Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright"s arrival on campus as a distinguished scholar at the School of Business Administration"s William Davidson Institute is a tremendous accomplishment and opportunity for the University. Albright will start her two-year stint at the Davidson Institute in September her work with the University will surely bolster its reputation.

Albright is a noted academic and diplomat serving as a professor of international affairs and director of the Women in Foreign Service Program at Georgetown University and ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1996 before becoming secretary of state in 1997.

However, the former Secretary of State is a controversial figure among several groups on campus and having more of a chance to discuss her presence and record would have been beneficial, considering the protests surrounding the visit of another former secretary of state last year, Henry Kissinger.

This is not to suggest the likening of Albright"s record to Kissinger"s or that anyone should be able to block the administration from hiring any faculty or staff member, but it would have been better for students and the University for the administration to have addressed these concerns early on.

As a matter of common courtesy, the administration should always announce any intentions it has of hiring a figure whose presence at the University many students or faculty members could object to. Promoting a constructive dialogue about a potential faculty member"s controversial views or actions can only improve the intellectual climate at the University and legitimize his or her possible role at the University.

Regardless of what one may think about Albright, there can be no denying that her time as a distinguished scholar at the University will be beneficial in attracting other prominent faculty members and most of all will be an exceptional educational opportunity for students.

The lectures, conferences and other activities involving Albright will provide students rare opportunities to learn from a prominent political figure. Albright"s joining the University community, even on a somewhat limited basis, is a positive development. Still, it is one which the administration should have informed the University community of earlier so that students and faculty could have discussed the possible advantages and disadvantages of Albright"s addition to the faculty.

The recruitment of Albright, the highest ranking woman in the history of the United States government, is, however, a major coup for the University. Having her working with the Davidson Institute will provide a unique source of experience and knowledge on some of the world"s most prominent and urgent issues.