Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Campus

Student leaders expressed their appreciation for Northwestern University President Henry Bienen's legacy on campus after a Monday announcement that the president plans to retire next year.

"I'm a big President Bienen fan," said Jon Webber, the Associated Student Government president. "(Bienen's retirement) is a big loss for Northwestern."

The Weinberg senior listed campus improvements, such as the construction of Kemper Hall, renovations on the Chicago campus and the quintupling of NU's endowment from $1.4 billion in 1995 to nearly $7 billion in 2007 as a few of Bienen's major contributions to the university.

"He's done a great job improving the university in both the short and long term," Webber said. "He has solidified Northwestern as one of the nation's premier research institutions."

Other student leaders emphasized Bienen's involvement with students on campus as one of Bienen's strengths.

During his tenure, the president has attended numerous sporting events and student events.

"Bienen has really reached out to the student body and put effort into being a part of student life," said Krysta Kauble, a Dance Marathon co-chairwoman.

The Communication senior recalled Bienen's involvement with the philanthropy's Top Chef competition held in late January. Only 10 minutes after DM's food committee co-chairman left a message about the event with the president's office, Bienen called back and agreed to be a judge in the competition, Kauble said.

"He was eager to interact with students," she said. "Bienen has done a lot for us at DM and we wish him the best in retirement."

Students who have less interaction with the administration and university affairs seemed to have mixed reactions about the president retiring.

Bienen's announcement came as a surprise to Weinberg sophomore Jon Bowers.

"It seems like he's done a lot," Bowers said, mentioning Bienen's financial campaign to raise the endowment as his biggest contribution. "I'd be interested to see who's going to replace him."

Other students said they were ambivalent about the matter.

First-year doctoral candidate Derm Murphy said he didn't have a reaction when he read Bienen's e-mail to the university community.

"At every university I've been to, this is something typical," Murphy said. "The president leaves and a new one replaces him."

The prospect of Bienen leaving also did not have an effect on Weinberg freshman Chelsea Baldino.

"I've actually never seen him before," Baldino said. "I don't think that much will change."



ptakahashi@u.northwestern.edu

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