November 28, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Regent: Brunch Killed NMSU President Search
Associated PressLAS CRUCES — The chairman of New Mexico State University's regents said a champagne brunch for the school's interim president, held by another NMSU regent, contributed to the end of a search for a permanent president.
"There was no doubt (the party) affected this one to the point the search had to be shut down," said Bob Gallagher.
Gallagher, whose term on the board is ending, said he repeatedly expressed concern about the party to its hostess, Regent Laura Conniff, a member of the presidential search committee.
"There's absolutely no doubt that it played a role in at least two of the four (finalists) pulling out," said Gallagher, who did not attend the Oct. 26 brunch whose invitations celebrated Waded Cruzado as "the First Female President of NMSU."
NMSU's regents voted Nov. 17 to call off the presidential search after the finalists pulled out because they didn't want their names disclosed. New Mexico's public records law requires that names of finalists be made public at least 21 days before a vote to hire someone. Gallagher said at the time that they backed out because they felt it would hurt their current jobs.
Conniff said the party had nothing to do with the canceled search.
"It was just meant to celebrate a woman of achievement; not just a woman, but women in general," she said.
And, she added, "I would have been completely surprised if any candidate had known about it ... I never heard that. "
The invitation didn't say the party was celebrating Cruzado's selection as interim president, Gallagher said. One candidate who expressed concern received a copy of the invitation; another learned about the party.
"There was no 'interim' on there," he said. "It called her the very first (female) president. Why would a member of the search committee host that? When you're right in the middle of a search, it absolutely made no sense whatsoever and it absolutely damaged the process."
Conniff said she didn't design the invitations, but it's common practice to address even interim presidents as president.
Gallagher said he didn't say anything about the party when the search was abandoned because he thought it would harm Cruzado, the board and the university. But he said that while finalists didn't want their names announced, they also were concerned about getting a fair chance.
The party was held a week after more than 50 students and faculty members rallied in support of Cruzado for president — the day before interviews were to start.
That rally "was brought up by not only those two, but a third, separate candidate wanted to know what was going on and why Waded did not come out and say, 'I very much appreciate the rally, but ... by policy I can not be a candidate,'" Gallagher said.
He said one candidate told him, "If I were to be president, look what I'm facing already."
"I mean, what could I say to the guy?" Gallagher said.