Don Michael Randel . . . In the News

Stories about the nomination and election of Don Michael Randel, provost at Cornell University, as the 12th President of the University appeared in the national media before and after the University’s Board of Trustees approved the nomination Monday, Dec. 13. The following excerpted reports and quotes by Randel were taken from several media sources that published stories.

The Associated Press newswire service reported Thursday, Dec. 9, that Randel said he has been approached over the years to consider other presidential positions but always resisted leaving Cornell University. “I could only make this decision because of the extraordinary character and quality of the University of Chicago,” said Randel, following the announcement of his nomination. He also commented on changes to the College curriculum. “It is a sign of great strength of the institution and devotion to its ideals that there was a serious and vigorous debate about its curriculum. There are very few places where faculty would be roused by this change.” The Boston Globe published the AP newswire story in its Friday, Dec. 10 issue.

The New York Times wrote about Randel’s nomination in its Friday, Dec. 10 issue.

The story quoted Edgar Jannotta, Chairman of the University Board of Trustees and the Trustee Search Committee, on Randel’s leadership abilities and qualifications. Jannotta said Randel’s demonstrated ability to work with vastly different constituencies at Cornell, which has an unusual hybrid structure of public and private colleges, contributed to his nomination.

The Chicago Tribune published stories following the announcement of Randel’s nomination and following his press conference appearance at the University on Monday, Dec. 13. In its Friday, Dec. 10 story, the Tribune quoted Randel about change at universities, “Everyone at the University of Chicago is committed to the notion that we take books seriously here. But any great university must constantly be in the process of reinventing itself.” In a story published Tuesday, Dec. 14, Randel was quoted about his interest in scholarship, which goes beyond that of his own. “I’m insatiably curious about people’s work, and I want to know what everyone is up to, both students and faculty alike.”

The Chicago Sun-Times also published two stories––one in its Friday, Dec. 10 issue about Randel’s nomination and one in its Tuesday, Dec. 14 issue, following the press conference that introduced Randel to the media. The second story quoted Randel as expressing, “The University of Chicago is a one-of-a-kind institution. It represents the best. It’s an institution the United States and the world needs now more than ever.”