'Dr. Evil' exits stage left, leaves opening at top

By John Klimut
Editor in Chief

"Dr. Evil" has decided to run for his secret hideout in Denver, Colo.

On Nov. 16, the day that will live in infamy in the minds of all SIU students, faculty and personnel, President Ted Sanders announced his resignation. Effective in February, "Dr. Evil" - sorry, Sanders - will move on to be president of the Education Commission of the States. The ECS just happens to have its headquarters in Denver.

Sanders' move to the ECS is rumored to be a steppingstone for the U.S. secretary of education, if George W. Bush is elected president .

Before you run for the nearest box of Kleenex, keep in mind that Sanders' run as SIU president was wrapped in controversy. Let's take a look at the highlight reel.

This summer there was the firing of SIUC chancellor Jo Ann Argersinger. Sanders and the SIU board of trustees voted unanimously to fire Argersinger as the Carbondale chancellor. According to Sanders and the board, Argersinger was fired for several reasons, including not following orders and siding with her staff.

Then there the 1997 decision to spend $300,000 to upgrade computers in Sanders' office. Of that sum, $70,000 was spent to purchase new lap-top computers for the board of trustees.

In spring, Sanders decided the board needed new lap-tops to replace the aging IBM ThinkPads that were purchased for $70,000 and allocated $22,000 to make it happen. Keep in mind that the only thing these lap-tops are used for is e-mail and Internet access. So, for those of you who are not technologically hip, the original lap-tops were more than powerful enough to handle their intended jobs.

Sanders raised many an eyebrow when he pushed to merge many financial and administrative operations for the all the campuses. An honorable idea to be sure, but his heavy-handed techniques raised suspicions.

And, let's not forget, the Pepsi deal with one Harry Crisp, sometimes referred to as the "Pepsi-Bottling Czar." This deal was one that piqued the interest of the state legislature.

A few years back SIUC needed a new basketball floor, being the generous and good citizen he is Crisp donated $500,000 to help complete the floor. In honor of the donation the floor was named for Crisp's father. Not long after the donation, however, the Pepsi Czar was awarded a contract to distribute his Pepsi products exclusively, not only at the basketball stadium but at the football and baseball fields as well - for the next 10 years. It might just be me, but for some reason that deal just screams "good old boys network." Oh, and I almost forgot the distribution contract was not put up for bids, it was handed directly to Crisp.

So, now that you've seen the highlight reel of "Dr. Evil's" reign, you may not be so quick to head for the Kleenex box and might instead run for the ticker tape.

Sanders' departure has everyone asking the who question. Who will take over the SIU system and bring us into the next millennium? Well, I have an idea.

There is one person I'm aware of who already knows the backroom tricks of the board, who knows students and faculty alike, who has dealt with community leaders and the state legislators and has more than enough academic credentials and experience.

So I'll be the first - and probably only - person to go on record to suggest Jo Ann Argersinger for SIU president.

"Dr. Evil" is headed for the mountains of Colorado. When he fired Argersinger he replaced her with a man she had fired. Wouldn't it be fitting - although, I'll admit unlikely - that the board replace Sanders with the woman he fired?