WELCOME BACK: U. officials fail to hire new JIO

After spending nearly a year looking for a new Judicial Inquiry Officer, University officials have decided not to hire any of the more than 200 applicants for the job. Larry Moneta, associate vice provost for student life, said in July that none of the three finalists interviewed this summer had the right combination of qualities and experience. "At worst, you'd say they were adequate," Moneta said. "They probably could have done the job." But he said none "really generated the kind of excitement we were hoping for." Moneta said the search will be reopened, and will be national this time instead of local. He said the committee may look for a JIO on other large campuses to find someone who could more easily adapt to the University, and that applicants might come from all over the country. The JIO's office investigates and prosecutes a variety of cases, ranging from cheating by students to complaints about fraternities and sororities. The last permanent JIO, Constance Goodman, stepped down last summer to become associate secretary. Jane Combrinck-Graham, associate director of risk management, was named interim JIO last fall. She recently returned to the risk management department. Goodman, who took part in the interviewing process of the three finalists, said she supports reopening the search, adding that it is "absolutely critical" that the University find the "right person" for the job. The three finalists, winnowed down from a list of ten earlier this summer, were better qualified as a group, according to Moneta. He said he believed the "hybrid" of the three would have produced the "ideal" JIO, but that individually none would work. One finalist has worked in a "judicial setting" on another campus, Moneta said. But he said that candidate only had experience with "typical kinds of violations" and had not handled "controversial cases" or those involving groups. A second finalist was strong on experience, Moneta said, but had only worked at a small college. He said he was concerned that the candidate had not spent enough time on a large campus. A third finalist lacked the experience of the other two, Moneta said. But he said the combination of a counseling degree and a law degree made the candidate appealing, though still not satisfactory. Moneta could not say when a permanent JIO might finally be found. But he said an interim JIO will stay in office through the end of the upcoming school year until a transition process has familiarized the new JIO with the job. Goodman said the next JIO should have an appreciation of various aspects of the University's "culture," including its size, the intelligence of the students, the quality of the education and the level of the faculty. Beyond that, she listed a number of personal qualities she considers important: "good judgement, strong interpersonal skills, ability to be perceptive, good counseling skills, sensitivity, a sense of fairness, faith in another's ability to change behaviors, and a real love of working with students." Moneta said that for now, he will be working with Assistant JIO Robin Read to incorporate new revisions into the University's judicial code. '[None of the candidates] really generated the kind of excitement we were looking for.' Larry Moneta Associate VPUL

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.