Part of Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) appeal is that it is in a rural place and has a smaller campus. 

I have lived on the Western Slope my entire life and others like me understand why it is important for people who know the area to have leadership roles. This is why in the search for a new president, I want to advocate for someone who is local. 

Campus expansion has long been coming, but with push back from the community, the university will never end up as big as some of the schools in eastern Colorado. This is why someone from the bigger cities would not quite fit with CMU’s image and goals. 

Another aspect we pride ourselves on is having lower tuition rates than other universities in Colorado. The people in charge have a big say in how much we pay as students and it is important that our next president advocates for keeping the tuition affordable. I believe that someone local to the Western Slope would understand this need and how much it means to students. 

The Montrose campus recently got a new director, Steven Metheny. He is a local and was previously a professor. His experience with CMU makes him ideal for his position because he understands the values and the struggles of that campus. Metheny has the necessary experience to improve CMU Montrose. 

We need the same here at the main campus. We need someone who has the background knowledge and cares for CMU. The new president needs to be someone who loves the area and wants to keep the atmosphere that President Tim Foster has built and make improvements. Currently, students have a president that cares about keeping the campus lively and friendly and that should be upheld.