Fagin says she's no lame duck

Interim President Claire Fagin insists she is no "lame duck," despite Monday's announcement that Yale Provost Judith Rodin had been nominated to be the University's next president. Fagin, who will step down from her interim position June 30, said she is ready for the commotion to die down so she can get "back to business" in College Hall. "I am very pleased with [the nomination]? but I have a lot of work to do before this summer," she said. "Right now, I'm waiting for the fanfare of the moment to die down." Fagin said she does not feel that Rodin's announcement constrains her and added that she and Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson will continue on schedule with their plans. "We're moving ahead on addressing the judicial code, the code of conduct, the Revlon Center and diversifying Locust Walk," she said. "We will be communicative [with Rodin], but these are still our decisions." While Fagin said she will continue to make decisions on University policy, she won't attempt to rearrange the president's office, leaving this option to Rodin. "I would not think it appropriate for me to make those kinds of decisions," she said. "Offices are very personal." To continue her emphasis on communicating with the campus, Fagin said she is planning to hold another town meeting in January. She said it will focus on how to improve the University's intellectual environment. Fagin said that because issues like these are so important to the campus community, the University would suffer if she and Lazerson were to stop addressing them now. "We don't want to paralyze the University," she said. "These issues were in the works before we got here. We took them with the view that we were going to do something with them." Lazerson said last night that he too will continue making campus decisions, not delaying any of his plans in light of Rodin's selection. "What the announcement does is it tells us we have someone who will be taking the responsibility of the office as of July 1," he said. "It's our intention to continue putting forth to the University community things like how to improve the quality of student life and how to develop a sense of responsible behavior." Lazerson said he intends to go ahead with plans to build a downsized Revlon Center, as soon as he concludes that it is possible to build a quality building for about $45 million. He said, however, that he would share with Rodin those decisions which would have "long-term effects" for the University. Despite rumors to the contrary, Lazerson said he is not interested in seeking a permanent position in the new administration. Assistant to the Provost Linda Koons said Lazerson has a love for academics, which he would have less time to pursue if he were full-time provost.

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