When Homer Neal jets off next month for Switzerland after stepping down as interim University president, he will remember officiating at graduation, welcoming the class of 2000 and eating his weekly Blimpy's burger.
That's a "triple on plain, with pepper jack cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup and relish."
Today marks the last day of Neal's presidency and he will trade in his suit and tie for a laboratory coat Monday to return to more familiar surroundings - his physics lab. The move signals the end of a seven-month transition period for the University and the beginning of a new era under President-select Lee Bollinger.
"I hope I will be remembered as a person who was able to step in at a delicate point in the University and help with the transition between the 11th and 12th presidents," Neal said.
About one year ago, the Board of Regents selected Neal as the interim successor to former President James Duderstadt, who resigned June 30, 1996.
Neal, the University's first African American president, began his tenure last July.
"As an individual, I don't feel any different from anyone else," he said. "If you ask if a Hispanic or black student noticed that the interim president is black and that motivated them to do certain things in their life ... then yes, I certainly am (proud)."
Neal earned his doctorate in physics from the University in 1966. He served as the chair of the physics department for six years before being appointed vice president for research in 1993.
He said his interim presidency was limited by the inability to commit and set lasting goals for the future.
"It is somewhat difficult - if not impossible - for an interim president to make long-term plans for a university," Neal said.
During his time as president, Neal was confronted with a variety of salient issues, including the future of the Medical Center, the University's commitment to diversity and the campus sentiment as the board searched for the next president.
"I think he will be perceived as a person who provided a bridge from Duderstadt to Bollinger and provided stability," said Provost J. Bernard Machen.
Immediately after moving into the president's seat, Neal faced the task of mitigating the effects of downsizing the Medical Center. Last April, citing the pressures of managed care companies, Medical Center officials announced they would have to trim $200 million from the budget within the next three a result of early decision programs. She said students at her high school typically apply to the University early in the fall - before applying early decision to other schools.
Rather, she said the decline in applications may be due to competitive and financial issues,
"We ask them to apply to fewer universities," Lynch said. "Four or five years ago kids were applying to 10, 12 or 15 schools, which is ridiculous, besides being expensive.
"It's tough to get into the University of Michigan, and it's been tougher every year," Lynch said. "That scares some of the kids away."
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central High School senior Jill Gilbert has been accepted.
"I just wanted to get the burden off my shoulders," Gilbert said. "The earlier you get it in, the better your chances of being accepted."
Gilbert said that students in her class seemed to apply to fewer schools than students in past classes because of the difficult nature of the applications.
"I think a lot of the applications are getting complicated to fill out, with multiple essays and teacher evaluations," she said. "Also, many people might know where they want to go and therefore do not need to apply to so many schools."
Goldenberg said it is too soon to analyze the cause and effect of the decline.
"One concern is that this year the admissions required two essays instead of one," Goldenberg said.
"We didn't know if that was delaying anything. But since it is a pattern across the country, it does not rest solely at the University, it could just be a result of changes in demographics."
Faller said the only effect of the decline might be a smaller class of 2001.
"Next year's class may be a little smaller, but the last two classes have been larger than usual," Faller said.
"Over the long term this does not represent much of a change. There is no indication that the quality of candidates is down, just the quantity," he said.
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
Interim University President Homer Neal listens at a Michigan Student Assembly meeting last November. Today marks the final day of Neal's tenure as University president.