Today’s Ann Arbor News story, “Candidate’s EMU ties emotional, professional,” is about Michael Flanagan. Basically, it’s a kind of “fluff/feel good piece.” Not that Flanagan has a lot of skeletons in his closet or something, but it isn’t exactly what I would call “investigative” journalism. The biggest rap against him in the piece seems to be that he has an “ambitious agenda.”
There is a lot of stuff here about Governor Jennifer Granholm’s sudden interest in EMU, as others have already mentioned in comments:
Among Flanagan’s prominent boosters is Granholm, who has called members of the EMU Board of Regents to express her support. Granholm believes Flanagan “would be an outstanding president” of EMU, said Liz Boyd, the governor’s press secretary.
Boyd cited the way Flanagan brought people together to make critical changes in Michigan’s educational system. “The governor believes (Flanagan) can provide the same kind of leadership at Eastern Michigan,” Boyd said. “Mike Flanagan has a vision of what education should be in Michigan and the role EMU should play in helping (the state) get there.”
The state board of education recently renewed Flanagan’s contract, despite his interest in the EMU job. Boyd says it will be difficult to fill Flanagan’s place, but the governor’s interest indicates the importance she attaches to the Eastern presidency.
“EMU needs a leader,” Boyd said. “And they need a healer. Mike Flanagan can provide leadership, be a healer and move the university forward.”
So, a three-way tug of war between Wilbanks, Stapleton, and Granholm perhaps?
