November 29, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Favoritism Alleged at NMSU
By Martin Salazar, Journal Staff WriterWaded Cruzado wasn't officially a candidate for the New Mexico State University presidency, but finalists for the job weren't getting that impression from what was taking place in Las Cruces.
Outgoing Regents chairman Bob Gallagher says a reception hosted by regent Laura Conniff and other search committee members — over his objection — had the trappings of a "private coronation" for Cruzado and helped prompt finalists for the presidency to bail out.
NMSU regents voted to terminate the search last Monday because all finalists pulled out.
Gallagher initially blamed the state law requiring universities to publicly disclose five finalists, but on Friday he said the bash honoring Cruzado played a significant role.
"My first reaction was, 'This is unbelievable,'" he said in a telephone interview Friday. "Why would this (the reception) occur, especially now, in the middle of the search with the candidates scheduled to come very soon to campus."
Cruzado accepted the position of interim president knowing, under rules of the search, that if she did so she could not apply for the presidency. She had the option of applying and continuing as provost.
Despite that agreement, Conniff helped host an Oct. 26 champagne brunch at her home for Cruzado to honor the "First Female President of NMSU."
Just three days after that brunch, faculty and staff rallied for Cruzado with signs that read: "Dr. Cruzado for President." And Cruzado, according to the student newspaper, commended those rallying for coming together for a single goal.
The attention lavished on Cruzado apparently didn't go unnoticed by some of the finalists for the NMSU presidency.
The rally was covered by the Round Up, NMSU's student newspaper, and that story, along with a copy of the champagne brunch invitation, were sent to at least one prospective finalist by a friend on the faculty, Gallagher said.
That finalist contacted Gallagher, asking what was going on and questioning why Cruzado wasn't saying, "Thank you for the rally, but you need to understand I am not a candidate for president," Gallagher said.
The Journal was unable to reach Cruzado for comment. Formerly the provost, she became interim president in August after Mike Martin resigned to become chancellor of Louisiana State University.
The spouse of a second finalist found out about the brunch for Cruzado while in Las Cruces. And a third candidate also had learned about it and expressed concern, Gallagher said.
He said he tried to reassure them Cruzado wasn't a candidate, but added that it was a tough sell given that people the next president would be working with and for seemed to be throwing their support behind her.
Gallagher said he learned of the brunch before it took place and expressed his concern to Conniff and other board members. Conniff, he said, dismissed his concerns as a personal attack on her.
"I can tell you the consultant was absolutely beside himself," Gallagher said.
Conniff did not return several calls from the Journal. She asked Ben Woods, a senior NMSU vice president and spokesman, to contact the Journal on her behalf Friday.
"This was not an attempt to undermine that (search) process or to hurt it in any way," Woods said. "It was simply to say thank you to a lady that a lot of people have a great deal of respect for."
He said the brunch was initiated by faculty and community members in August, and Conniff agreed to have it at her house when they asked. Woods said that even though everyone realizes Cruzado is interim president, they refer to her as president out of respect.
Woods said several search committee members, along with others, hosted the brunch.
The failed presidential search has garnered much attention, both on campus and on the Internet.
One topix.net discussion thread on the Web has dozens of comments about it.
"In this case, Cruzado couldn't apply and then put herself into the mix through students, professors and media," wrote one person. "Outside candidates obviously said the playing field was slanted and changing. They weren't willing to risk that an internal candidate had an inside track."