Launched about a year ago, the process of reorganization of the Office of Student Affairs has passed through several steps. Several new positions were introduced; others, previously dormant, were revived, all leading to an inflation of the personnel in that office without students really feeling that much difference or improvement. After the Kevlin affair, the administration considered including students in that reform process by "taking the opinion of students in selecting a new dean for student affairs." Although late, this step cannot but be appreciated. But what dean do we need? What dean do we want? 
 We want the reform of the Office of Student Affairs to go beyond an administrative reorganization of that office. The problem is more than a management problem. It affects the values of student life in AUB as a whole. Are students motivated to participate in student clubs? Where is student political activism? What recognition does the University offer to those who participate in community service activities? The answers to these questions are all unclear. The renovation of West Hall and the new Hostler Student Center will help a lot, but the problem is not restricted to facilities. 
 "That they may have an abundant student life" must be the motto of the new dean. The new policies should motivate and stimulate students to participate in extra-curricular activities on all levels. Subjects such as student governance and athletics must be opened. A project such as the student run milk bar should be taken more seriously. What happened to the independent student union, the student council? What alternative view does the Office of Student Affairs have for a more democratic student government on campus? Concerning the Athletics Department, the major problem has always been to find spectators for sports matches. Shouldn't the Office Student Affairs focus on this issue in order to promote sports? Why do other American universities grant sports scholarships and we don't?
 Also career counseling should be expanded. AUB should be able to provide to its students internships and career opportunities. A university having a status such as ours in the region should be able to provide the first employment center in Lebanon. This is an innovation the Office of Student Affairs must consider seriously. Experience in counseling policies, in student activities and student governance should be pre-requisites for selecting the new dean.
 Additionally, knowledge about the history of AUB, Lebanon and the region is a must. Knowledge about the backgrounds of AUB students, their different interests and affiliations and their history is a must. The history of this institution and of this country is indeed a very sensitive matter; even the Lebanese government is unable to write it. In that respect, a Lebanese national and an AUB community member would be at an advantage compared to foreign applicants. 
Now that we are tackling the issue of foreigners versus locals, I think that the AUB community has the capability to run on its own, to be able to manage itself by itself. Community members having adequate experience and skills can easily occupy the highest administrative positions in AUB. The trend of promoting the recruitment of foreigners should stop. I am not saying we should exclude and lose the experience of foreign professors, researchers and administrators; all I mean is that locals have an advantage over foreigners and that this fact is not reflected in the recruitment policy of AUB.
 Thus experience in student affairs and complete background about the institution and its history are a must. But how shall the administration take the opinion of students in that recruitment? Since the position is of high importance, shouldn't the community at large be involved in that recruitment? Is including students in the search committee enough? In several foreign universities, finalists running for such an important position go through a public presentation for the community. If a candidate for the position of dean were to give a presentation open to the whole AUB community, students and faculty members would have the opportunity to assess his suitability for the position. They would also feel involved in governing their own University instead of believing allegations about outside interferences in recruitment, nepotism, favoritism and CIA affiliations of administrators. 
Also, the salary proposed for this position should be made public. Again, as most American universities do, the salaries for senior administrative positions should be available in order for the community to feel secure, for donors to trust the administration and for the Lebanese people to regain trust in AUB.
 The above is standard procedure for recruitment of senior administrators in some American universities. Since the administration always seeks to put AUB at the same standard of American universities, I urge it to consider the matter from all its aspects. Finally, transparency about the experience in student affairs and background knowledge about AUB should be mandatory for applicants for the vacant positions in the Office of Student Affairs.