
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993                   TAG: 9312020218
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TECH INTERIM PRESIDENT BACKED BY CAMPAIGN

An organized letter-writing campaign is under way to push for Paul Torgersen as Virginia Tech's president, spearheaded by an advisory group to the college where Torgersen was once dean.

The Committee of 100, a group of professionals and alumni who advise the College of Engineering, has written at least 100 letters to the board of visitors to lobby for the permanent appointment of Torgersen, now interim president.

Ray Martin, past president of the committee's advisory board, said the group launched the campaign because Torgersen has the fund-raising qualifications the university needs in these tight budgetary times.

The confidential presidential search committee, which met Wednesday for the second time in a lengthy session, is slated to recommend a candidate from a nation-wide search by April for appointment by the board.

The lobbyists apparently would like to see the appointment come sooner.

"I think there's some benefit to naming someone early," said Martin, chief executive officer of Schnabel Engineering Assoc., of Ashland. "He's very familiar with the legislature."

This is Torgersen's second go-round as interim president. He was named to the job Oct. 1, when President James McComas resigned after being diagnosed with colon cancer. Torgersen previously served in 1988, and was passed over for the top job.

"First of all, we asked the Board of Visitors to appoint him interim president, then we convinced him he should be a candidate for the position, which he originally did not want to do," Martin said.

Torgersen has said he is interested in the top job. In recent weeks, he has focused on lobbying on behalf of the university, as budget cuts of 10 to 15 percent loom.

The committee asked its estimated 200 members to contact the board of visitors "indicating what we thought Paul could do for the university, working with the state to develop a good rapport and funding relationship," Martin said.

Still, Martin acknowledged that other constituencies may support other candidates.

"I certainly don't want to create a situation where there's a lot of animosity," he said.

by CNB