This morning, Shalini Randeria, CEU’s president and rector, announced her early departure from her position. And while I certainly could not be called anything but a critic, I am left with very mixed feelings about this news.
First, things are so bad I don’t see how any alternative will be much better. But more importantly, I do not like to see the first non-white and the first non-male rector of CEU depart under such circumstances. While I certainly think she could have done better, I never envied her for the job. Let’s face it: Shalini was handed a university in an impossibly difficult situation, leaving me to wonder why it is always at such times when communities conclude that maybe we need someone different, a woman, a member of a minority at the helm. Putting forth leaders with demographics different from the white male status quo is only a good idea in circumstances where they are in a position to make their own mistakes, where they are given the space to grow into the role. Shalini was never given this opportunity. She was brought in when the war chest was empty, morale was at an all-time low, and mismanagement was already running amok. The situation was so tense that even the smallest mistake (God knows there were some early ones) was blown way out of proportion.
In conclusion, I would like to live in a world that strives to be more inclusive and equal, not just when times are rough, and change is clearly needed but also when times are good. That is what Shalini deserved, what she got could not be further from this. I can only hope she will get to enjoy her time away from the rectorship. I wish her the best in her future endeavors (and a lot of rest after all this madness she had to deal with). I also pray that such good times are still ahead for CEU as it is hard to see today, and that the board will choose to be so inclusive at that time as well.
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