Search for new Campus Rec Dept. director narrows to 3 candidates

Juliette Moore, director of campus recreation at Northern Illinois University; Dixie Bennett, director of recreational sports at Loyola University Chicago; and Stan Campbell, director of campus recreation at the University of Nebraska Lincoln were chosen from a pool of about 60 applicants, said Carol Thompson, associate dean of students and search committee chairwoman.

The 11-member search committee has representatives from several organizations on campus, including the Associated Students, the athletic department, the Residence Hall Association, the Student Recreation Center and other student leaders, Thompson said.

"Our goal is to have each candidate as widely exposed as possible to all the elements of our campus and not just the recreation department," said Dr. Murray DeArmond, director of campus health and wellness, who will review the evaluations of the committee and make the final decision for the position.

Each candidate will also meet with student recreation staff and participate in a open forum session at the Memorial Student Union in order to allow the entire campus community to meet the finalists and fill out an evaluation form, Thompson said.

Moore, who is president-elect of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association, has been director at NIU since 1991. Moore received a master of science degree in leisure studies from the University of West Florida in 1976. In addition, Moore has a bachelor of science in health, physical education and recreation from Xavier University of Louisiana.

During her meeting with student Rec Center staff yesterday, Moore stressed that unity between the staff was critical to the survival of the program.

"We need to build bridges between departments and initiate contact," said Moore, who received the NIRSA outstanding leadership and service award in 1996. "We have to be able to work together as a team because we all need each other."

Rec Center staff who met with Moore yesterday said they thought it was important to have a director that was highly visible and interactive with the students on campus.

"We need someone who will work well with all of the students of the university and not just employees of the Rec Center," said Jill Benza, a political science senior and a facility supervisor at the Rec Center.

ASUA president-elect Gilbert Davidson said that ASUA wants a director who will address the issue of the continuing depletion of sport club funding and the general interests of the student body.

Melissa Jewett, a chemistry sophomore and Rec Center employee, said, "Getting a new director will bring about a lot of change and give us a whole new outlook."

Moore will be in the Student Union Rincon Room today from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. to answer questions from the campus community.

Bennett, who received a master of education at Northeast Louisiana University in physical education and a bachelor of science degree at Baylor University, will be on campus Thursday. Bennett's public session will also start at 11 a.m. in the Rincon Room.

Before serving as director at Loyola, Bennett was assistant director for club sports at Purdue University. Bennett also serves on the Athletic Affairs Committee at Loyola.

In addition, Bennett chairs the Celebrating 25 Continuous Years of Women in the NIRSA Task Force.

The final candidate, Campbell, will visit campus next Tuesday and will also hold an 11 a.m. meeting in the Rincon Room.

Campbell, who served as NIRSA president from 1993 to 1994, received a master of science in sports management at Western Illinois University. He also holds a bachelor of arts from Simpson College in physical education and sociology.

In 1995, Campbell was the recipient of the People Who Inspire Award from the Black Masque Chapter of Mortar Board at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

DeArmond said the decision on the position will be made within the next few weeks and he hopes to have the new director in place by this summer.

The new director will replace Grant Smith, who resigned June 4.

Smith later filed a $6 million claim against the UA, DeArmond, and Saundra Taylor, vice president for student affairs and campus life, stating that he was forced to resign and was discriminated against because of his clinical depression.

Brian Carswell, associate director of campus recreation, has been serving as interim director since Smith's resignation.