The Eastern ► AD search First candidate Almost goodbye looks for 'fif BY DAMB. PBEKOPA Sports editor Within the next few weeks, five can- didates will be interviewed in public forums for the open athletics director position. The first of these public inter- views was conducted yesterday at 3 p.m. in the Kennamer Room of the Powell Building. Tim Van Alstine, senior associate athletics director at Ohio University, was the first to be interviewed. Before his forum on Tuesday, Van Alstine was given a tour of the University and its facilities by the com- mittee. He said he was impressed with how the day went "The accommodations at the Jason Garyorv'Progress Bennett House were terrific," said Van Alstine. "(Eastern's) a beautiful cam- Tim Van Alatine was the first AO candi- pus. It's a lot like where I was at Ohio." date to speak to campus yesterday Van Alstine feels like his experience in all levels of college sports makes Jeff Long and served as Long's assis- him qualified to be the Eastern's athlet- tant during his two-year tenure. Smith ics director. said in a previous interview that he was "Nothing is going to surprise me," excited about the opportunity to inter- said Van Alstine. "I've come across just view for the job. about everything at one time or anoth- "I was hopeful it would happen," er." said Smith. "I'm very honored they Van Alstine said he was impressed made me one of the finalists." Photos by Jam* GadrJisJProgrtss from what he saw of Eastern. Smith said he hopes to continue the "Eastern Kentucky has very good programs that have been started by President Robert Kuatra waves goodbye to students at the forum Thursday. Kustra will resign as president in June of 2002. facilities, and I just don't mean academ- Eastern's athletics department. ic facilities," said Van Alstine. "What's Dean Lee, associate athletics direc- always impressing is when you see tor at Oklahoma State University, has Kustra says those who change Regents react to president's buildings under construction." already been given an interview date. Van Alstine said the changes he Lee held positions at the University of things often have short tenures resignation with mixed feelings would make would depend upon an Arkansas and Arkansas Tech assessment and evaluation of the pro- University before joining Oklahoma BY JENNFER ROOERS BY JAIME VMSON AND DENA TACKETT gram. He did say that marketing was State in 1997. He earned a doctorate News editor Editors very important to any athletic program. degree in education at the University "You have to ride the fastest hone," of Arkansas. Microphones were set up and the tables cleared in the President Robert Kustra announced Feb. 14 that he would said Van Alstine. "You have to try and Powell food court Thursday afternoon. Students had been Lee will be on campus for an inter- invited to come to a 5 p.m. question-and-answer open forum resign as Eastern's top official effective June 2002. The copy and emulate things that are suc- view from 3 to 4:15 p.m. March 6 announcement, which shocked the university, has resulted cessful in corporate America." with President Robert Kustra, whose resignation was Lee said many aspects of the job at announced the day before. in mixed feelings within Eastern's Board of Regents. Van Alstine said he is hopeful he Eastern made him interested in the Kustra attributed his resignation to changes in the Board. But when only around 10 ■«■■*■'■ »»"< ^"-trU* ihinind up « 1 will be given the job. position. In » Frt>. 14 WHJIIWIW. Kttxrn «aM. *The rieeMon seetmr "This will be a good fit for me, I at the forum, Kustra wasn't disappointed. Instead, he said the appropriate to me in light of the significant number of new "(Eastern's) a great school in an out- lack of attendance was a good point. hope," Van Alstine said. standing conference," said Lee. "It's regents who have been appointed or elected since I was The four other candidates will be on Kustra attributed the sparse crowd to the weather, busy hired three years ago. I think this essentially new Board also in a beautiful location." schedules and classes in session. But he said there was one campus for interviews within the next Lee said if chosen for the position, deserves the opportunity to hire a new president." few weeks. One of these is Eastern's other factor that could have swayed the university communi- Regent Ernest House any changes he would make in the ath- ty not to come: "Finally. I would hope that it must mean we're acting athletics director. Chip Smith. letics program would be made based agrees that the Board Smith will be interviewed from 3 to doing a good job," Kustra said. has changed since uponneedT Instead of taking questions from the student body. Kustra Board of Regents 4:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Jaggers Room "I would have to do an assessment Kustra was hired. of the Powell Building. used the forum to answer questions about his decision to "With a change in special meeting resign, effective at the end of his term, June 30,2002. Smith was hired by former director See AD, A4 dynamics and make-up When: 10 a.m. March 1 Kustra said that he had become accustomed to having also comes a change in close contact with certain Board of Regents members who vision and direction for I: Kennamer Room of publicly applauded the work the university was doing. the university." House "I didn't get any pressure or feel any pressure." Kustra said. the Powell building explained. He said that some of the newer Regents were not House said if there is as inclined to praise the work they were doing, and that he a conflict at this point in OxyContin abuse had hoped the Board that hired him would remain intact time within the Board, it is a silent conflict. throughout his career as president. "I"he situation that has developed is one where some of Kustra explained the decision to end his four-year term by the 'new majority' do not totally buy into the 'Kustra Plan' saying that "change agents" in university settings often have that they have inherited from the Board that hired Dr. shorter tenures. Kustra," said House. "There are certain members that worries officials "I'll never be accused of maintaining the status quo," have a very narrow, self-serving agenda that in most cases Kustra said, adding that not only was Eastern changing, but does not represent what is best for the university as a also educational institutions, like the Council on BY ROMCA BRANDENBURG but the next minute. I was like, 'Whoa.'" whole. Postsecondary Education, were undergoing "At no point is a Board member, in regards to their News writer Over the past several months, "change of the highest order." OxyContin has become popular as a vote or support, supposed to put their constituency, Heroin has met its match. Users are Kustra said that his job entailed "uncontrol- I special interests or personal friendships before what is recreational drug. lables," situations he said were unpredictable still injecting drugs intravenously, but Monica Greene*, a 20 year-old best for the university." said House. "Sadly to say. the substance of interest is changing. and had personal effects, like the pedestrian there is evidence that quite a bit of this has gone on." sophomore, said that she finds accidents at the Iancaster Avenue Crosswalk OxyContin was introduced to the OxyContin to be the opposite of speed. House said he personally feels Kustra has done a medical world in 1996 as a drug to and the announcement that the university magnificent job while at Eastern and has dramatical- "It makes me feel relaxed and laid- bookstore's parent company, Wallace's, had treat cancer patients and patients suf- back." Greene said. "I mainline it. It's ly changed the face and perception of fering with chronic pain. The drug is filed for bankruptcy two weeks ago. Eastern. a completely different drug when you Kustra said that although his next career . an opiate containing oxycodone, or mainline it instead of snorting it." "One can easily say that he lias 'put a little synthetic morphine, which is the active move had yet to be decided, he had several skip in our step' and once again this university According to an artk'le in Sunday's options, like pursuing a career in private ingredient. The tablet comes in the Lexington Herald-Leader, the number is moving forward." said House. "I fully recog- industry or radio. nize that all the changes impkniented in such potency of 20 mg. 40 mg and 80 mg of OxyContin prescriptions in "I might look at another challenge in and is time-released. Kentucky has nearly doubled since a short amount of time offended some, but I higher education." Kustra said. "Ill certain- also know that there are many that welcomed Stan Peters*, a 21 year-old senior, 1999.The article also stated that ly return to the classroom at some time." reflected on the delayed reaction he Kentucky is ranked 13th in the U.S. the changes that were long overdue." Kustra said that although he was confi- House added Kustra's desire to make the received from the drug. among the per-capita OxyContin con- dent that people thought he had done a "I snorted a 40 milligram tablet," sumption. university more consumer-friendly and stu- Peters said.