The time has come -- the Chosen Three are here.
Roger W. Bowen, Shirley Raines and Richard Ringeisen are on campus this week, answering questions and garnering support as they vie for the 11th presidency of The University of Memphis.
They are an eclectic group with a diverse academic background. Bowen is the president of State University of New York at New Paltz; Raines is the University of Kentucky's vice chancellor for Academic Services; and Ringeisen is vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at East Carolina University.
These candidates -- chosen out of several dozen applicants and nominees -- were considered the best ones to lead our University in the early days of the 21st century.
With the academic hubbub created by the interviews, it is easy to lose sight of the future of the presidency.
But what happens when the honeymoon is over and The University settles into its routine?
Frankly, familiarity breeds contempt, and the new president will be faced with many familiar problems right away.
He or she faces the same funding woes, academic shortcomings, sports expectations and faculty disillusionment that have plagued The U of M for years. He or she must deal with construction costs and student retention concerns.
But perhaps the biggest obstacle facing Bowen, Raines or Ringeisen is how to effectively lead this University without becoming its scapegoat.
After all, more than one U of M coach has lost support from the community, the students and even the players before the first season is over. If a team has not made a complete turnaround by the secord or third game, the coach is as good as fired.
With the U of M president, the stakes are even higher -- and the contract not so easily broken.
There is no easy remedy for the long-term problems facing The University. It is impossible to expect the new president to change the course of a sinking ship without getting a feel for the undercurrents first.
So as Bowen, Raines and Ringeisen visit The U of M this week, students and faculty should be as patient as they are discerning.
They should make an effort to decide who will be the best leader of the U of M community for several years to come.
They should welcome the candidates to an open house, not a slaughterhouse.
After all, there will be plenty of time to be out for blood -- later.
