President Dye, the super quicker picker-upper

About a month ago, Bill Clinton - right in the middle of the Monica Lewinsky flap - gained his highest public approval rating ever. Clinton's ability to escape, virtually unscathed, scenarios such as the Paula Jones accusations, the Whitewater scandal, his supposed centrist movement, dismissing Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, and dismantling welfare, led many to view Clinton as the slickest, most slithery leader in the history of leadership.

Many pundits have said his ability to ward off harm and maintain trust and admiration are incomparable in the realm of leadership. Well, move over Billy boy. Oberlin's got someone slicker.

The verdict is in. Who needs run-of-the-mill presidential immunity if you're Nancy Dye and you have seemingly celestial immunity? Despite turmoil here and there, Dye seems to be respected, liked and/or loved by damn near everybody at Oberlin. Everyone from old white men professors to Oberlin student activists have something flattering to say about Nancy Dye.

Generally, college presidents get one year of grace, a honeymoon period of sorts, before they get thrown into the real scorching battles. President Dye's honeymoon keeps going and going and going ... and it doesn't look like there's any end in sight.

Lots of history went into the creation of our President. President Dye suceeded Fred Starr, a staunch, all business, sort of leader. Starr's cabinet was pretty much all white men who wouldn't challenge him too severely. Starr never met with students. He was an Oberlin student "activist's" wet dream. "When Dye came some student activist were caught off guard. They were use to reacting (to Starr). They didn't know what to do." says Carmen Mitchell, MRC intern and OC graduate.

President Dye came in as Starr was getting belted in the head, stomach and kidneys from students, faculty and staff. Immediately, Dye named more superbly qualified female and ethnic minorities to her team. These appointees then named more women and ethnic minority folk to their teams. These appointments of qualified competent staff might have more to do with Dye's 3 year honeymoon than anything else.

While the doors to Starr's office and home were closed, Dye's doors, ears and eyes were open. Starr hid while Dye sought out students. Even now, it's common to see President Dye milling around campus or pumping her fist at Oberlin sporting events.

Dye has survived the Kwame Ture heat, sordid ambiguity over Dean Cole-Newkirk, fights with Hillel, OSCA and the general faculty. Currently, Dye and the college are being sued by some disgruntled landlords. Can she survive this onslaught? Of course, she'll win. Dye thrives in those situations where her leadership is threatened.

So what are students to do with such a seemingly positively complex and receptive president? First of all, we should appreciate President Dye and what she has done in the way of bettering and diversifying this institution. She is the type of President many other students at other institutions wish for.

Secondly, let's take advantage of her receptivity by meeting and talking with President Dye whenever it's neccesary. She'll meet with anyone. However, just because we meet with her and she might nod rhythmically in agreement, we can't assume she gets what we're saying. One criticism of Dye seems to be that she says yes to everyone, often times neglecting how that "yes" will flesh itself out.

Third, we can't be pacified by Dye's invitations to dine or meet. She will only get better if we keep pushing and demanding accountability.

Fourth, listen closely to President Dye. She often creates or tries to create values under the guise of saying it's tradition. Understand her wordplay, her sensibilities and go on from there.

Fifth, understand the distinction between what she and her Cabinet do. Many times, we go to Nancy Dye about issues that she simply unloads on someone else. We have to be educated on what Dye's responsibilities are. Also, we have to know that many administrator's decisions are directly impacted by what Dye wants done. Some administrators get fingers pointed at them for carrying out what Dye wants done.

Sixth, don't waste too much time thinking about President Dye. The issues that most need to be addressed, in and around Oberlin, are isssues we control. We control how we treat each other, how we organize to attack or resist phenomenea outside this campus. Again, all leaders need to be checked and held accountable, but let's not waste precious energy on safe slick targets like President Dye when larger, more pressing realities need to be addressed.