Justin Veiga | executive editor
jveiga@smcvt.edu

The inauguration of Dr. John J. Neuhauser as the 16th president of St. Michael’s College lasted about two hours on the afternoon of Sept. 29.  A parade of highly educated and respected guests addressed Dr. Neuhauser and the crowd, opening the event by greeting all on behalf of groups, institutions and entities. 

Yet the most critical words of the day were not spoken by any of these exceptional guests: not by the Rev. M. Donald Monan, chancellor of Boston College, not by Vermont Gov. James Douglas, not even by Sen. Patrick Leahy ’61 D-Vt.

They were spoken by the man at the heart of the ceremony, Dr. Neuhauser, done so in brief and at the very end of his inaugural address.  Nonetheless, they stuck out and commanded attention, like the few orange academic robes dotted amidst a sea of black in the deep crowd.

“I very much look forward to the work ahead.”

It’s a quick sentence, almost faint enough to hide within the shadows of more intricate language. It’s an easy sentence, free of any exaggerated academic jargon.  And it should be an extremely meaningful sentence to everyone affiliated with this college, as there is certainly much work to be done.

In his inaugural address, which lasted just over 20 minutes, Neuhauser highlighted the two “tensions” that he believes to be of greatest concern to his presidency and the institution.  The first, Neuhauser says, is the argument over what should be taught.  In other words, what information is essential in entertaining a true liberal arts education for St. Michael’s students?

Minutes into his speech, Neuhauser answered this question on his own, stating, “The liberal arts have never been static, but instead have been enlarged to include whatever has been seen as good from emerging disciplines for nearly a millennium.”

According to the Registrar’s Office, St. Michael’s began using the current liberal studies requirements in 2002.  Granted, only five years have passed since then, but think of what the world has endured and what intellectual developments have been made in that time.  Things certainly have not been static.

The second tension Neuhauser discussed centered on the college’s religious affiliation and its implications on the governance of the institution.  This has long been an issue of debate on campus.  Are we Catholic enough?  Does our relationship with the Church limit our academic and social outreach?  Where is the balance?

Again, Neuhauser offered a response: “It is fundamentally important that a Catholic college be seen as an academic entity first, and then as an institution with a distinctive additional aspect, one which enables the very important contribution that only a faith based institution can provide.”

Significant concerns beyond the two tensions addressed by Neuhauser exist at St. Michael’s. 
Fund-raising efforts must be drastically enhanced if the college is to continue to grow.  This issue has a direct effect on many others, including the residency tribulations facing the Student Life Office, the ability to hire more full-time professors to correct the student-to-professor disparities in many of the college’s most popular majors, and a lasting decision that best suits our student-athletes regarding our divisional membership, an issue Student Association President Alex Monahan brought up in his speech at the inauguration.

The list is long and as one issue is resolved, another will spawn.  This is the cycle of an evolving academic institution.  But if Neuhauser truly stands by the words that concluded his first official address as president of St. Michael’s, we ought to be in good hands.