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Interim president will not run

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer



WESTFIELD Interim President of Westfield State College (WSC) Barry Maloney told Reminder Publications that he will not be applying for the presidency of the college due to ineligibility, at a reception in his honor recently at the Springfield Country Club.

"It is part of the rules," Maloney said. "Anyone that serves as Interim President is not allowed to apply for the full time position."

Maloney will return to his previous position as vice-president in the advancement of college relations after his duties as interim are no longer needed.

"The two positions are not totally different," he said. "They are both externally focused positions."

The school's search for a new college president officially started in October and members of the college board are hoping to have a candidate by the spring time who will start in the summer of 2007.

The current Interim President, however, has big plans ahead of him for the upcoming academic year.

"The big issues are external and pertaining with the Legislature," he said. "At the end of last session the Legislature stopped work on a bill for capital spending with higher education."

Maloney was speaking of a package of bills to the Senate and House to improve the state's higher education system with the main focus of improvements involving the lowering of state tuition fees.

He said that these bills will be taken up with his effort and with the assistance of State Senator Stanley Rosenberg of the Hampshire and Franklin region this year.

"The election of the new governor means new plans for higher education," Maloney said.

He said that State Representative Don Humason has also been instrumental in working towards higher education funding for the college.

"I have had some fun with this job and it has been a great learning experience," Maloney said. "I have gotten a lot of help from colleagues on campus. I enjoy Westfield and have been working for the college for the last 15 years."