Whitmore visits SJSU

(05/07/2008)

10:36

Kimberly Tsao:

The room is filled to its capacity. The crowd anticipates the arrival of presidential candidate Jon Whitmore.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:36 Kimberly Tsao

10:36

Spartan Daily:

Jon Whitmore, the president of Texas Tech will speak to a full Engineering Auditorium in a few minutes.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:36 Spartan Daily

10:38

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore is a theatre professor and in his sixth year as president of Tech.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:38 Spartan Daily

10:39

Kimberly Tsao:

Judith Lessow-Hurley, chair of the Academic Senate, starts to introduce Whitmore.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:39 Kimberly Tsao

10:40

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore will make an opening statement and then the audience may ask questions.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:40 Spartan Daily

10:40

Kimberly Tsao:

Whitmore created 27 endowed chairs, Lessow-Hurley says.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:40 Kimberly Tsao

10:41

Spartan Daily:

Whitemore has a microphone and stands in the middle of the stage, instead of as Grobsmith did at the podium did yesterday.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:41 Spartan Daily

10:41

Spartan Daily:

He introduced his wife and said she is very good at making friends with people - namely those that help the university.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:41 Spartan Daily

10:43

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said he has met many on the search committee today.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:43 Spartan Daily

10:44

Kimberly Tsao:

Whitmore opens the floor for questions.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:44 Kimberly Tsao

10:44

Spartan Daily:

A few minutes before the session began, about 10 students were chanting outside of the building for faculty rights until they were quieted by UPD Santos.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:44 Spartan Daily

10:45

Spartan Daily:

First question: A rep. from the emertius faculty asks about the interaction with the community and the Silicon Valley, from the faculty perspective the role of the provost in most important.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:45 Spartan Daily

10:45

Spartan Daily:

What is the philosphy in choosing the provost?

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:45 Spartan Daily

10:46

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: He was a provost earlier in his career, said it is the hardest job in the university.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:46 Spartan Daily

10:46

Kimberly Tsao:

Whitmore says an "acdemic connection with the university is critical."

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:46 Kimberly Tsao

10:47

Spartan Daily:

He would appoint a provost that can take on that intellectual challenge- he looks for someone who is successful as a teacher.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:47 Spartan Daily

10:47

Spartan Daily:

Someone with broad interest, a passion for excellence, scholarship, service

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:47 Spartan Daily

10:48

Spartan Daily:

What are you looking for at SJSU? One audience member asked.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:48 Spartan Daily

10:49

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: Said he has served at two urban Us and two rural colleges. When his wife and he were discussing SJSU, he wanted to go back to a vibrant urban community.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:49 Spartan Daily

10:49

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore answers do not seem at all prepared, he speaks very naturally.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:49 Spartan Daily

10:50

Kimberly Tsao:

He says he wants to be in a part of the country that's "growing."

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:50 Kimberly Tsao

10:51

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said he can feel the electricity in the community and on campus.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:51 Spartan Daily

10:52

Spartan Daily:

Workforce planning manager: Budget slowdown will hinder people from joining SJSU as an employee ...

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:52 Spartan Daily

10:52

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: There are always ups and downs in budgets, president must think long range.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:52 Spartan Daily

10:52

Kimberly Tsao:

"I believe in public education," he says.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:52 Kimberly Tsao

10:54

Spartan Daily:

Insisted in giving raises to the people you have rather than new hires. The quality of the employees is the quality of the institution.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:54 Spartan Daily

10:54

Spartan Daily:

Said he is naiive about the politics of this state - but Texas politics "are politics." The audience laughed at his comment.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:54 Spartan Daily

10:56

Spartan Daily:

Jonathan Karf from the Faculty Association: Do you have experience with a unionized faculty? And explain the pros and cons with working with a union.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:56 Spartan Daily

10:57

Spartan Daily:

A man in the audience is sketching Jon Whitmore with a pencil on a art pad.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:57 Spartan Daily

10:58

Kimberly Tsao:

Whitmore is talking about his experience at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:58 Kimberly Tsao

10:58

Spartan Daily:

"I'm an advocate for good salaries." Inrefernce to unions.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 10:58 Spartan Daily

11:00

Spartan Daily:

If any person reading this has a question for the presidential candidate, please send it in the box below.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:00 Spartan Daily

11:01

Kimberly Tsao:

A representative of the chemistry department told Whitmore he understands why Whitmore wants to move here from Texas.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:01 Kimberly Tsao

11:01

Spartan Daily:

One man asked about the "pitiful start up packages" at SJSU and how it can be improved.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:01 Spartan Daily

11:01

Kimberly Tsao:

To the chemistry department's representative, Whitmore replied, I don't know what you're talking about.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:01 Kimberly Tsao

11:01

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said at Tech he was able to squeeze the budget and over a period of time put more money into the start up packages for profs.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:01 Spartan Daily

11:02

Spartan Daily:

Many people laughed at the Texas-move comment. Even me.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:02 Spartan Daily

11:03

Spartan Daily:

A man from international programs: asked about preparing students for the global economy.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:03 Spartan Daily

11:03

Spartan Daily:

