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All true. The day is finally here. Now what do we do? Many don't want an insider, but haven't clearly weighed the risks of an outsider. Just because you are tired of the brunette you are with, doesn't mean all blondes are better.Quote:
Originally Posted by rhineaux
I wonder if there is an alum that has built up the necessary credentials outside of the Louisiana system, that might both have his heart in the right place, and his head?
We want the most qualified person available. If that is a local then fine. But in this state, known for the good ol boy cr.Ap....a local guy scares the livin ***** outta me. Especially with some of the bozos still left in power in Martin Hall.Quote:
Originally Posted by Just1More
Z.
I have a close, close, close relative that works for the university. I can tell you there were no tears shed when the announcement was made.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOTBOUDIN
Z.
YAHOOOOOO!Quote:
Originally Posted by campo118
Doc's job was not to be beloved figure or make people feel good. His job was to develop a quality university with below adequate funding from the state. People act like he is in his office with a huge pile of money and not giving any away. Let's see what the next President can do with funding below the southern average, continual interference from the state, and many people in this city and region not wanting this university to advance. He has done a remarkable job with the resources at his disposal in a state that has little appreciaton for quality education. Does he has his faults? Yes. But you cannot deny his dedication or love for this university. If you ever managed people on a tight budget see how much love you get from your employees.Quote:
Originally Posted by HOTBOUDIN
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In the past three decades, UL President Ray Authement has spent his life developing a regional college into a nationally respected research institution.
Through the years, there have been rumors Authement would retire, but he would brush them off, saying there still was too much for him to do before he let go.
His decision finally came Friday when he announced it was time for him to "relinquish the presidency of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as soon as the board can arrange a smooth transition from this presidency to the next."
The search will begin soon for his replacement, and Authement will continue to serve as president until a replacement is found. Authement offered his support to the board during the transition process.
Authement came to the university as a professor in 1957. In 1973, Authement was tapped to become acting president and was named president in 1974.
For the next 33 years, Authement's effect on the university, community and state would be immeasurable.
He is the longest serving public university president in the country.
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Claire Taylor
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Authement leaves too many legacies to list, said Joseph Savoie, the state's commissioner of higher education.
Savoie has been one of the leaders whose name has been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Authement.
"I think Dr. Authement is a seed planter," Savoie said. "He put all the things necessary in place to make sure that the university would continue to grow and continue to be secure. He was very methodical about that."
Authement has lived for the university's successes, said Wayne Theriot, assistant vice president of business services.
"The university probably fiscally is in the best shape of any university," said Theriot, who has been with UL since 1976.
"In my 31 years, I've never seen him make a decision that was for him," Theriot said. "It was always for the university. I think he treated the university as his own child in everything he did -it was all for the university."
During his tenure, Authement oversaw the institution through its toughest times in the '80s during the oil bust. It was then that money was pumped into the computer science program to begin attracting minds and eventually industry to Lafayette.
He was one of the leaders in the development of the program, said Allen Bares, a former state legislator.
"He had great foresight and planning in that area. As a result, it brought USL to national prominence in that great field," Bares said.
Under his leadership, University Research Park was created housing university and federal research agencies, as well as the multi- million dollar LITE Center. The university's endowments and assets also have grown under his leadership, and the university's athletic program has developed championship-caliber teams.
In a 2004 interview, Authement said he hoped those accomplishments would be among the things he'd be remembered for. Also on his list was the university's name change - from the University of Southwestern Louisiana to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette - which he fought nearly two decades to make happen because it signaled the university's transformation from a regional school to an academic institution competitive on a national scale.
Just last week, Authement said he was considering retirement, but felt there still was unfinished business that needed his attention.
"I think that this whole bit on the horse farm and property acquisition by the university needs some consideration," he said. "I think it can be brought to an advantageous closure for the university, but it will require some time."
He added that there were other construction projects he wanted to continue to oversee, as well as the upcoming legislative session.
"That budget will be paramount to the future development of the university," he said.
It was without fanfare that Authement made the announcement Friday. Many of his own staff members in the audience were unaware that he would be announcing his intentions to step down.
It would have been unlike him to do it any other way, say those who have worked with him through the years.
"He wanted this to be kept quiet and didn't want a big fanfare about it. He's not a grandstander," said Carolyn Bruder, assistant vice president for academic affairs since 2001. Bruder joined the faculty in 1970.
