The Florida State University Faculty Senate declared "no confidence" in FSU Presidential Search Advisory committee consultant Bill Funk at its meeting Wednesday night. The Senate believes strong academic leadership and credentials are key qualities for a president who will push FSU into the top 25 public universities – qualities they believe Funk deems less important than FSU loyalty.
FSU Faculty Senator Michael Buchler says he believes Funk doesn’t have the presidential search committee’s best interests in mind.
"He has given us what we believe to be bad advice. He recommended that we only interview Senator [John] Thrasher [(R-St. Augustine)]. He recommended this to the presidential search advisory committee despite the fact that there had been no deadline for getting applications yet," Buchler says.
Florida State Board of Trustees Chairman Allan Bense declined a recorded interview but says finding the ideal candidate is not simple, and he understands and appreciates the concerns of the faculty.
