Incoming SUNY-ESF student leader prepares for Wheeler’s exit

SUNY-ESF’s student governing body has elected its next president for the 2018-19 academic year, and he’s already preparing to work through the college’s expected administrative changes.

James Quinn, a sophomore environmental studies major, will replace current Undergraduate Student Association President Ben Taylor. Carson Rowe, a freshman environmental studies major, will serve as the next vice president alongside Quinn.

Quinn and Rowe, who were elected late last week, already have plans for their new positions. The body’s next president said he wants to create a document for feedback from undergraduates and graduates on qualities they want to see in SUNY-ESF’s next college president.

President Quentin Wheeler announced in late March he would resign by the end of June as the campus reeled from increasingly tense relations between faculty and administrators.

Academic Governance, SUNY-ESF’s faculty governing body, voted no confidence in Wheeler in November 2016, citing what they said were examples of poor leadership and a climate of fear. Conflict between faculty and administrators continued after the 2016 vote, notably in the wake of the administration’s controversial decision earlier this year to remove three faculty department chairs just days before the start of the spring semester.

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson and the SUNY Board of Trustees will work with SUNY-ESF’s Board of Trustees to appoint interim campus leadership effective July 1. The chancellor and boards will also begin a search for SUNY-ESF’s next permanent president.

“This year has been combative, and parties involved have been fighting each other tooth and nail,” Rowe said. “It is time that the college begins to heal and move forward into the future.”

Rowe said his time at SUNY-ESF has taught him that communication needs to be strong between all parts of the college, so everyone can work together. He said that, as vice president, he will work hard to encouraged shared decision making.

“My goal for the next year is to work with the new leadership … to make sure that the student voices are heard,” Quinn said.

Taylor, the current USA president, said in March that he was not surprised to learn of Wheeler’s decision to resign. The president understood the move would probably help the college, Taylor said.

Quinn said he decided to run for USA president because of conversations he had with other students. Those students all agreed that there was a void in leadership, Quinn said.

Rowe said he ran for vice president of USA so he could better serve the students of SUNY-ESF.

“I think the students at ESF are some of the hardest working and dedicated people, and I want to provide them the atmosphere to be successful,” Rowe said.