"My adult life has been spent with him as the leader of my university," Bruder said Friday afternoon. "When you take the long view of what I came to in 1970 and what we are now, it's unbelievable what we've accomplished, and I realize part of it is being in the right place at the right time, but he deftly moved us in that direction of becoming a research institution without forgetting our obligation to our students. There aren't a lot of universities that can do that or have done that."
The news took many by surprise. Faculty and staff were sent e-mails and the news was posted on the university's Web site.
"You eventually knew it was going to happen, but it was a shock to hear," said Theriot, who heard the news for the first time at the meeting. "He's moving onto another stage of his life, and we wish him the best."
Authement has a reputation among his peers for his ability to manage his budget. He comes by it naturally. As a child, he'd help count and stack shelves of muskrat pelts at the general store where his father was a general manager.
"He always taught me the value of a dollar and to make sure that I didn't overextend myself any way financially," Authement said in a 2004 interview.
Authement stepped foot on campus as a student in the late '40s. It was then that he fell in love with the university. At the time, there were two cars on campus and only a few more buildings.
He said it wasn't until the late '60s when the school's then-President Joel Fletcher asked him to help the university tackle a problem of too many students dropping and adding courses that he realized he had an interest in administration.
Patricia Rickels, director of UL's honors program, started her career at USL the same year as Authement.
"He and I came here the same week - August 1957. I was set up in a temporary building in Lil' Abbeville, and he was right across the ditch from me," Rickels said.
After 50 years, Rickels, too, is retiring this year. She's seen professors come and go, but said she's relieved Authement has stood by the university as president for three decades.
"A lot of people complain that he should have retired. I say the kind of continuity we've had with an honest, intelligent man with classroom experience in the president's chair has been invaluable," Rickels said. "You have these political hacks at other schools and people who don't have experience. He's been a faculty member. ... He's run such an honorable, decent, above-board administration."
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Ray Authement was a man of foresight when it came to the role of a university to spur economic development.
Authement's decision to grow the university's computer science program is the reason why Lafayette is poised as one of the state's technology centers, said Gregg Gothreaux, executive director of the Lafayette Economic Develop-ment Authority.
"When I moved to Lafayette in 1986, his legend of economic development was well established because he had created this computer science program that had become one of the leaders in the world," Gothreaux said. "Oil and gas technologies seemed to rise out of Lafayette, and I think a lot of it had to do with the university and its focus."
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Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com
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Last year, UL and LEDA opened their joint endeavor - the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise Center with 3D immersive technology.
The university's research park also has set the stage to attract researchers and more industry to the community.
"His influence is more than statewide, but it's certainly felt every day in economic development," Gothreaux said.
The university estimates its economic effect on Acadiana is between $650 million and $700 million annually.
As a business, it would rank No. 5 in the Top 100 private businesses in Acadiana, according to the university's Web site.
As president, Authement also oversaw the construction of the Cajundome and the Convention Center, which pump revenue into the city.
Greg Davis, Cajundome director, said Authement has stood by him in his leadership of the facility.
"We are a governmental entity. We are non-civil service, so we have always been very, very vulnerable to the politics of Louisiana, which we all know can be very destructive," he said. "Dr. Authement has stood by management and staff of the Cajundome and supported the business practices that we have used. ... On many occasions, these practices were not the best political position, yet Dr. Authement stood by management and staff and defended the good business practices here."
Senior reporter Claire Taylor contributed to this report.
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"You don't know what you got until you lose it"Quote:
Originally Posted by rhineaux
John Lennon
The unknown is always scary. Authement certainly left the university in better shape than he found it. If the K-Sippers are right he held back the sports programs so we should thanks Dr. Authement for the truly impressive job he did with the university and hope we get someone great that recognizes the value of a vibrant sports program to a university.
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"You have served as our 'dean' both as a leader for our system office and presidents. You've also been a friend - the best friend higher education has had. Thank you for giving us your life."
- UL System President Sally Clausen's comments to Authement after his announcement
"Dr. Ray Authement has given visionary leadership and service to the University of Louisiana, to the Lafayette community, and to the tens of thousands of graduates who are leaders across Louisiana and the world. The university has thrived under his direction, growing from a small regional college to one with internationally acclaimed programs."
