I will have open meetings, open forums, an open-door policy and calling bingo in the dorms at night, trying to get the students to talk to me and tell me what’s really on their minds.

The middle-class kids are going to be in trouble.

It’s important that we develop interaction on issues. Presidents need to be in a listening mode when they are starting a new task … and I will be in a listening mode.

I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to walk in here with approximately 90 seconds of experience and start telling the people who have made their careers here what the important issues are.

Student aid is the No. 1 issue for us.

He’s a person that was very passionate and really believed in what he was doing in his work life. He had a great love for the university, a great love for the community the university...