Hackney heads South with faculty's respect

As President Sheldon Hackney prepares to head to Washington, he leaves the University with more respect from the faculty than when he arrived. Hackney's October, 1981 inauguration was preceded by months of protest and investigation concerning his appointment. Many members of the University community expected current Brown University President Vartan Gregorian, who was the University's provost, to be the next president. Dental School Biochemistry Department Chairperson Phoebe Leboy was the chairperson of the Faculty Senate when Hackney took office. "The admistration and faculty were sort of at sword's point drawn," Hackney recalled last night. "The majority of faculty was supportive of Dr. Gregorian," Leboy said. "President Hackney was aware. There was a certain defensiveness on his part." Hackney also encountered opposition to his "Investing in Penn's Future" plan in 1985. The plan was meant to fund the College and interdisciplinary studies, but many professors said they feared it would hurt more than help. "It was actually quite sucessful," Hackney said. "Nothing is done at the University without having some doubters." Hackney's relationship with the faculty became more amicable in the years following his appointment, and most of the initial distrust has passed, Leboy said. Faculty Senate Chairperson David Hildebrand said yesterday that Hackney has recently been a very good listener to faculty. "He's certainly listened," Hildebrand said. "I won't say he's always heeded what we've said, but in general, he's listened carefully." Many professors said that although Hackney has not been terribly active in faculty affairs, Provost Michael Aiken has been supportive. "The provost does a whole hell of a lot," Hackney said. "[But] I haven't delegated it so much that I'm not aware." Leboy said that sometimes faculty and administration are not necessarily going to agree. "Faculty leadership and a university president rarely see eye to eye on everything," Leboy said. Regardless of the president's involvement, the University is a good employer, Veterinary School Anatomy Professor Peter Dodson said. During Hackney's leadership, University professors' salaries continue to be consistently some of the highest in the country for university professors. "I think the University, in many respects, is an excellent employer," Dodson said. "The University is very proud of quoting its salary figures."

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