FSU search opens, Thrasher no longer exclusive

This simple concept always escapes FSU......'hold an open search for the most qualified candidate, regardless of who they know/are related to/where they played football, and hire the most qualified candidate.' 

I know....crazy talk.

This all said, and this latest development aside, I still expect Thrasher to be hired.  His boys successfully scared away any heavy weight candidate.


FSU search opens, Thrasher no longer exclusive

"Florida State University's presidential search veered back to standard operating procedure Tuesday as the chairman of the search committee announced state Sen. John Thrasher would no longer be the sole candidate before any others are considered.
"Recent events have made me increasingly optimistic that a traditional search process now appears more feasible than anticipated at our last meeting," wrote Ed Burr, chairman of the FSU Presidential Search Advisory Committee to fellow members.
Thrasher had been scheduled to be interviewed by the committee June 11. Following that decision, state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda and Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricky Polston both filed applications to be considered. FSU presidency has been vacant since Eric Barron left to lead Penn State University earlier this year.
"Since the meeting, we have received applications from several additional candidates," Burr wrote. "This has persuaded me that allowing this phase of the search to evolve before conducting any interviews would be most effective."
Thrasher, a prominent and influential Republican with long ties to FSU, emerged as such a leading contender that the search committee's hired consultant, Bill Funk, advised that perception of Thrasher's candidacy as a done deal was suppressing other applicants. Now, Burr says he thinks they can go back to a full search.
"It is my intent to confer with our search consultant, Bill Funk, to discuss an appropriate application deadline and to delay the June 11th interview of Senator Thrasher until such time as the Committee assembles a final list of candidates for consideration at a public meeting," Burr wrote.
Some faculty and students had spoken out against Thrasher's candidacy. A demonstration is planned for Thursday by Dream Defenders and United Faculty of Florida, among other groups, opposing Thrasher."