President's whereabouts unconfirmed

Staff Report

In the midst of pending budget legislation and a search for a new head basketball coach, no one on campus would confirm where interim University President Kern Alexander was and why he was absent for the week.

Alexander, who began his term as interim in mid-January, is not in Murray, according to several sources. However, the President's Office would not disclose his location.

"Dr. Alexander is on a leave of absence without pay," said Jill Hunt-Lovett, executive secretary in the President's Office. "He will return to his office at 8 a.m. on Monday morning, April 10, 2006."

She said he will meet with the basketball search committee Monday as previously scheduled.

Most University vice presidents also were off campus Thursday. Calls to several campus officials - provost, assistant provost, the vice president of Student Affairs, the staff regent, the student regent - provided no information.

For more information about the coaching search, see Page 1b.