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Campus anticipates change led by president

University president Gary Roberts speaks to students about plans for the future of Bradley at the presiden- tial welcome reception Wednesday. Photo by Adam Rubinberg.
University president Gary Roberts speaks to students about plans for the future of Bradley at the presiden- tial welcome reception Wednesday. Photo by Adam Rubinberg.

The university held several welcome receptions for newly-instated President Gary Roberts last week, tailoring each to audiences of faculty and staff or students and community members.

“I heard a lot of different things, like, ‘he was such a nice guy,’ and that ‘he’s very personable,’ and that’s all true,” sophomore criminal justice studies major Allie Hoffman said. “Right when I walked in, the first impression, he came up to the [Student] Senate table and he said, ‘I’m so excited to work with you all,’ and he mentioned how he was in student government when he went here. He was just very personable and very easy to talk to.”

Roberts spoke about his past as a student at Bradley and highlighted the importance of the people that make up the university.

“I’ve been impressed with the quality of the people and particularly the faculty,” Roberts said. “My job as president really is to make sure that this university has the resources and has a safe and nurturing place for these great people—the faculty and the staff—to do their jobs: mentoring and teaching you.”

He also addressed many of the issues impacting Bradley such as low faculty compensation, low morale, needed facility renovations and financial issues.

“We face some financial challenges,” Roberts said. “Every university in America is facing financial challenges. There are all sorts of reasons for that, and Bradley is no different, but they’re not insurmountable challenges. We can deal with them and we are dealing with them. I’m extremely optimistic about the future of this place.”

Senior political science and economics double major Jason Blumenthal served as the sole student member on the presidential search committee, and he said Roberts was a positive figure from the first meeting.

“[Roberts] came into it really excited and really happy,” Blumenthal said. “My very first experience with him was very positive. He seemed very cool and he seemed to have a good grasp of the Bradley community as we see it.”

Hoffman also said Roberts seemed positive when she first met him. One aspect she said she hopes he addresses is student safety.

“I’d probably say [students want Roberts to address] student safety because I know that’s something that’s kind of been swept under the rug, and I know he’s willing to work with it too, and like he said, he’s willing to work with senate, and that’s one of our main priorities too,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said having the president at school events and interacting with students is a way he can affect campus in a positive way.

While Roberts addressed some issues at Bradley, there are other issues people want addressed as well.

“I’m sure he will look at the serious issue of salary compression amongst associate professors,” English professor Caitriona Moloney said.

Members of the Bradley community said they are hopeful Roberts will continue to develop the university’s reputation.

“I think his priorities are regaining trust amongst everybody in the community, exterior and internal, and continuing to make Bradley more distinguished and better in the long run,” Blumenthal said.

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The Scout is published by members of the student body of Bradley University. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the University.