Gail Torreano should step down from Board of Trustees
Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting was the second of the last four that Trustee Gail Torreano has not attended.
Such a record is detrimental to improving Central Michigan University, especially in a time of vital transition and economic uncertainty.
As such, Torreano should respectfully consider resigning from her position on the Board.
There’s a lot going on at CMU right now that the Board has to consider, namely balancing a struggling budget and the beginning of a campaign for a $24-million College of Medicine.
Now is not the time to miss out on responsibilities, especially at a focal point in CMU’s history.
How can the public take Torreano seriously if she is incapable of showing up to meetings that are planned months in advance?
It’s understandable that travel to Michigan isn’t the most convenient for Torreano, who accepted a job in Texas last summer.
And Board members said Torreano did inform them ahead of time that she wouldn’t be in attendance at Thursday’s meeting.
But Torreano knew what was expected of her when she joined the Board of Trustees.
With the exception of 2009, members of the board only have to attend five meetings a year, all of which are scheduled far in advance.
If she cannot come to the majority of meetings, she should not be part of the important decision-making the Trustees are responsible for.
Resigning wouldn’t be a sign of disrespect.
Students would rather have a member who attends the meetings and is therefore able to make a significant mark on the university than someone not there half the time.
If she is busy with other projects, she should be considerate of what’s best for students and what’s best for her own career.
Aside from Torreano, the attendance at Thursday’s board meeting was fair, at best.
Trustee Marilyn French Hubbard was available via conference call.
She spoke only to give her consent when votes were taken and did not contribute at all to discussion.
Even Trustee John Hurd left a few minutes early, so only four members were physically there until the end.
And this, only days before a new president comes on board.
Why was attendance this weak for a Trustees meeting?
This is supposed to be CMU’s governing body, the people who have the last say on any major decision at the fourth largest institution of higher education in the state.
Family emergencies and other similarly important matters are excusable, but not much else.
CMU doesn’t need trustees who are absent when they are called upon. Students are expected to be responsible for themselves. The Board of Trustees should do the same.
