From Interim President Barry Mason

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joe Hornsby as Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR)-designate. University of Alabama policy provides that the FAR will serve two three-year terms, at which time a FAR-designate will be named. The FAR-designate works with the FAR in the last year of the appointment to facilitate a smooth transition. FAR selection is made by the University President in consultation with the Faculty Senate President. Professor Marsh will serve as FAR until August of 2003.

Dr. Hornsby is Director of the Blount Undergraduate Initiative and Associate Professor of English. Marsh is the James M. Kidd, Sr., Professor of Law. Both colleagues are outstanding members of our faculty.

FAR responsibilities include academic oversight, addressing faculty concerns regarding athletics, keeping the president informed of matters involving compliance, and maintaining communication between the faculty and the Athletics Department.

Professor Marsh has done an outstanding job as FAR since his appointment in 1996. He spearheaded the University's athletics certification process in 1997 -- work that will continue to benefit the University into the future. He was appointed to the NCAA Committee on Infractions in 1999 and continues to serve as vice-chair of the committee.
Professor Marsh will also continue to work with the SEC on compliance initiatives as a member of the Compliance Task Force.

Statement from Professor Marsh:

"I look forward to working in the months ahead with Joe Hornsby. Joe is an outstanding scholar and teacher," Marsh said. "He will effectively and forcefully represent the interests of the faculty in this position as well.

"In 1996, we revised the job description for the FAR position, and included a term limit of two, three-year terms," Marsh said. "We thought it was in the best interests of the institution and the individual to have a term limit. I think we made the right call then, as I do now. I have advocated this same practice in my work nationally in the compliance area.

"I look forward to continuing my work as a member of the NCAA Committee on Infractions and SEC compliance initiatives," Marsh said. "I also appreciate the support of Interim President Barry Mason, whom I have known as a respected colleague and friend since I started teaching at the University in 1981. Barry Mason has set exactly the right tone in making institutional control by the President and faculty the number one agenda as we look to the future. It has been an honor to serve as Faculty Athletics Representative through these interesting and challenging times at Alabama."

Hornsby will remain Director of the Blount Undergraduate Initiative while serving as the FAR. Hornsby joined The University of Alabama faculty in 1984, serving as Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in the Department of English. He has won numerous teaching and service awards and was a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Fellow from 1995-98. He holds a doctorate in English from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts degree in English from The University of Alabama. He also has a law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law.

I wanted to share with you the details of this transition involving two of our outstanding faculty colleagues.