Last Thursday, I attended the inauguration of our University’s new President, B. Joseph White, at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. For those who don’t know, the President oversees operations at all three Illinois campuses. Controlling Chicago, Urbana-Champaign and Springfield, the buck stops with him. That’s why the inauguration was such a big deal, and that’s why President White is exactly what we need in a pivotal era like this.

In all the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration, however, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed and angered at the same time. Several key elected officials sent their greetings to the President via video recording, and they were played at the beginning of the event. Senators Obama and Durbin and Speaker Hastert, flanked by American flags and formally dressed, were eloquent and cordial in their welcoming of President White. Yet, our esteemed Gov. Blagojevich, in a clearly unrehearsed speech, wearing a plain blue polo shirt, standing with hands on hips, succeeded in perpetuating his own decline.

An out-of-state administrator to remain unnamed even told me later in the evening that he “looked like an idiot.” It was a disappointing moment for all Illini, as this administrator and I then discussed Blagojevich’s failure to advance our University with sufficient funding during his tenure.

But that was the buzz of the night, as President White was diligent in challenging our meager funding in his inaugural address. He was deliberate and tactful in his demand for more recognition by the state. Calling the Governor out on his egregious negligence, White somberly declared, “Four years of budget reductions, no increases and little capital have sent a resounding message: we are on our own as never before when it comes to incremental operating funds, capital for new facilities and the money to address what is politely called ‘deferred maintenance.'”

At first glance, these look like the words of a political stump speech. But what makes President White a great leader, better than any politician, is his refusal to accept the mediocrity and ambivalence displayed by the state. “If we are not masterful stewards,” White said, “we will preside over the slow, almost imperceptible decline of a superb public research university.”

He summed up the spirit of our University best when he noted: “In the presidential search, the trustees asked what I thought about the University of Illinois. I said, ‘In a nutshell, the University is high achieving, under-recognized, and under-resourced. I would be honored to spend a decade building on the legacy of high achievement and fixing the problems of recognition and resources.’ Nine months later, I haven’t changed my mind or my resolve.”

The call for leadership committed to fixing our resource deficiencies was appropriate, brave and overdue. Later in the evening, I congratulated him on his formal inauguration as well as his courage for shoving our funding situation to center stage. Everything they say about B. Joseph White is true – he embodies every necessary quality of an effective leader, a knowledgeable teacher and loyal friend. He will take our University to the next level.

Those affiliated with the University, even you College Democrats, must not support Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign for re-election. The University is the state’s greatest asset. Our faculty brings in over 500 million dollars annually from out-of-state research sources, which in turn creates more jobs and grows our economy. Yet, this governor has leeched off of our institution, allowing our buildings to crumble, our tuition to soar and our good name to tarnish. We cannot afford four more years of the same.

This is my call to political arms for our campus. In about 13 months, we will have an opportunity to install new leadership in Springfield who will give Illinois the funding and recognition we deserve. Read between the lines: our new president is calling for a change. We should give him all the help he needs.

Chuck Prochaska is a junior in LAS. His column appears every Thursday. He can be reached at [email protected].