Following the man

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat New UA President Peter Likins chats with students during a tour of the campus yesterday. The president mingled with students and attended classes, including an anthropology coloquium.

As he stood in the aisle shaking hands with students, one remarked, "Who is that?" Another was taken aback by the extended hand and only shook it reluctantly after Likins introduced himself.

As there were about 200 students in the class, Likins remained largely unnoticed - except for the reporters and camera crews following him around.

"He is very nice and very interested in communications technique," said Professor Sally Jackson. "I was glad to have him come in."

Likins said he had never before seen a classroom like Social Sciences 100.

"I was very impressed with the facilities and the teacher," he said. "(She was) very able to interact in a large classroom."

Likins so far has met his new staff and is "just meeting people in the community, in government," he said.

When asked of his impression of the University of Arizona, the new president said he was "impressed with the feeling (on campus)," but was reluctant to say more.

It takes time to get an impression that is more than superficial, he said.

Likins presence was more evident in Anthropology 195a, a freshman colloquium that met at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Eight students attended the class yesterday, accompanied by three photographers, three reporters and two administrators.

Students moved away from Likins to avoid being in photos. Flashes went off above and behind them and some photographers even stood on chairs to get the right shot.

Professor Michael Schiffer appeared unfazed by the media blitz and calmly carried on his discussion of the history of the portable radio.

Likins seemed genuinely interested in the discussion and asked about the transition from AM to FM radio.

Despite his presence and the media entourage, two students fought to keep their eyes open.

Some students in the afternoon class were pleased by Likins' in-class cameo.

"I would've liked to talk one-on-one with him," said Derek Marinelli, a biology freshman.

"It is not often freshman have the opportunity to be in the same vicinity, the same room as the president," he added.

Undeclared freshman Kacy Hollenback said she was glad to see an administrator in the class, but could have done without the media.

"It would be cool if administrators would do this more often," she said. "He seems educated and acted like he knew what he was talking about."

Schiffer also found him engaging, with intelligent things to say.

"I am very optimistic based on my interactions with him," he said.

Schiffer, who is a member of the Faculty Senate, said he gets a better feeling from Likins than his predecessor Manuel Pacheco.

"Faculty morale is currently in the toilet," he said, citing 15 years of economic hard times because of departmental cuts.

"He is someone the faculty can respect," he said. "He did a tremendous job at Lehigh."

Likins showed that humanities and social sciences play an important role in an engineering school, Schiffer said.

ASUA president Gilbert Davidson added Likins is exactly what this university needs.

"I think he will be a dynamic leader," he said.

Presidential assistant Sharon Kha said Likins is more outgoing than Pacheco was, characterizing Pacheco as, "a more private man who didn't share his emotions."

Likins has a much different leadership style, she said, citing his Tuesday night speech at the Marriott University Park that he delivered without notes.

Likins added he is still learning the ropes around campus, and hopes to have a better feel for campus by the end of the semester.

"No president ever stops learning," he said.