Just last week, Chancellor Oblinger announced it was time for Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford’s five-year leadership review. This is an opportunity for administrators, staff members and student leaders to provide feedback on the vice chancellor’s effectiveness.

Interestingly enough, Stafford’s previous “five-year” leadership review was concluded in April 2001. At the April 2001 Board of Trustees meeting, former Chancellor Marye Anne Fox shared the results of the leadership review in closed session.

Any math major reading this column has already discovered Stafford’s next five year leadership review should have been concluded in April 2006. But Chancellor Oblinger chose to delay the process.

Seems suspect, eh?

You see, Chancellor Oblinger didn’t just forget about this leadership review. And Chancellor Oblinger didn’t run out of time. No, our chancellor knew that the University community — especially student leadership — recognized Dr. Stafford’s inadequacies and failures last school year.

If last year wasn’t the lowest point in Stafford’s 36-year career, then it was tied with another unfortunate time. This man was on a rampage.

He stripped students’ tailgating privileges. He revoked students’ right to vote. He hindered the ability of students to hold events at the Bell Tower. Worst of all, he harassed student leaders with a continuous flow of charged rhetoric and childish memoranda.

By the time spring 2006 rolled around, everyone on campus was talking about Stafford — students, staff and fellow administrators. Was he losing it? Was this the real Stafford?

So, in all his political wisdom, Chancellor Oblinger decided to delay the five-year leadership review for fear that the results would be devastating. And they would have been. Likewise, Stafford recognized he would have to be reserved and quiet over the next year to salvage any lasting respect. And he has been.

Luckily for him, student leadership this year has proven to be weak. Students don’t question members of the administration nor do they have a vision for what N.C. State student life should be. It’s a year of complacency all around.

The hope now is that enough time has passed so the University community will have forgotten about Stafford’s missteps. Administrators will say that he had a difficult year. Staff members will be compassionately forgiving. And students will have forgotten about him altogether.

Now, don’t get me wrong. The vice chancellor doesn’t necessarily deserve a failing grade for his leadership over the past five years. One F out of five isn’t going to fail you in the course.

There are a few characteristics of Stafford that make him an outstanding vice chancellor for student affairs. For one, Stafford is the most accessible administrator on campus. Many times he’ll offer to take a student out to Clark Dining Hall or drop by an arts program in Stewart Theatre. And he’s supportive of most of the programs under his watch.

Stafford can also be amicable, forgiving and astute. This past Friday, he impressed me when he showed up at the UNC Campout after five students had overturned a gasoline-leaking car. Instead of ending the campout or imposing stricter rules, Stafford forgave the guilty students and spent time catching up with student leaders.

Although, it must be noted that Stafford had just come from a gala serving alcohol at the Park Alumni Center. This is noteworthy because he would not allow alcohol at a senior class event this past December at the same location — hypocrite?

So, there you have it. Stafford can be a good leader that people respect. But his mistakes and flaws have made him the tragic hero of N.C. State drama.

His biting rhetoric overrides his clever wit. His personal agendas to destroy traditions cancel out his support and compassion for student activities. And his unwillingness to change undermines his accessibility.

This year, the University community should carefully judge the leadership of the vice chancellor. A glowing report of strong leadership would be fraudulent. Yet, the man deserves some credit for a few successes.

As for me, I give him a mark of “needs improvement.” Or instead, a suggestion that fishing is a nice hobby.

E-mail Forrest your review of Stafford at [email protected].