Later this week, the first round of interviews for Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will begin.

We do not foresee a change at the current position. The internal candidate has locked in support from the re-elected Student Government Association president, and L.E.A.D. Academy will host an event in his honor.

The event will be held 7 p.m. April 22 in the Student Life Center. Tickets are $25 per person for faculty and community members, and $20 for students.

All L.E.A.D. participants are asked to contribute $15 regardless of whether they attend. There’s roughly $600 raised without any real effort. The timing and terms are beyond questionable.

Need more evidence? The SGA Web site, one of the only places to get “official” information about the process, had only two candidates listed for about a week, neither were female nor a minority. It took pressure from within the Administration Building to at least make an attempt at fairness.

It all leaves us wondering: Have the powers that be already made up their minds?

Look at two examples of high-profile searches at UTM in the recent past. One was the search for the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and another for the Coordinator of Greek Life.

In 2002, Dr. Thomas Rakes left the University of Louisiana-Monroe to accept the VCAA position at UTM. Dr. Frank Black had served as interim vice chancellor since the departure of Dr. Christopher Chalokwu. Here, the candidate outside the inner circle was chosen.

In 2003, Louis Ragsdale, then interim Coordinator of Greek Life, replaced Denny Bubrig. While several excellent internal and external candidates interviewed for the position, Ragsdale was determined to be the more qualified.

So which way will the committee move this time? They have been asked to give Chancellor Dunagan the three best candidates of a pool of four. Forums are scheduled this week where students can come and voice their opinions. The politics of the process reach all levels of decision-making.

Aside from our reporters and a few supporters, who will attend?