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The Daily Tar Heel

Chancellor re?ects at open house

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Chancellor Holden Thorp and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp took questions about the future of the university at the Open House event in the Campus YMCA.

Chancellor Holden Thorp spoke candidly with students Monday afternoon about his time in office and his hopes for his replacement.

“I hope we can get somebody who can do this longer than I did,” Thorp said.

“It’s 24/7, and every decision has big time implications.”

In an open house for students at the Campus Y, Thorp reflected on his time in office, his priorities for the University and the qualifications his successor should possess.

“You think looking at it from the outside, that you get it,” he said. “But there’s no way you could possibly be prepared for it.”

Thorp said he believes the University is fundamentally strong, despite the scandals that have occurred during his time in office.

As evidenced by factors like high national rankings and competitive admissions, the University is still in good shape, Thorp said.

He said he is pleased with the work of athletic director Bubba Cunningham and head football coach Larry Fedora in working toward moving past the scandals.

“The problems that we’ve had are problems that accumulated over a long period of time, but they’re discrete things that can get fixed,” he said.

He added he hopes to wrap up all of the athletics investigations and implement new policy recommendations before his successor takes office.

Thorp also discussed the intensity of his position and pointed toward the high attrition rate of chancellors and presidents — a synonymous position at other public universities — as proof.

He said physical stamina and a stable personal life is required for a leader of a university to be successful.

Thorp also said it is important that the next chancellor is interested in the research that occurs at the University.

“It’s just breathtaking what goes on at a place like this,” he said. “I think what’s important is that the chancellor be intellectually curious.”

Thorp highlighted the accomplishments of his term at the open house, which more than 30 people attended.

“Our position is comparatively good,” he said. “We’re giving raises for the first time in five years.”

Thorp also said he is proud of the University’s rise in rankings to a top-10 federally funded research university.

Thorp and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp, who also attended the forum, said their priorities for the University’s future focus on student well-being and maintaining financial aid opportunities.

“Every student that comes here is supposed to get a good, fair shot at being successful,” Crisp said.

Senior Rachel Myrick, chairwoman of the Student Advisory Committee to the Chancellor and student body vice president, said she was sorry to see Thorp resign.

“I’m disappointed about it, but I also feel very optimistic,” Myrick said.

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“I think ultimately, it will be good for Carolina.”

Contact the desk editor at

university@dailytarheel.com