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Preside By The College Press Service When a university president is embroiled, in scandal, it seems to stun the campus and community like nothing else can. In a recent survey ranking prestige in jobs, the American public ranked college presidents just below doctors and above astronauts, according to the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center. Since 1988, however, the nation's academic community has endured a rash of scandals involving college presidents who have, in one sense or another, lost the confidence of students or peers enough to be ousted from office. Considering that 300 to 400 college presidents are selected for four-year universities each year, the number is quite low. But when a president falls, particularly a beloved one, shock wave can reverberate for years. In the midst of the whirl of allegations and accusations, a question is hotly debated: Are university presidents judged by a higher standard than other public V/tllVIUlJ i Most educators say yes. "A college president becomes the image of the institution he or she serves," said James B. Appleberry, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. "If that image is tarnished, there is rarely a way for the public to separate the president from the college or university." After a campus scandal, beleaguered officials must scramble to clean up the Recession Job opportunities grim for students culs? prospet By The College Press Service versity The scene is familiar. Young Septem men and women in suits, armed "I th with resumes, handshakes and cey, di; smiles for older men and women source prepared to greet them with stories ployers of the grim realities of today's job tend be market. Of tl Wel^nmc fn (~^nrccr H*nno fnr ? *1 T ? W X^iUVVl i^A^A/O xvyx Wtlt U the 1991-92 school year. lot mor "There are fewer positions avail- F. Dan able because of the recession and consult; because of sales trends," said Dot The i Svobdia, a manager with American ified st vs. C. 15 I , ft.. lAAorri i rr\ j Lvupai IUIC COM mts' scs mess. Often they are left to deal with a demoralized, split campus, not to mention a severe leadership crisis and damaged community relations. Presidential misbehavior, particularly involving sexual inproprieties, is often fair game for tabloids and television programs such as "Hard Copy" and "A Current Affair," which drag the entire event, in embarrassing detail, into the national spotlight. Such was the recent case of Robert Altman, 45, the articulate, high-profile University of Central Florida president whose penchant for massage services on out-oftown trips brought the demise of his presidency. Altman, popular with the student body, was asked to step down in June after detailed reports of his trips appeared in a newspaper. "These are positions of public trust," said Dr. Charles Reed, chancellor of the state university system of Florida. "Yes, we are judged and held to a higher standard than any other position in public trust" However, many students rushed to Altman's defense. Some said that rnlleae ad ministrators might not get a fair shake once the accusations start rolling. "If he (Altman) were the president of a company, he would still be the president i of that company," said Jason DiBona, i president of die UCF student body at that time. "I don't think it's realistic to look 1 for leaders who have public private lives." < Jamie Carte, editor of The Central Flor- i ida Future, said students generally seemed t shows at C :er. "Still, we're hoping to Although not me good folks out there." suffering fror s everyone else. This parti- nomy, they ar ob fair brought nearly 80 crease in appli ;tive employers to the Uni- "We're now of Central Flordia in early coming to tl iber. Moira Oliver, ink it's tight," said Jim Gra- Resources foi rector of UCF's Career Re- Resorts. "We Center. "I had some em- that nearly as i say that they would not at- Oliver calls cause of the recession." fairs in 1 le ones who did, sentiments "astounding." le same. "We're finding a "We have b e quaimea applicants, said number ot q en Oliverio, a field training we're seeing, ant with Metropolitan Life. our advantage, reason for the flood of qual- of Arthur And udents is the lack of jobs. ogy Group. IN f '$ k J* -<o*6 B 1 USC's i Providing Free Tram a. lO locations at Russell Hoi Friday Night Free I Tacos, Fajitas, Nachc The best mix of E PARTY WITH Proper indals stunned by the scandal, which unfolded short time after Altman received a majt award for his work as university presiden "I think they were all shocked just reat ing the headlines," she said. Although there was sympathy for A1 man's situation, students also were reali: tic. "It was really sad because he had a k going and he blew it all,"she said. The resulting fallout hasn't settled con: pletely on