BYU's next leader announced at devotional
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PROVO, UTAH
The new president of BYU was shocked, he said, when the call came two weeks ago from President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"It's not something I had planned on or had any reason to expect," Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. of the Presidency of the Seventy said at a news briefing immediately following the devotional assembly at which his appointment was announced. "And yet, even though I've never been on the faculty, I have been a student of Brigham Young University. . . . I appreciate the privilege it is now, in the older part of my life, to come back to school. I expect to learn a great deal. . . . But I already know Brigham Young University is a very special place."
The new president praised the school's "community of scholars who are clear in their vision about what it is they would like to accomplish." He acknowledged that an educational experience at the school "is not only about self-fulfillment" but is also "about service to mankind across the world."
Elder Samuelson was introduced by Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve who is commissioner of Church Education. In doing so, Elder Eyring said the quality of students at the university has risen dramatically. "It was good before, and it's great now," he said, adding, "There is a possibility of doing things here, both academically and in other ways, that is largely the result of the remarkable quality of the young people that are coming here. Many who could go other places and have scholarships and great opportunities at what are thought of as very prestigious institutions choose to come here."
Reporters queried the new president on his plans, goals and vision for the university. Here are highlights from his responses:
Challenges facing higher education. "I think that higher education has a major challenge of maintaining its focus. . . . It is a very interesting thing to think of what a university means and the unification that ought to occur in a group of scholars. In many places in the world today, they are developing diversities rather than universities."
Goals for his administration. "To not mess up the university. I'll get back to you later about the others."
International scope. BYU "is a unique institution that has been built on the premise that we could achieve excellence in academics while also strengthening faith, recognizing that these two enterprises are consistent with each other, in fact complementary; I believe synergistic." Many leaders in the Church worldwide "have had the privilege of being trained at Brigham Young University, and I think that will continue to be a very major role."
Retaining his position in the Presidency of the Seventy. "Probably not. But that is not my call [to make]. I'm going to general conference with great interest!"
Transition period. "My hope and my expectation is that the transition will be rather seamless. . . . Whatever changes that occur will be gradual."
Exploring the possibility of a medical program at BYU. "I don't think so. . . . The expenses related to medical education are — I was going to say considerable. That is a great under-estimate. And [it would be] a tremendous challenge deflecting us away from our primary responsibility as a teaching university."
Athletic teams and touring groups. "Well, they're part of the university, aren't they? . . . These have been well considered for a number of years, according to my understanding, and I think you will continue to see excellence in all that we do at the university."
Philosophy as a fan of college athletics. "There are lots of us around that have multiple loyalties." He drew a comparison with loving one's second child as much as the first. "I do not think that I have to denigrate or ignore or avoid the positive feelings I have about the University of Utah or about Duke University, my other alma maters, to represent Brigham Young University with all my heart and mind."
E-mail: rscott@desnews.com
