News
Chancellor Linda Bunnell to step down from UW-SP
The Pointer
kleb524@uwsp.edu
After serving the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus for five years, Chancellor Linda Bunnell will step down from her position on May 31.
For the past several weeks Bunnell has come under scrutiny for her hit-and-run incident in Madison taking place on Feb. 17, along with her questionable spending habits of university money. Just three weeks ago the Student Government Association voted a unanimous 15-0-0 vote of "no confidence" after listening to UW-SP Foundation President Bob Spoerl explain the Foundation's concerns about Bunnell's communication with potential donors.
"Every time there's that damaged relationship, that's a seed and that seed sprouts and grows and distributes other situations to other potential donors and spreads that harm, unfortunately, to this university and no one wants to see this university fail," Spoerl said to the assembly on April 2.
Other reports have been released since the hit-and-run incident citing that Bunnell had ordered three drinks at the Madison Club before the accident. Bunnell later stated she only consumed one of the drinks and was not at all tipsy at the time of the accident.
Bunnell did not indicate in her letter to the campus and community her reasons for resignation. The letter can be found below.
A full story will run in next week's issue of The Pointer.
April 23, 2009
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, Retirees, and Friends of UWSP,
Thank you.
I usually offer these words at the end of my messages to you. This morning, it is the best way to begin.
Thank you for all that you do to make the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point the wonderful university it is.
Thank you as well for your dedication to ensuring that the next generation of Pointers will know an even greater university: a more beautiful campus; more rounded global citizens to join our ranks of alumni; more dedicated faculty and staff members who choose to make their careers here; more connections throughout the world to ensure that Central Wisconsin has the resources needed to thrive in the 21st century.
In a short while, I will release a statement to the public that describes some of the numerous accomplishments we have achieved together over the past five years. We have opened doors and set out on many new roads. We have a blueprint to develop our physical campus. We have plans to continue to offer more of the academic programs our region demands. We are laying the groundwork, through a comprehensive study of our stakeholders, to sharpen our abilities to recruit excellent students, connect with our alumni, and reach out to an even broader community of prospective donors. Despite the challenges we face within our current economy, ours is a university whose future is full of new and exciting possibilities.
In my statement this morning, I will also announce that I will step down as your chancellor on May 31.
I have been given fulfilling opportunities in my years of service to higher education, and I look forward to many more. I have enjoyed my time at UWSP immensely. I shall enjoy watching it continue to climb to the heights it is so capable of reaching and achieve the recognition it deserves, as it draws students and faculty from across the nation and throughout the world.
It is my fervent hope that all of the residents of all the communities of Central Wisconsin, and indeed all of Wisconsin, will come together to support our university and the great and noble cause of higher education, on which our future depends.
Once again and to each of you, I offer a heartfelt Thank you.
Sincerely,
Linda
