While it is hard to convince the majority of people on this campus to agree on anything, the consensus after UNM President Bill Gordon announced his retirement was that he would be sorely missed.
The student newspaper is in a unique position because the Daily Lobo has had a long history of relationships with the administration that were rocky at best. The relationship between the Lobo and the University president can naturally be adversarial because of the watchdog role the newspaper is expected to play.
But it was hard to find fault with Gordon's approach to the job and the sweeping, essential changes he made. Some columnists and professors long known for attacking the University even admitted that their jobs were tougher with Gordon in charge.
Gordon does have his faults, but they pale in comparison to the laughing-stock presidents that have led or failed to lead this institution in the past.
The president offered what he called a candid assessment of UNM to the Faculty Senate Tuesday, but to his credit, was not brutally honest and continued protecting the University while pushing for change.
Gordon embodied traits that are hard to come by. He is adept at engaging community members and donors while emphasizing the need to improve the student experience at all levels. He likely will be impossible to replace because he was best at being all things to all people - connecting with students, faculty, staff members, business leaders, community members and the people in line at McDonald's on the drop of a dime.
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His legacy should be the phenomenal increase in research funding and enhancing the University's stature without sacrificing its principles along the way. With any luck, the road map Gordon sketched will be so indelible that it survives whatever lies ahead.
Iliana Lim¢n
Editor in chief
