EDITORIAL: In the image of Chodorow

With Provost Stanley Chodorow's imminent departure, administrators should choose a successor who has academics in mind. But the provost hasn't always been presidential material. Chodorow's career at Penn got off to rocky start when he said students shouldn't have a large role in University educational policy planning because of their time constraints. Since then, Chodorow has made a concerted effort to involve students and their opinions on all levels of the planning process. Students have been active in the allocation of Perelman Quadrangle space and the development of preceptorials. It is these new plans and academic programs that will be hurt by Chodorow's departure. Therefore, administrators should try to find his replacement quickly. Penn is at a crossroads in its academic programming where it needs steady guidance. A long-staying interim provost will be detrimental to the University's academic goals. The soon-to-be-formed provost search committee should look for someone with similar qualities to Chodorow. Someone who is passionate about academics and also in touch with the students. Chodorow's love for medieval history and academia in general created a good rapport between the provost and faculty. The University does not need a provost who will focus on the finances of academic programs. Instead, the next provost should concentrate solely on the academic mission of Penn and leave the bean counting to other members of the administration. For all the blunders Chodorow made when he first got here, we have grown to appreciate the provost who is still a medieval history professor at heart.