IU reacts to Brand's decision

As IU President Myles Brand prepares to leave IU for his new job with the NCAA, he said his fondest memory of IU will be interacting with students, or saying hello to them on a beautiful fall day. \nBrand said he'd like to be remembered as a good steward of the institution.\n"I am extremely pleased about the advances we've made in academic quality and the resources provided by our alumni and friends," he said. "I think (the University) is headed in the right direction. We continue to make bold strides in academic quality."\nBut as he readies to leave in December, members of the IU community have paused to reflect on the memories and legacy Brand has established at IU.\n"We'll miss him because he's a visionary, and had very good ideas for what the University may be," said Trustee Stephen A. Backer.\nThe NCAA named Brand its new president and chief executive Thursday. His new position begins Jan. 1, 2003. Brand will remain IU's president until Dec. 31, at which point, an interim president will take over, University spokesman Bill Stephan said.\n"This was an extraordinary opportunity for him to work on a national scale," Stephan said.\nDuring his tenure at IU, Brand was responsible for helping implement such programs as the University's Strategic Directions charter, something Brand called a blueprint for "America's new public university." He also helped form the state's Life Sciences Initiative, a program dedicated to improving science research development. But many still associate Brand with his involvement in the firing of former IU men's basketball coach Bob Knight.\nRobert Eno, an IU professor of history and Bloomington Faculty Council president, said that while Brand was productive, he was never a very popular president and the conflict with former men's basketball coach Bob Knight was a no-win situation.\n"He did many constructive things with the University," Eno said. "He had basically a good, strong appreciation of the education process. Myles was unusual among University presidents. From a faculty point of view he had invaluable perspective. Faculty didn't appreciate how valuable it was to have that. Hopefully any successor who the trustees bring to IU shares that perspective."\nStephan said the job opportunity arose somewhat quickly for Brand.\n"He's invested the past eight years of his life at IU, and has been involved in the advancement in technologies and life sciences," he said. "He wasn't really looking for another university presidency. This was a unique and critical opportunity to work in higher education but now on the national level."\nWhen IU Student Body President Bill Gray first heard Brand was leaving, his first reaction was shock. Then he asked, "Who's going to be president?\n"President Brand is certainly one of the good guys at the University," Gray said. "He's one of those people who care above all else for the students' well being."\nIUSA Vice President of Administration Judd Arnold said despite IUSA's criticism of the administration, he can't say anything negative about Brand.\n"He's done an unbelievable job of fundraising for the University." Arnold said. "I can say that I'm very saddened that he is leaving. He will be missed"