- Gov. Kathleen Blanco
"I can unequivocally say that everyone in the ULL family can be justifiably proud of the accomplishments of this fine university under Dr. Ray Authement's leadership,"
- Richard D'Aquin, who was Lafayette's member on the state board of education and who recommended Authement for the job. D'Aquin currently sits on the Louisiana Board of Regents.
"Dr. Authement has had a long and distinguished record of service not only for the university, but the community."
- Joseph Savoie, commissioner of higher education
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"I'm happy for him that he and Mrs. Barbara can have this time to go on with their lives while they're still relatively young and have the time to share with their children and grandchildren."
- Wayne Theriot, assistant vice president for business services
"He's such a beacon for this community and the entire state."
- Jeanie Kreamer, director of UL's media and printing services
"He totally transformed this institution into what it is and left his mark."
- Carolyn Bruder, assistant vice president for academic affairs
"We are very sad that Dr. Authement is resigning. We have enjoyed very much working with Dr. Authement for 22 years now. Dr. Authement is a major reason why the Cajundome has had the success that it has."
- Greg Davis, Cajundome director
"He has always wanted more for this university and was known for doing more with less even in difficult economic times."
- Julie Dronet, UL's director of public relations and news services since 1991
"He has been a great asset, not only for the university, but for the community, always exhibiting great leadership and having foresight about where the university is and is going, keeping the university financially sound and generating a great deal of community support and working with officials, legislators and governors."
- Allen Bares, former state legislator
"In hearing the news, I just thought about the many years of service he's given to this university. He's really dedicated his life to the advancement of UL. I have great respect for what he's done for the university, and it's been a pleasure and a privilege to work with him this year."
- Claire Pettit, president of UL's Student Government Association
"I didn't know that was happening. That's a bit of a surprise. He's done a lot for this university over the years. I don't think there will be any major problems in a transition, though. I think they will do a good job."
- Nicole Patin, freshman, visual arts
"It's overdue. I've been here for three years and I don't believe I've seen him at any events. For things like the honors convocation, he always seems to send his second-in-command. The only time I really hear about him is when they're talking about the horse farm. So I think it's time for a change."
- Michael Williams Jr., senior, general studies
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John T. Landry
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Although he announced his retirement Friday, UL President Ray Authement could remain in his post for the next year.
"When I became president there was a whole year - I was acting president for the full 12 months," Authement said in an interview with The Advertiser last week about rumors of a pending retirement. "The trend across the country is a year's notice at this time."
Authement became acting president of the university in 1973.
For the past decade, there's been talk of his possible retirement. Names bandied about as possible candidates include the state's higher education commissioner, Joseph Savoie, who served as UL's vice president of university advancement for 18 years; and Steve Landry, UL's vice president of academic affairs since 2000.
Savoie left UL in 1996 to take his current job as leader of the state's postsecondary institutions.
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Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com
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"There's been speculation about that since I left 10 years ago, so there's nothing unusual about that," he said. "I like my job. I have a very supportive board, and I'm very focused on this upcoming legislative session, which could be historic and have a positive impact on our state. I think it's much to early to speculate about things down the road."
Prior to heading academic affairs, Landry served as UL's vice president for research for three years.
He is out of the country in Peru, according to UL staffers.
Looking at their past histories, Landry appears to be following in Authement's footsteps. Like Authement, he is an academic who moved into administration. Before serving as UL president, Authement served for seven years as vice president of academic affairs. Landry was appointed vice president in 2000.
It was as vice president of then-USL that Authement said he was trained by then-President Clyde Rougeau.
When asked a few years ago if he was grooming anyone for his job, Authement said: "I'm not going to anoint anyone, but I'm just saying there are people here who could take over. I think that whether it's the current administration or someone else, they'll know and love the university just as much as anyone."
Authement's top level of administrators includeLandry; Della Bonnette, vice president for information technology since 1996; Robert Stewart, vice president for research and graduate students and former director of the USGS National Wetlands Research Center; and Raymond Blanco, vice president for student affairs since 1982 and husband of Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
Faculty said they hope the replacement will be an academic.
"I just don't know who could take his place," said Pat Rickels, an English professor and honors program director who also is retiring after 50 years of service to UL.
"An academician of moral stature, that's my prayer," Rickels said. "You never know what these boards are going to do."
Gregg Gothreaux, executive director of the Lafayette Economic Development Auth-ority, said the next president will be expected to commit to the community off campus.
