Third University of Iowa presidential candidate: ‘Iowa needs the University of Iowa’

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa needs to spread its message of value to every corner of the state, the third of four candidates to become the next UI president told a crowd of hundreds during a public forum Monday.

'It's a grave mistake for us to simply assume that everyone outside the campus borders knows and understands and appreciates or values this university or higher education in general,” said Joseph Steinmetz, Ohio State University executive vice president and provost. 'What is the value added? Why should the university be supported better?”

The university community needs to provide these answers, Steinmetz told the crowd.

'The university needs to constantly tell the story, especially to government leaders, the Board of Regents and to the citizens of this state,” he said. 'It's a great story of how the university educates the next generation citizen. Iowa needs the University of Iowa.”

Steinmetz' visit to the UI campus follows two finalist visits last week - Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov came Thursday and Tulane University Provost Michael Bernstein came Friday. The final candidate will visit Iowa City Tuesday - J. Bruce Harreld, a former president or vice president of companies like IBM and Boston Market with limited academic experience.

During Steinmetz' forum, students, staff and faculty members lined up to ask him how he'd handle a broad range of issues including tenure, campus security, diversity, access, affordability and academic freedom.

One student brought up an incident last winter involving a visiting UI professor's decision to erect a statue likening a Ku Klux Klansman in the center of campus. The student pointed out that the professor meant the piece as art to make a statement of racism in America, but that black students felt frightened enough to call 911.

'I hold academic freedom dear,” Steinmetz said, when asked how he would have handled it. 'And the nature of academic freedom can disturb people at times. That's what it does. So I would be the last person who would do something to hinder academic freedom on campus.”

Addressing the issue of sexual violence on campus, Steinmetz said he believes it first needs to be dealt with like a crime - not just a campus matter.

'Some campuses have difficulty with that concept,” he said, adding that best proactive practices include early education and bystander intervention programs.

One faculty member asked Steinmetz his opinion of the value of tenure, shared governance and academic freedom.

'Part of it is setting the record straight about what tenure is,” he said. 'I've run into legislators in different states that don't understand that concept. They think we should be run like some kind of business.”

Steinmetz went back to his message of pushing the university's story and mission onto those who don't have daily interactions with the university or faculty.

'I'm constantly telling that story,” he said. 'And I've found in Ohio that legislators will listen to that.”

Barbara Eckstein, a UI English professor, said Steinmetz's experience at Ohio State University, Kansas University and Indiana University give him the background she's looking for in the UI's next leader.

'He has some very specific experience that's clearly relevant to the demands of the job of being president,” she said.