7,305 days and counting

Friday morning, as the Montana Theater cleared out, myself and other members of the media moved toward the stage for an informal press conference with President George Dennison. Behind the curtains, a chair was set up and Dennison was talking with an aide. He instantly recognized me and extended a welcome.

A few months ago, Dennison was to me an intimidating man on the other side of an interview. Today, he was a familiar face I wasn't expecting to see this fall, but I'm glad I did.

As the search for a new president continues, the University of Montana is still under the clear and steady leadership of Dennison.

Before I continue, this is not a promotion of his policies, nor an outline of all the good or bad he has done for this University. In Dennison's 20 years, he has certainty made his fair share of controversial decisions. One of the most notable in recent years was when a group of students performed a sit-in near his office in 2008 in response to the University's refusal to sign a worker's rights agreement.

Yet, regardless of his decisions, Dennison has displayed one thing truly worthy of appreciation; a level of work ethic that hasn't faltered even in the eleventh-hour of his career.

More often than not, anyone in a position of power will become a lame duck once they enter the final hour. Why bother working on something when you can't finish it, is the usual excuse — and frankly, it isn't a bad one. It would sort of be like building a new coffee table for your living room, even though you're about to sell the house. Or maybe like painting your car on the way to drop it off at the junk yard. Doesn't make a lot of sense.

But when you are in a position of power — say, chief executive of a university — people are relying on you to make the decisions that affect the campus community. George Dennison realizes this.

And it couldn't have been more clear during his State of the University address last Friday. In the 30 or 40 minutes Dennison spoke, he outlined the work that still needs to be done, the challenges that remain and how he, and his successor, will deal with them. Because as with anything, the work is never done, it only continues.

As UM's presidential selection committee nears a decision to find his replacement, one can only hope that the next person who sits in the corner office of Main Hall displays the same level of dedication that has been a hallmark of the last two decades.

Dennison was supposed to be done working on Aug. 15, in what would have become his 7,305, and last, day as president. But today, at the dawn of day 7,322, he's still there.

Regardless of what you think of his policies over the course of the past two decades, appreciate the work ethic that created them.  

justin.franz@umontana.edu