"The university plays a major role in solving the work force crisis that we face," he said. "It's very important that we have someone who is as visionary as Dr. Authement is."
The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors decides who will replace Authement based on a recommendation by UL System President Sally Clausen. A search committee appointed by the board chairman will oversee the process and interview candidates. UL will have a voice in the process; the UL Faculty Senate will choose a faculty member to serve on the committee. Clausen serves as the nonvoting chair of the committee and makes the recommendation to the board.
How long the process will take is up to the committee. At its first meeting, the committee sets its timeline of action, according to the board's rules.
As part of the process, the system holds public forums to help guide the selection.
It took the board three to five months to name a presidential replacement in the system's most recent searches at Grambling and Nicholls.
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Back in the days when Glynn Abel was dean of men and Ray Authement was vice president, their offices were across the hall from each other.
Abel would kick me out of school and I'd go across the hall to Vice President Authement and get reinstated - but not without the lecture.
"Jim," he'd say, "you really ought to try to go to class more often. You'd be surprised what you might learn around here."
I've liked Ray Authement ever since those days.
Jim Oliver, the other man considered with Authement for the presidency, was the godfather of my daughter and a man I remember with huge respect and admiration. I sometimes wonder how UL would have been different had the choice gone the other way.
But that's speculation. Authement's record speaks for itself.
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Jim Bradshaw
Acadiana Diary
289-6315
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I know - and, by the way, so does he - that he was not always the most popular man on campus. He had to make some tough decisions during some tough times.
But he had a vision - not a dream, a vision - of where UL should go, and a plan to get there. Importantly, he also had the will and the political savvy to make it happen.
Aside from the recent business about the horse farm and his insistence that the Ragin' Cajuns play a 1-A football schedule, there's not a lot that I've disagreed with him about.
And there are so many pluses.
People who were not here during the darkest days of the oil bust in the 1980s will never appreciate how he became a driving force in keeping Lafayette alive.
He made certain UL was not only a center for educational excellence, but also an economic engine for the area - developing ways and tools and techniques to use Acadiana's skills and products and people to diversify our economy.
Much of the basis of the vibrant economy that we see in Lafayette today came not only out of his vision as president of the university but also from his leadership at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and the Chamber of Commerce and in working with the oil and tourism and health care and other industries to create new jobs and train people for them.
There's a lot of brick and mortar and concrete on the UL campus that are a testament to Authement's tenure, but I think two ideas are the most important of his accomplishments.
The first is in the name change to the University of Louisiana. Say what you will, even someone as tradition bound as I am has to admit that the change elevates the university in the eyes of anyone who knows nothing more about it.
The second idea was to turn land once used to graze dairy cattle into an Idea Park, a technological center developed around wetlands research and high-tech processes coming from Abdalla Hall and LITE illumination that will become more important in our history and economy than even the building of the Oil Center.
That park is the place where future vice presidents will point when students like I was sit across from them. They'll say: "Son, check it out. You'll be surprised what you might learn around here."
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Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips echoed the thoughts of many Friday when he was informed that Ray Authement is stepping down as UL's president.
"It won't be the same," said Phillips, who served as UL's athletic director from 1983 to 1988, during a crucial time in the school's growth in major college athletics.
"He's absolutely one of finest presidents, and men, I've ever been associated with," Phillips said. "I honestly can't say enough good things about the man. He could have gone to a lot of universities in the country, but he chose to live and work there at UL and stay with that community simply because of his tremendous love and passion for Lafayette and the university."
Phillips arrived at a time when the NCAA created Division 1-AA for football, recognized as a step below Division 1-A in both funding and aspirations. Other members of the Southland Conference elected to become a 1-AA league, but UL balked, leading to a departure from the conference.
Authement was willing for the school to be independent for a few years in order to pursue its larger goals.
"Dr. Authement saw athletics as a way to expand the horizons of the university and make people think beyond the regional concept with the university, and provide opportunities for exposure beyond which the university had historically experienced," Phillips said.
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com
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"At that time, going Division 1-A in football was a bold step, very bold."
The Ragin' Cajuns program was derided by some for that decision, and competition remains fierce in 1-A football. The football program has had nine winning seasons since 1983 and one break-even 6-6 mark last fall, with no bowl game appearances.
