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BYU has a new president, Shane Reese, on the cover of this month’s
alumni magazine, so I’d like to ask for a group discussion: why do you
think the Board chose him? I’ll go first; agree or disagree, please
discuss.
There have been times when BYU Presidents seem to have been chosen on
the basis of culture war issues. Now it’s a good guess that NCAA
conference realignments and TV revenue may be primary factors. Many
millions of dollars are at stake. Tithing may tumble, but football is
gold and basketball silver. When Elder Holland announced the new pres,
his central anecdote was that Shane almost worked for professional
sports.
The Board of Trustees are thinking of money but, as always, an even more
important factor is unquestioning obedience. If you wish to understand
the choice of Shane Reese as BYU Pres, think three factors:
unquestioning temperament, unthreatening to authorities, unbelievably
nerdy about sports statistics. I love Shane as CNN loves Chris Licht. I
know him; I know his strengths and weaknesses too. I shared the opinion
that Shane was a paradox for an Academic Vice President: two current or
former members of deaneries on campus told me he didn’t have an
intellectual bone in his body, and that agreed with all of my experience
with Shane as well. I know him as a cheerful, chatty, but ultimately
shallow guy who nerds out on sports statistics and proselytes for math
nerdery. His work in statistics employs Bayesian theorems, but he
personally is the least Bayesian thinker I’ve ever seen in an academic
setting. He needs and follows somebody’s formulas. So start a
conversation that goes deeper than religious obedience or, if he’s your
ecclesiastical leader, sincerely ask for counsel, and he goes
deer-in-the-headlights: he gives you the look of a sophomore stats
student who knew the exam was coming but never opened the book. He’s not
for deep discussions, but good for talking to and ingratiating himself
with General Authorities and donors.
P.S. Do you question the idea that the Board isn’t all that interested
in academics? Then just think how often you see General Authorities at
football or basketball games, then tell me, if you can, if any one of
them ever attended a Distinguished Faculty lecture. Where their treasure
is, there will the heart be also.