Says the advantage of this community is that a third of SJSU community are not born in the U.S.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:03 Spartan Daily

11:05

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said Tech developed a large pool of money for students to study abroad.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:05 Spartan Daily

11:06

Spartan Daily:

He seems to be very encouraging of a study abroad program, or increasing funds for it and curriculum.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:06 Spartan Daily

11:07

Spartan Daily:

Faculty involvement is critical to encourage students.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:07 Spartan Daily

11:07

Spartan Daily:

A student who asked a question yesterday is asking the same question today.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:07 Spartan Daily

11:08

Kimberly Tsao:

The student is inquiring about recruiting students who are minorities.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:08 Kimberly Tsao

11:08

Spartan Daily:

He asks about the WASC accreditation - retention rates for African American males and Latino males is truly dismaying ... how does this rank in your priority list, how would you address this issue.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:08 Spartan Daily

11:09

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: Let me give you some examples ... Tech did not have an aggressive program for accomodating diversity until later with the hiring personell to recruit people of color.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:09 Spartan Daily

11:10

Spartan Daily:

Look over where Whitmore did work: Texas Tech.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:10 Spartan Daily

11:10

Spartan Daily:

Whit more did annouce last week that he is leaving Texas Tech ... they are now searching for a replacement.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:10 Spartan Daily

11:12

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore is giving examples of increase of graduation rates and enrollment rates: 20 to 40 percent up for African Americans and Latinos/as

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:12 Spartan Daily

11:13

Spartan Daily:

John Engell, English Chair: Asked about the recent resignation at Texas Tech.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:13 Spartan Daily

11:13

Spartan Daily:

Engell mentioned the Spartan Daily and the profile that was written about him today.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:13 Spartan Daily

11:13

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said he has not read that article. Engell said he has it with him.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:13 Spartan Daily

11:15

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: Said he would come to Texas Tech for five years on a set agenda and he said he has accomplished that agenda. In five years he was there- there were three chancellors.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:15 Spartan Daily

11:16

Kimberly Tsao:

Read the Spartan Daily article here.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:16 Kimberly Tsao

11:16

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said his beliefs did not coicide with the chancellor's.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:16 Spartan Daily

11:17

Spartan Daily:

He is explaining the accreditation process at Tech, and he said it was fully reaccreditted. And they all had to do with "outcome assessments." They did not assess the overal education program by the deadline.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:17 Spartan Daily

11:19

Spartan Daily:

Tina Daniels from Planned Giving: Asked about fundraising experience.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:19 Spartan Daily

11:19

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore: I've been raising money since 1979.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:19 Spartan Daily

11:20

Spartan Daily:

He was involved in two successful $1 billion campaign at two separate universities.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:20 Spartan Daily

11:21

Kimberly Tsao:

"I'm not afraid to ask somebody for help," Whitmore said, referring to fundraising efforts.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:21 Kimberly Tsao

11:21

Who is a better fit for SJSU: Whitmore vs. Grobsmith?
Whitmore

( 33% )

Grobsmith

( 0% )

Still waiting to hear the last candidate

( 67% )

Not sure yet

( 0% )

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:21

11:22

Spartan Daily:

One woman asked about the work load for profs.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:22 Spartan Daily

11:23

Spartan Daily:

Whitmore said he has to learn more about the university before answering about the workload at SJSU.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:23 Spartan Daily

11:24

Kimberly Tsao:

A faculty member asks Whitmore what tone he will set for SJSU. How will he communicate the needs of the university?

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:24 Kimberly Tsao

11:24

Spartan Daily:

"People need to work together, and listen to one another."

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:24 Spartan Daily

11:24

Spartan Daily:

Said he is a good listener and hears everyone.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:24 Spartan Daily

11:25

Spartan Daily:

Said he wants to know what the students have as priorities.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:25 Spartan Daily

11:25

Spartan Daily:

Two more questions for Whitmore.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:25 Spartan Daily

11:26

Spartan Daily:

Alumni: Asks about SJSU athletics ...

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:26 Spartan Daily

11:27

Spartan Daily:

Coming from Texas Tech and West Virginia, he said he obviously finds having athletics on a campus "normal."

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:27 Spartan Daily

11:27

Spartan Daily:

He said he is most proud of the fact that he has no team that is under no strain for their academic performance here.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:27 Spartan Daily

11:28

Kimberly Tsao:

The athletes at Texas Tech are in the top ten for high graduation rates, he says.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:28 Kimberly Tsao

11:29

Spartan Daily:

Today in the Spartan Daily and on ESPN.com you can read about SJSU's football team's poor academic performance.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:29 Spartan Daily

11:30

Spartan Daily:

He said at Tech he makes sure the alumni get there and even lectures on subjects that are interesting. He said one can feed the other about athletics and university.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:30 Spartan Daily

11:30

Spartan Daily:

Gus Lease, a longtime professor, said he is so happy that Whitmore is wearing our school colors.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:30 Spartan Daily

11:31

Spartan Daily:

There is a reception today at 4 p.m. on the fifth floor of the King Library. It is open to the public.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 11:31 Spartan Daily

11:31

Spartan Daily:

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