<p>Here is a story about the new President that will be joining Furman July 1:</p>
<p>Another story:</p>
<p>Interesting choice in this day and age. I like it.</p>
<p>Nat Hentoff article: [New</a> York News - The Scorned Law Professor](<a href=“News & Politics - The Village Voice”>News & Politics - The Village Voice)</p>
<p>Glad you like it, TrumpetDad. Rod Smolla is a powerful choice by Furman and I think an announcement of sorts that Furman intends to really move forward in the world - don’t get me wrong, Furman has been on the rise already, but I think this choice says much about what we might see out of Furman in the next few years - very exciting!</p>
<p>Scheduled to visit with son on 2/18.</p>
<p>What is it about the new President that you like or believe will benefit Furman and its students? I have heard and read many people talk in broad terms of this hire and how it will move the university forward but I am wondering what that is based on. I think he is an exceptionally qualified individual but what does the new President bring to Furman that is currently missing?</p>
<p>I am just curious since D was accepted and may end up attending Furman. Thanks for any feedback.</p>
<p>In my opinion (resident of Greenville), David Shi has been an incredibe, forward thinking leader and very well respected in the community. I don’t think anything was “missing.” But he is retiring. It seems that they have selected a very able replacement.</p>
<p>I’m intrigued by his independent-minded commitment to free speech in this age of political correctness that seems to stifle free speech at times.</p>
<p>I think of the president as someone who sets the tone of a college. Once I get reasonably interested in a school, I always read up on the president to try to get some idea of their mindset and the direction they may take things. Sometimes it’s hard to discern what they’re really about, everything they make public being so vague and ambiguous. This guy just seems more refreshing to me, with a bit of a track record, having defended the right to speak freely … even when it’s not so likable. This is something that I think needs a caretaker at the highest levels these days.</p>
<p>He has also argued that certain communications are maybe too dangerous to be protected by free speech.</p>
<p>BobbCT, your D also has DePauw in mind, I believe? Both are on our list as well. Will be visiting Furman next month.</p>
<p>What I like about the new President has no negative reflection on the retiring President, who has been terrific for Furman. But any new leader adds new energy and focus. Smolla is a nationally regarded scholar on politics/law/media, which will help put Furman on the map in new ways - Furman has a well-earned reputation in the political sphere - some of its professors are regular commentators on the intersection of religion and politics, and on southern politics - Smolla, who is not Southern, adds new dimensions -free speech, tolerance, but also opposition to dangerous speech. He is a great public speaker - smooth and yet funny. Read his speech on Furman’s website from his announcement press conference - I heard that one highly respected professor said it was the best speech he’d heard in 30 years at Furman. </p>
<p>Smolla brought about some decisive change at his prior school, changing the curriculum for the final year of law school to a practice based experience, not classroom based - something law firms applaud. I think his ideas in that regard align really well with Furman’s “engaged learning” emphasis. Under Smolla’s leadership we’ll see more of that.</p>
<p>Smolla played football as an undergraduate at Yale - so he loves the traditional college activities too - he’s not just an egghead. And finally, his son is already a student at Furman - so he came to love Furman before he was a candidate to lead it.</p>