Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1990 [PAGE 211]

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1991]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

199

issues in academic affairs, including governance and matters of process. Mrs. Shepherd said that the sessions on governance appeared to be of greatest interest to the participants. Comments on Sole-Source Purchases Mr. L a m o n t described a letter he had received from the law firm of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd and a conference call he had received from a m e m b e r of t h e same firm. This concerned a matter Mr. Lamont had raised at t h e February 1991 meeting of t h e board concerning no-bid purchases. Mr. Lamont asked that this letter and a second letter from Mr. Higgins, university counsel, be placed on file with t h e secretary of the board. Mr. Lamont reiterated his comment from the February meeting, that he was concerned about "sole-sourcing" in purchases and encouraged openness in reviewing other possible suppliers. Status of Staff and Students on Active Duty with Military Mrs. Calder requested a report on t h e status of all students, staff, and faculty who had been called to military service in the Persian Gulf. She asked that this be presented to the board at its April meeting in Chicago. REGULAR AGENDA T h e b o a r d considered t h e following reports and recommendations from the president of the University. Appointment of Chancellor, Chicago Prior to voting on this item the board members received comments from t h e president of the University and some trustees, including Governor Edgar. Comments by President Stanley O. Ikenberry

So much has been said and written during the last 30 days regarding the next item on our agenda that one wonders what else could be said. On the other hand, a university president is rarely at a loss for words. With your indulgence, I would like to make a few brief comments preparatory to your action on my recommendation. Universities are lively places where people feel free to speak their minds, where controversial issues are debated candidly and openly, oft times at great length. Such has been our campus environment in recent weeks. At the end of the day I would like to think the discussion has been healthy and that the University of Illinois and our Chicago campus will be the stronger for it. I would be remiss if I did not thank the members of the Search Committee for their efforts over the last ten months. T h e committee worked hard, at times under considerable pressure. It has carried out its responsibilities conscientiously, and I discharge the committee with my sincere appreciation. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University community, I thank you. Much of the discussion has focused on questions of process. Some, including many outside of the academic community, have been critical of the process; others, including many on campus, feared the process might not be followed. Perhaps two things can be said about process. First, for whatever its strengths and weaknesses, the process followed in this chancellor search is comparable to the