Bruce Benson Controversy

My report covering the Bruce Benson Controversy on the CU-Boulder Campus:

CU PRESIDENTIAL FINALIST, BRUCE BENSON, HAS CAUSED QUITE THE COMMOTION ON THE CU BOULDER CAMPUS. BENSON IS THE SOLE CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION REPLACING HANK BROWN. CU STUDENTS ARE IN GREAT DISARRAY OVER THE FACT THAT BENSON ATTAINED HIS WEALTH FROM OIL AND GAS AND ALSO BECAUSE HE IS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THE STATE OF COLORADO. STUDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS POTENTIAL PRESIDENT’S EFFECT ON THE UNIVERSITY. SOME STUDENTS DON’T THINK IT’S FAIR TO BE LEFT WITH ONE FINALIST.

I don’t understand how they spend so much money and only find one candidate.
(Miles Daly, Geography major)

Only having one finalist is narrow and needs to be more balanced.
(Will Johnson, Civil Engineering)

STUDENTS ALSO WORRY IF HE WILL CHANGE CU’S PUSH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

It’s bad to bring an oil man to a school looking for uses of alternate energy.
(Will Johnson, Civil Engineering)

BENSON’S SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DRAWS FROM HIS POLITICAL PAST. BENSON, A FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE COLORADO REPUBLICAN PARTY, RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY AS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF COLORADO IN 1994 AS HE LOST THE ELECTION TO ROY ROMER. STUDENTS ON CAMPUS CAN’T IGNORE HIS POLITICAL BACKGROUND AND ARE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL.

I just don’t think he’s right for CU. CU is pretty liberal.
(Emily Sturges, English)

BECAUSE MANY STUDENTS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SOLE CANDIDATE, BENSON IS HOSTING ANOTHER OPEN FORUM ON TUESDAY NIGHT. HE IS ALSO HOSTING A MEETING WITH CU STAFF MEMBERS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO ADDRESS ANY FURTHER CAMPUS DISCONTENT.