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Cady, the CLA faculty representative on the presidential search committee, said faculty members are specifically concerned about the effect the office will have on the search.

“I’ve been assured by [search consultant] Bill Funk and by John Turner, the chair of the presidential screening commission, that all candidates would be aware of the president emeritus office,” Cady said.

At this point, it doesn’t seem likely that it will have an impact on the presidential search, Cady said. “The issue is not at the forefront of people’s minds.”

Cady added, however, that “there have been colleges where having the old chief executive officer on campus has created difficulties.”

During a question-and-answer session at the Oct. 26 HUSC general assembly meeting, Osnes addressed his potential post-retirement presence.

“I will not have an affiliation in any formal way at Hamline other than the emeritus office,” Osnes said.
“Hamline’s operations will be in the hands of the new president.”

In addition, Osnes explained that he would be around only to finish pending projects, thus limiting his time on campus.

“[Osnes] is very interested in a smooth transition,” said CLA dean Garvin Davenport. “Larry needs to be given credit.”

But, he added, “If it were my retirement, I would not be on campus very much.”

The president leaving, as a rule, wants to be available to help, but the newcomer doesn’t want someone hanging over their head, Davenport said.

In addition, he said it will be a challenge for the next president to maintain the momentum Osnes has accumulated throughout his 17-year tenure, which Davenport described as the university’s best years.

“For work to continue, the new president needs to spend as much time with donors on and off campus as Larry has,” Davenport said.

Explaining the need for the new president emeritus office, Vice President for University Relations Dan Loritz said, “Bob [Klas] wanted to provide a space for [Osnes].”

“This is more normal than people would think,” Loritz said, citing as an example the emeritus office Osnes gave to earlier President Emeritus Charles Graham upon Graham’s retirement.

Kelly Krebs, director of student activities and leadership development, said, “It would be sad for [Osnes] not to have a role on campus.”

“That emeritus role will provide him with a way to be part of the university. Donors put stipulations on gifts all the time,” said Krebs.

“It’s a nice gesture from a family who has worked with [Osnes] for years,” said Anne Wetter, CLA representative on the presidential search committee.

The gift was given on the Klases’ terms, and those terms should be respected, said Wetter.

“If it were really a controversy, then the Board of Trustees and the president should not have accepted the money,” Wetter said. “It’s not a concern.”

However, others were more skeptical than Wetter and Krebs.

“From an organizational prespective, there is the potential ambiguity about leadership,” theatre arts and communication studies professor Verna Corgan said.

“It might well raise questions what the new president’s influence and leadership role will be.”

“I think there are ways that the space could be used that would be more beneficial to the campus,” CLA sophomore Morgan Stemberger said.

Junior Azure Schermerhorn called Osnes’ potential presence “a little intimidating.”

For now, the space remains empty. Barring change, Osnes will accept his president emeritus title in June 2005.