Louisiana has its own unique way of doing things. Historians describe Huey Long’s eccentric activities as the “Louisiana Hayride.” The 21^st century version of Huey’s Louisiana Hayride at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) is called a nationwide search for a university president. ULL (remember it’s in Louisiana) has taken the gumbo approach in its “search” for its next president. For those non-Cajun chefs, here’s the recipe: Just as in any great Louisiana gumbo, you put in some specially selected spices (insiders), add the typical ingredients found in normal kitchens (outsiders) and begin the cooking process.

Just to make sure the truly qualified outsiders don’t apply, you let everyone know that their resumes will be posted online for the entire universe (and their current employers) to see that they have applied. Unlike most gumbo recipes, the ULL president search uses the “fast cook” approach. Here’s the gumbo cooking timeline:

• March 2007, Governor Blanco announces that she will not seek reelection.
  
• April 27^th ULL President Ray Authement announces he will retire (many question as to whether he was “nudged/encouraged” out by the governor).
  
• June 21^st, the Board of Regents (we’ll discuss them later) ask for the public’s input for ULL’s president search.
  
• September 12^th another public hearing is held for input and a deadline for applications is set for October 1^st.
  
• Early December is established as the target date for the selection of the new president of ULL.
  
• It is important to note that Governor-elect Bobby Jindal takes over in mid-January and gets to make the final decision on the ULL presidency if he or she has not already been anointed by Governor Blanco.
  
• With this timeline, Dr. Authement, the nation’s longest serving president of a public university (34 years) will be replaced with a selection process that takes approximately 75 days from the application deadline.
  

The Governor is the chef and her Board of Supervisors are charged making certain the gumbo is cooked just right! The members of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System (ULS) are responsible for interviewing and selecting the presidents of universities in their systems. The members of the Board of Supervisors are appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Governor Blanco and her husband Raymond “Coach” Blanco are lifelong residents of Lafayette and the Acadiana region. It is generally understood that the Blancos plan on retiring in Lafayette. It is also acknowledged that they plan on maintaining an active role at ULL. The governor’s husband, Coach Blanco, is the long-time vice president of student affairs at the university. He received a tremendous amount of attention during his wife’s run for governor. Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster explained “that he (Coach) is a driving force behind his wife’s political life and would be the most powerful man in the state if she won.” If they are able to play a role in the “anointing the future president of ULL,” the Blancos will without a doubt retain considerable influence at ULL.

Several faculty members and others in the community raised their concerns as to whether there would be a genuine search for a new president. As early as April, rumors began to circulate about of three “insider” candidates were rumored for the president’s position. The three insiders were T. Joe Savoie, Steve Landry, and Jimmy Clarke. The first, T. Joe Savoie, currently the Commissioner of Louisiana’s Higher Education grew up in the Acadiana region, received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from ULL, and before taking his current job, was a long-term employee in administration at ULL (1978 – 1996). Steve Landry, currently Vice President Academic Affairs at ULL has a Masters and Ph.D. from ULL. He has been at the university for over 37 years. The final “insider,” Jimmy Clarke, after many years in administration at ULL, currently serves as Governor Blanco’s chief-of-staff. While he chose not to apply for the position, he is rumored to have a position in the administration at ULL should either of the two “insiders” be selected. All three insiders have worked at ULL under Coach Blanco and are informally known as “the Blanco boys.” If chosen as the new president of ULL, it is commonly agreed that they will be coming back, once again to work for Coach!

In a state renowned for political corruption, the entire process has the smell, feel, and legitimacy of just more of the “good ole boy” Louisiana politics. In the last few days before the deadline for applications, two insiders (Savoie and Landry) submitted their application packages. Two days later, when the Board of Supervisors met, it took them a mere two hours to narrow the field of potential candidates from 38 to 5 (with 2 insiders). The question on minds of faculty, staff and members of the community was fairly simple, “Is a genuine search being conducted, or is this just the crowning of a predetermined anointed insider?”

Governor Blanco, President Authement, Coach Blanco, T. Joe Savoie, Steve Landry and many others have dedicated their lives to making ULL a fine university with unlimited potential. Together, they have positioned the university with the structural and financial resources required to lead us into the 21^st century. But true innovation requires fundamental change. Merely anointing an “insider” based on past performance ensures “in-breeding” or in other words, more of the same. Let’s celebrate their accomplishments but also recognize the need for fresh, innovative leadership.

When Governor Blanco was elected, she took most of the “Blanco Boys” with her to Baton Rouge to run the State of Louisiana. Only time will be the judge of their efforts. But now, as she retires to Lafayette, the perfect recipe for her gumbo would be the anointment of her “Blanco Boys” as the new leaders at ULL. The price of this gumbo is much too high for students, faculty, staff, and members of the ULL community.

Governor-elect Bobby Jindal based his campaign on change. Jindal and one of the “Blanco Boys,” T. Joe Savoie worked together in former Governor Foster’s administration. In spite of their past relationship, it’s time for Jindal to make the hard choices and remove the cloud of an “insider” anointment at ULL. A new truly qualified president at ULL has the potential to position the university as a leader in education, technology, and innovation into the 21^st century. Voters in Louisiana elected Jindal on a platform for change, ULL is one of his first opportunities to put into practice his promises. Will he step up, take a leadership role and stop this charade? Or was his campaign just more of the same old Louisiana recipe for gumbo?

ron g cheek is an associate professor in the department of management at ULL. Your comments are welcome at www.rongcheek.com