'Exceedingly good' not good enough

After changing his mind about getting another job, SIUC Chancellor Walter V. Wendler has decided to stay in Southern Illinois for a while longer than he may have hoped. Of course not getting the job at Mississippi State University helped him to the decide. But that's behind him now, and Walter is looking ahead (and over his back?).

Reports Caleb Hale:

"Wendler said the atmosphere at SIUC these days is something worth sticking around for, and he noted it would take an awful lot to make him consider pulling away.

When Hale asked what exactly it would take to make him leave SIUC, Wendler replied:

'Quite honestly, it would have to be an exceedingly good combination of factors. . . . I never came to Southern necessarily thinking I would be here for a short while and then move on. I promised I would stay at least five years, but I also mention that it wasn't always up to me. I don't necessarily plan to leave, but I recognize there are a lot of forces at work that determine whether I stay.'"

Never came? Necessarily thinking? He's lying. . . . Everyone who wasn't born or raised here, when they first move to Carbondale, thinks they will only be here temporarily. Many stay for many years, finding the atmosphere conducive to their life plan. Welcome to our hell, Walter! I mean our heaven! ;-)

And what's this "exceedingly good" stuff. Exceeding what?

Whatever. Wendler told Hale

"I promised I would stay at least five years, but I also mention that it wasn't always up to me. I don't necessarily plan to leave, but I recognize there are a lot of forces at work that determine whether I stay.'"

A lot of forces? Not up to him? What are these forces?

True, C'dale isn't God's Gift to Southern Illinois, but it has its charms. And Carbondale isn't the sexiest name in the world either. But neither is Starkville, Mississippi, where MSU is located.

Which certainly excedes the account in the Southern Illinoisan.

More on the subject in the Walter Wendler blog .