes, s0ir.”
Those days are no more. In fact, speculation among his most intelligent Student Affairs professionals claims that Stafford’s five year review was less than pleasing.
While he conceals himself behind brick walls, his division rots in factions, disrespect from students, and a lack of vision that is key to reviving campus life. But there’s still hope for Student Affairs.
With Stafford’s retirement looming in the horizon of this decade, it’s time for students and faculty members to begin considering qualities of the next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. As a revolutionary, I’d like to suggest four qualities that the next vice chancellor needs to reform the ineffective bureaucracy from top to bottom.
1. Outsiders bring grand visions
Rumors are flying amongst the Student Affairs crowd that Stafford’s successor will undoubtedly be selected from the good ole boy system. Those who make this prediction note that our chancellor was selected from within the system and that he’s surrounded himself by the same contributors who helped him reach the top.
This is the worst possible outcome.
Although there are some respectable insider candidates like Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tim Luckadoo, the University would not be well-served by selecting from within the establishment. Instead, the University should open a national search and choose a new vice chancellor who has innovative, inspiring ideas for a jaded community.
2. Collaboration yields cooperation
Many of you have experienced the disconnect among Student Affairs departments on campus. Unfortunately, the division has not taken advantage of ample opportunities to work together and enliven campus with events geared towards service and community building. I challenge Housing to partner with CSLEPS, Campus Activities to collaborate with Student Government, and Dining to team up with the Arts.
The next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs cannot implement the same militaristic chain of command that has plagued our system. Rather, a system that considers each professional an equal and promotes unified goals will ameliorate our woes. A vice chancellor who encourages collaboration rather than competition will be best. Right now, the “Division” of Student Affairs is an accurate name.
3. Lose the lapel pins
Fake smiles and shiny lapel pins are becoming the norm for University administrators around campus. Instead of a wannabe politician, the next Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs should be genuine and down-to-earth.
This new leader should make it a priority to know as many students as possible and show a real interest in their lives. Instead of sitting in stuffed meetings and asserting his or her authority on innocent students, the vice chancellor should assist students in finding their passions and expanding their options. We don’t need another intimidator.
4. “Students First” is more than rhetoric
The current Division of Student Affairs likes to convince itself that it is student-friendly and student-centered. Yet, their motto — “Students First” — is nothing more than overused rhetoric and cheesy propaganda.
During my time at N.C. State, I’ve seen our vice chancellor attempt to end traditions left and right by limiting tailgating privileges, disenfranchising students and destroying the Brent Road Party. It’s fine for a vice chancellor to have an agenda, but that agenda should include compromising with students to enhance campus with creative policies.
Stafford’s successor also has some clean-up operations with the dilapidated Student Centers, the mafia we call the Office of Student Conduct, and Campus Activities — whatever they do.
Well, there you have it. Stafford is weathering the storm by camping out in Holladay Hall, but his advancing departure is hope for a renewed Student Affairs. The problems our student body faces — racial divisions, a dull campus life and an uncooperative Student Affairs — can all be contributed to complacency from the top.
We need change sooner than later.
E-mail Forrest what you want in a Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at [email protected].