2008 Woodie Awards
Presidential finalist Fischer speaks to campus
By: Meghan Kazer and Robin Lamkin
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News
The first of two presidential candidates on campus this week, Michael Fischer, answered the questions of DePauw students and faculty in two forums on Feb. 5. During the student and faculty forums, Fischer addressed topics including how he would treat the job of president, sustainability, diversity and his vision for DePauw.
The job of president
As president, Fischer said that he wants to "be visible and present in the campus community, so [he] would understand what's going on." Fischer shared his philosophy on leadership with students, which includes consulting and conferring with other administrators and campus officials.
"You can't please everybody all the time, but you have to have the ability to explain what you've done to get feedback," he said.
Fischer said he would make himself available for students and faculty alike. Professor of English Susan Hahn asked what Fischer would do to open the lines of communincation between himself and the faculty. He said that he was willing to have open meetings, question and answer sessions and to visit departments.
"It's much harder to demonize someone if you have a social relationship with someone," Fischer said.
Both students and faculty posed questions concerning Fischer's plans as president in terms of sustainability and diversity.
Sustainability
It was clear at the student forum that sustainabilty was an important topic. The first student question asked if sustainabilty was a priority of Fischer's.
Fischer said that it is a priority, as he helped Trinity to launch a Sustainability Task Force.
"It's something I'm already committed to," Fischer said. "Sustainabilty, I think, is an obligation in our society. I would support it."
At the faculty forum, Fischer cited sustainabilty as an issue that can be a way of making a student's academic experience inform their social experience. He also discussed how bringing more locally grown food to DePauw could strengthen its relationship with Greencastle and the surrounding communities.
Diversity
As DePauw makes attempts to increase its international visibility, a student asked if diversity was important to Fischer. He said he is a proponent of diversity inside and outside of the classroom.
"Diverse faculty is as important as diverse students," he said, adding that DePauw is a place where people of "varying backgrounds have the chance to get an education and work together. Internationalizing is one of the important things we can do as a school."
Fischer said that he also wants to increase diversity at DePauw through the curriculum and the experiences offered outside the classroom. He's an advocate of the study-abroad program and wants students to be able to bring their experiences with them back to campus and apply them to their everyday lives.
"It seems a shame to me, to gain those experiences, and then drop them," he said.
Vision for DePauw
Concluding questions of both forums were centered around Fischer's vision for DePauw. He said he believes the faculty, students and the quality of both are major contributors to the excellence seen on campus, and that he hopes to continue with this trend.
"You have a faculty who are committed to teaching," he said, adding that the students are motivated, active and well-rounded.
When asked questions centered around greek life, he said he has heard great things about the organizations on DePauw's campus, but would like to include more options, adding to his idea and hope for a diverse community.
In terms of admission, he said he would like to increase DePauw's national visibility by hosting students on campus and visiting different cities, adding that he believed students who haven't heard of the school are reluctant to come. He hopes to raise this awareness.
In closing, Fischer said he understands that there are unique aspects of DePauw, and hopes to learn more about what these entails.
"I need to work with the DePauw community to figure it out," he said. "I need more first-hand experience."
The job of president
As president, Fischer said that he wants to "be visible and present in the campus community, so [he] would understand what's going on." Fischer shared his philosophy on leadership with students, which includes consulting and conferring with other administrators and campus officials.
"You can't please everybody all the time, but you have to have the ability to explain what you've done to get feedback," he said.
Fischer said he would make himself available for students and faculty alike. Professor of English Susan Hahn asked what Fischer would do to open the lines of communincation between himself and the faculty. He said that he was willing to have open meetings, question and answer sessions and to visit departments.
"It's much harder to demonize someone if you have a social relationship with someone," Fischer said.
Both students and faculty posed questions concerning Fischer's plans as president in terms of sustainability and diversity.
Sustainability
It was clear at the student forum that sustainabilty was an important topic. The first student question asked if sustainabilty was a priority of Fischer's.
Fischer said that it is a priority, as he helped Trinity to launch a Sustainability Task Force.
"It's something I'm already committed to," Fischer said. "Sustainabilty, I think, is an obligation in our society. I would support it."
At the faculty forum, Fischer cited sustainabilty as an issue that can be a way of making a student's academic experience inform their social experience. He also discussed how bringing more locally grown food to DePauw could strengthen its relationship with Greencastle and the surrounding communities.
Diversity
As DePauw makes attempts to increase its international visibility, a student asked if diversity was important to Fischer. He said he is a proponent of diversity inside and outside of the classroom.
"Diverse faculty is as important as diverse students," he said, adding that DePauw is a place where people of "varying backgrounds have the chance to get an education and work together. Internationalizing is one of the important things we can do as a school."
Fischer said that he also wants to increase diversity at DePauw through the curriculum and the experiences offered outside the classroom. He's an advocate of the study-abroad program and wants students to be able to bring their experiences with them back to campus and apply them to their everyday lives.
"It seems a shame to me, to gain those experiences, and then drop them," he said.
Vision for DePauw
Concluding questions of both forums were centered around Fischer's vision for DePauw. He said he believes the faculty, students and the quality of both are major contributors to the excellence seen on campus, and that he hopes to continue with this trend.
"You have a faculty who are committed to teaching," he said, adding that the students are motivated, active and well-rounded.
When asked questions centered around greek life, he said he has heard great things about the organizations on DePauw's campus, but would like to include more options, adding to his idea and hope for a diverse community.
In terms of admission, he said he would like to increase DePauw's national visibility by hosting students on campus and visiting different cities, adding that he believed students who haven't heard of the school are reluctant to come. He hopes to raise this awareness.
In closing, Fischer said he understands that there are unique aspects of DePauw, and hopes to learn more about what these entails.
"I need to work with the DePauw community to figure it out," he said. "I need more first-hand experience."
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