But UL also has produced Super Bowl-caliber NFL players in Brian Mitchell, Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley, as well as Pro Bowl honoree Orlando Thomas.
"Certainly, you learn not to be afraid of competition," Phillips said. "You learn that it doesn't hurt you to step outside your comfort level. When you do, you learn to deal with cynicism and skepticism because people don't understand the whole picture.
"You have to put those things behind you, and in some ways it gives you a little thicker skin. We did step out of our comfort zone at that particular time."
Phillips was followed by head football coach Nelson Stokley and then Nelson Schexnayder in the A.D. office, with longtime UL figure David Walker now handling athletics.
"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."
The vacuum will be larger than in just Cajuns athletics, Walker noted.
"He's the type of president that everybody goes to for advice," he said. "... He's well-respected across the state. And throughout the Sun Belt, there is tremendous respect."
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Some may not realize that when Authement took over in the early 70's the athletic budget was around $800,000
One of the very first things he did was bump it to over a million dollars.
Now if he had only kept pace with inflation the 2006 budet would have been just under $4 million ($3,847,123.73)
Somehow without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall, the athletic budget has been able to stay ahead of inflation at around double the pace.
If this is a reality, then its a sad reflection on our community.
If athletics takes a step backwards, Im done.
Very, very few places have the opportunity that Lafayette has. We have seen this reflected in the numerous business related stories about Lafayettes economy.
I have any number of things that I can do on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, and it will cost me a hel.l of alot less.
The internet banter is fun, definitely......but I can get alot more accomplished without it.
We screw this up....I guarantee I wont be the only one bailing out.
"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."
<<<Anyone want to explain that amazing Baldwin hire? That set us back 12 years.>>>>>>>
Academics is always #1 priority....ALWAYS!
unfortunately in this day and age you are judged by your athletic programs.
Thank heavens we have The Lotiefs and Robe! I believe they are so entrenched in this community that they have decided to put up with NO, NADA, NONE, ZERO, funding.
NO WAY in this community...this vibrant, healthy oasis, that we should be the second to lowest funded athletic program in the nation.
We know these boards are monitered by Martin Hall. Take heed cats...make the best possible decision for this community, or this ship will sink.
I will be on the first life boat waving goodbye to all you guys.
Z.
Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeebart21
The spin machine is in full gear right now. The true litmus test will be if the new president will allow a PRIVATE athletic foundation similar to the TAF.
If they don't, nothing will change, and our future will be sealed in defeat.
I will be in the boat right behind you.
College inflation and the CPI are nowhere near the same. And athletic inflation vs college inflation again are not in the same ballpark. Your stance is not relevant because of those two facts. In addition the real deal is that UL has fallen behind it's competitors and that is the only thing that matters. That is not to say it is his fault this has occurred, only that we are where we are.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbine
You know what makes it relevant?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cajun Express
"without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall"
Now the windfall could have been (should have been ) of his own making but still he doubled up on inflation without reinventing the wheel.
Of course I'm new but EVER since I started to read and participate on these forums ALL I have ever heard is complaining about Dr. A. I know nothing about the man and have no opinion. It just seems like people are never satisfied. Everyone wants him to retire, I constantly read he is the reason the athletics are behind. Now I read he is the reason they are not? Which is it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeebart21
In my ever so humble opinion . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by MissingMandy
Authement did more with less . . . but (for the most part) was boxed into less by his own doing.
UL has the most efficient program in the country and I will argue that with anyone.
ps athletically speaking
I really do believe here lately there has been some REAL caring going on. In other words, you're coming on board at a great time. The hope right now is that the next president "sets the world on fire" - so to speak - with Cajun athleticsQuote:
Originally Posted by MissingMandy
I am talking WKU, FIU, FAU, UNT as the group that have passed us up. I am not talking about the BCS schools.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbine
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissingMandy
Everything on boards is exaggerated. We only complain about things we don't have instead of appreciation of the things we do have. That is a very common malady of all fans.
Mrs P. we are on the verge of some major stuff here! We are ravenous fans! Lots of specualtion, inuendo, and bravado....Males = testosterone....its all good.Quote:
Originally Posted by MissingMandy
University of Louisiana Football in approx. 120 days!
It will be amazing!
Z.
Well, not everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cajun Express
I'll go a little further and say that some peoples' lives are not complete without complaining about something.