Portera makes first visit to faculty senate; outdoor pool discussed

The Robert Holland Faculty Senate began its new year by hearing new Mississippi State President Malcolm Portera outline goals for the first six months of his administration.

Senators also voted to recommend that efforts be considered to extend for one more year the life of the aging and leaking Simon Blumenfeld Swimming Pool.

Portera, making his inaugural appearance before the advisory body since succeeding Dr. Donald Zacharias Jan.1, took the traditional time accorded presidents at the meeting's start to briefly outline the initial priorities of his office.

Among others, he cited the need to quickly fill key leadership vacancies, create "effective lines of communication" to identify and respond to campus needs and problems, generate resources necessary "to fund first-quality research, teaching and service," establish priorities for private fund raising, and to "enhance the quality of life for students on our campus."

Portera also told senators he would give early attention to expanding diversity within the university administration.

"We need to be innovative and creative here," he said. "We are going to dedicate some resources within the institution to address the issue of providing for diversity in the administration and to assist you as you attempt to provide diversity in the faculty."

Concluding his part on the Jan. 9 program, Portera made several commitments to senators. He promised "to work hard in the next six months and thereafter to deliver what we indicate to you we want to pursue." He also pledged to seek the senate's advice and counsel as he worked to achieve the goals.

"As I said when interviewing for this job, I am interested in creating a partnership," he said. "I will need your help in developing that partnership and making sure it is strong."

In summation, he said his administration "always will strive to provide the highest possible quality in anything we do" and "to utilize university resources available to us in ways that are central to the missions of teaching, research and service at Mississippi State."

In its vote on a recommendation by the University Resources Committee regarding the Blumenfeld pool, the senate was responding to Dr. Dawn S. Luthe. In an October 1997 letter to the body, the professor of biochemistry and molecular biology raised the question of the aging pool's continued operation this summer.

Built in 1946 at a cost of $50,000, the approximately 12,000-square-foot swimming pool is about to give up its designation as MSU's primary aquatic facility.

The Joe Frank Sanderson Center, with its modern natatorium, is scheduled to open in March under the management of the Division of Student Affairs' Department of Recreational Sports.

Committee chair David McMillen said Student Affairs officials, while sympathetic to the desire of faculty, staff and students for an outdoor pool this year, cannot continue to assume the expense of a 50-year-old pool that is almost beyond repair. "Because of major water loss from leakage and other problems, it would cost an estimated $30,000-$40,000 to operate Blumenfeld," McMillen said.

By a 30-0 vote, the senate accepted the committee's recommendations that the division develop a means for determining if enough students, faculty, staff, and area residents are willing to pay for the Blumenfeld pool's operation and if there is sufficient financial commitment to pay for that operation. Additionally, Student Affairs was asked to inform the university community and area residents via campus and local media of its plans for swimming at MSU during the summer months.

McMillen said the division currently is discussing a new outdoor pool. While a firm commitment cannot be made "at this time," he said university officials believe a new outdoor pool can be financed and constructed by the summer of 1999.

A complete summary of the January meeting can be read on the Faculty Senate Home Page, which can be reached via the university's home page by hitting the "Academics" icon, then scrolling to "Organizations."