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Brown says CU perceived as being aloof

By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 8, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated March 8, 2008 at 2:43 a.m.

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The University of Colorado must overcome a public perception of aloofness if it is to win more public funding, President Hank Brown said Friday, his last day heading the school.

"The university has a tendency to look inward, so when we think about the curriculum or we think about our rights or our privileges, we tend to think inwardly," Brown said. "What has to change is, we have to think of taking into account what our sponsors want. It's a different orientation."

Brown, a CU alumnus and former student body president, is stepping down after a career that took him to the Colorado legislature, U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.

He was named president in 2005 at a time when the school was wracked with scandal over football recruiting, undergraduate drinking and faculty scholarship. He is credited with turning the institution around.

At 67, his public career is over, Brown said. He'll be teaching, mostly in the political science department, but also in law.

Oilman Bruce Benson takes over as president Monday. He'll have a full schedule of meetings, CU spokesman Ken McConnellogue said.

Finances will be CU's top concern, Brown said. Colorado is at the bottom of the states in public support for universities.

"It doesn't do us any good to whine about the legislature . . . or whine about the governor or whine about the commission on higher education," Brown said of the lack of funding. "The simple fact is, the majority of Coloradans don't think we deserve more funding."

He suggests faculty members work with the community more often - for example, helping out in public schools or participating in projects with service clubs.

"What that would do is humanize the university," Brown said.

Colorado must untangle amendments that have been added to the state Constitution in the past two decades, he said. Those amendments limit the amount of state money available, but also determine where much of the remaining funds must be spent.

morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-5209

Comments

  • March 8, 2008

    8:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kathyM writes:

    The CU faculty going out among the "untouchables"? Yeah, right.

  • March 10, 2008

    11:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gunslinger writes:

    Hank Brown "is credited with turning the institution around" by WHOM? Hank Brown brought eternal shame upon the University when he caved in to a spurious suit by a Boulder lawyer who had not one whit of interest in the reputation of the University...and Hank Brown conferenced with the regents, one of whom is the wife of the lawyer, with much to gain from handing over the money from the university to her husband. Another regent is Jim Carrigan, who said it was OK to settle because the money didn't come (after the first million) from the university, but from its insurance! (Same reasoning that is leading to less doctors in this state). Who pays the premiums, what will they be now, as the University of Colorado leads the hall of shame as it paves the way for more such phony suits throughout the country? If you quit a boxing match after the 7th round, it is "behind you", too.