campus. Altman, who is now serving in an ad visory role to the board of regents, will b drawing a salary until November. He ha declined to speak with reporters since hi resignation. When he makes his exit, i marks the end of a troubled time at UCF. "It's the right thing to do to hold educa tors to a higher standard because they pro vide leadership ? an example to stu dents," Reed insists. "The only thing col leges have is their integrity. You must d< everything you can to uphold that." The UCF struggle was similar to on( that occurred at American University ir 1990, when it was discovered that its for mer president, Richard E. Berendzen, was making obscene telephone calls. aerenazen pleaded guilty, was given a suspended 30-day sentence and checked into the Sexual Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Washington ? but the aftershock on campus went on for months. After protests over a money settlement, which was eventually withdrawn, it was lecided that Berendzen, who would coninue treatment for his condition, could reurn to the school as a professor of phys'areer Ex] all companies are Because of the n the sagging eco- ing college stude e still seeing an in- the job market, ei cations. ting pickier when ' even seeing alumni ?. ... iese events," said offer th, director of Human seeke,sHyatt Hotels and n "Students shot didn t used to see experience befor< nuch." That's very imp the turnout at job 990 and 1991 "In our busine< een surprised at the cation isn't a det ualified applicants said Oliverio of v It's really been to ance field. "We 1 " said Steve Hoppe, who really has o lersen Tax Technol- find someone wh( room for him or h USTER fT Own PAR sportation ??, and from use and Five Points ( buffet is Mexican Mar ds, Fruit Trays & Much food, fun, and Dance . I 1^ \klITI l/NI IT 1 uo vvimuui i dress and must be 2i affect sch a ics in the spring of 1992. r jMp >r Being a college president is "certainly a t. high?powered job," said American Uni- .1 1- versity's Annita Gottlieb, assistant vice WKm president for university relations. "I bet lieve there is a lot of stress in many of them ? but I don't believe they are more . )t stressful that any other." $ < 'They (presidents) are just like anyone t- else," continued Gottlieb, who was the university spokeswoman at the time of fct I- Berendzen's troubles. "If they need to I e fundraise, they have to become very visi- ft s ble. If they behave in ways that are I s against the norm, they are out in the B it public arena ... and that makes them dif- f iM ferent than the corporate executive." i- Others disagree. Frank Newman, former president of the University of Rhode Island, said being a college president is stressful. 3 "The public has such enormous faith and belief in you ? it is an added bur? den," he said. "People will feel let down ment i and betrayed ? so much is expected of tices> w^ic you. it's a role that (the president) will be ments on ; above partisan battles and narrow inter- wedding. ests, on question about it." In 1990 i While Altman and Berendzen were the president o [ most visible cases, other presidents, often olina, resigi i colorful and well-liked figures, have made had spent 5 headlines as well. account tha M. Richard Rose, president of Roches- paying as n ter Institute of Technology, recently an- mousine sei nounced his retirement in the midst of a Holderm furor over his ties with the Central Intelli- $25,000 f< gence Agency. Puerto Ric 1991 also saw Stanford University's charges. H< Donald Kennedy resign after a govern- his office f( flood of graduat- I ^ I went from I Wl nts entering into hOUSC tO DOUSC, fc> k mployers are get- Pj' ^ring. wrniwanvtnndnr ^ . advice to job- HStliey would was hate?to *' ,or,ant," Oliver jjggjjy RCODle ill me,t ?, a college edu- the neigffl)0fll00d. ? ^ ermining factor," '' rork in the insur- _Mprf ook for someone .... *?" omph. When we Hs^M0 )'s hot, we make , er^ L??_____ i)M S! t r "90s presents CTY BUS < ?& . inside the Sheraton Columbia Corner of Greene and Harden S iia which includes More from 5 o'clock (?i/? in i?%*Kini JIU III \*>VIUI IIVIV. rHE THREAT OF DUI f to board bus. 00 jig w j p^H Holderman j of the school's billing prach included controversial paya yacht and the president's , James B. Holderman, then f the University of South earned when it was discovered he 5533,000 in one year from an t was part of a foundation ? luch as $7,000 one year for lirvices. an was indicted for receiving Dr his services in freeing a 0 businessman from cocaine j was later convicted of using >r personal gain in May 1991. 3owell is one of ffie little answers big problems facing every cornin America. And because there ore people than problems, things et done. All you have to do is ling. Do anything. 1 Points of Light ' FOUNDATION nothing good. Fool something real. a 1 Pany., <~\ ' & m ? II I c