The recent appointment of Jill Nilsen to the office of vice president for external relations has sparked debate among faculty members, and perhaps with good reason.

It is unlikely that anyone could argue Nilsen’s qualifications for the position. She has been with the university for many years, and has been working as the acting vice president for over a year. Nilsen knows the job and it’s requirements better than anyone.

However, by foregoing a national search for the position, a search which Nilsen easily could have entered into, and won, the university begins to set a dangerous precedent.

Members of the Faculty Senate are working on a resolution that’s intended purpose states the senate’s disapproval of Nilsen’s appointment without a search or formal consultation of the senate. The senate is continuing to debate the resolution, but is currently debating whether the appointment challenges the university’s notion of shared governance.

The Faculty Senate is right to be concerned. While this appointment is not a bad one, as Nilsen is definitely qualified for the job, the concern that the act of appointing without a search for a major position is a scary one.

While hiring internally is not always a bad idea, it can sometimes lead to promotion of people who do not deserve to be promoted. Years of service at the university doesn’t necessarily mean that person is the one to promote.

What should be done whenever a major role at the university opens up is what was done when the university hired new Vice President for Academic Affairs Blair Lord. A national search was conducted, with faculty leading the search committee and the best possible candidates being brought to campus for interviews.

When the searches are conducted this way, anyone on campus is given the opportunity to question and rate the interviewees. This way, if a major problem arrives after someone has been hired, no one can say `I didn’t have any say in this appointment.’

Nilsen will do a good job in her office, she has already proven she is competent and devoted to this university. But let’s not make a habit of not searching far and wide for our leaders.

The editorial is the opinion of the editorial board of The Daily Eastern News.