NEWS ANALYSIS: Rodin admin. achieves little

The University certainly looks great to those outside of it. But within the University, the new administration has actually accomplished little. Throughout the semester, the administration has discussed and presented many plans and reports that have yet to be resolved. Some, such as Coopers & Lybrand's administrative restructuring report, had set deadlines for completion that have not been met. University President Judith Rodin hired the professional services firm in September to study cost containment and administrative overhaul. At the time, she said the report would be prepared by November 1. But the firm did not release its preliminary report until last week. Its final report will not come out until mid-January, Interim Executive Vice President Jack Freeman said. Rodin also made security a top priority. At the end of October, Freeman said a master plan on security would be ready in mid-November. No plan was released and Rodin recently refused to comment on its status. "I am frustrated that we have not yet put before the community a master security plan," she said. Days before the inauguration, the administration released the 21st Century Undergraduate Education Initiative, which is aimed at combining academics with the residences and University life. But this project, too, was delayed because choosing committee members and scheduling meetings took much longer than expected. Originally, Rodin said students and faculty would be chosen quickly so the expanded committee could meet several times before the semester's end. But committee members were not selected until this week. The administration announced in October that it would be reviewing capital planning projects -- including the Revlon Center. No results from the review have been released yet. But Rodin said she was satisfied with the decision to take a step back from the capital projects. "I understand the frustration it engendered but it was the right decision institutionally," she said. Despite the lack of concrete action, administrators said they are moving toward completion of many of their goals. And others say they did not expect any complete accomplishments this semester in the first place. "We're starting from ground zero," University spokeswoman Barbara Beck said. "I think it's particularly difficult to be able to make an analysis of what new leadership can do in six months." Top administrators also complained of the lack of time they had to deal with the University community. "There are so many competing demands and constituencies," Rodin said. "It is so exhausting and so demanding. "But I am so committed to this University, it makes it worthwhile for me," she added. At last week's University Council meeting, University Secretary Barbara Stevens stressed the media's positive portrayal of the University. And Beck said Rodin "had a lot to do with this." National print and broadcast media have focused on the University this semester. The coverage ranged from The New York Times's profile on Rodin to Good Morning America's portrayal of a fall day on Locust Walk. And Chodorow said his "open and forthright" discussions with the Student Committee on Judicial Reform marked a positive aspect of his first term. "I hope to reach a broader array of students and student opinion [next semester]," he said. Despite slow progress and lack of concrete results, the semester's positive aspects led Rodin and Chodorow to label their first term in office a success. But the two promised even greater accomplishments in the months ahead.