Chancellor Jones’s resignation from his post as chancellor has caused for reflection on what he has done while in the leadership position at UAF. When I heard about his resignation, I attended to my duties as student reporter and looked into a few conspiracy theories. I didn’t find anything juicy, but I followed some leads.

Since much of what the chancellor does is published in public records, we have access to a lot of information on his actions. He may have felt a little crowded by the Sun Star over the years…like when Nate Raymond wrote an article about a shower in his on-campus home that was emitting a bad smell. Or in our annual edition of the parodied Fun Star where he is featured this week losing a fight and in the past has been doctored into a photo accepting a check from Hitler.

Last fall, I went on a walk with Steve and Judy Jones after we noticed that several changes had been made around campus due to things the couple had seen while walking. We ran a story about their strolls where they would pick up garbage to help eliminate litter on campus. The Jones’s routine also caused some controversy when they walked on ski trails close the university. It was one of the reasons the new walking trails were constructed. Though some students complain his campus observances that caused changes were authoritarian, I can appreciate his interest in improving every aspect of the university.

Many students remember Jones banning cigarettes from the Wood Center and signing in the new athletics fee for next year. These sweeping decisions are why student representatives have emphasized the importance of communication with students as key.

The letter to the editor this week and almost everyone I spoke to about the next chancellor wanted to look in-state. Simple geography makes retaining “outsiders” more difficult than other locations. Rapid turnover in any position makes for some inefficient adjustments, so I agree that our next chancellor should come from closer to our UAF community. The recruiting costs make it a wise and practical decision to find a new leader within the state.