Some Maryland educators dispute White's claim that the problem was systemic in nature.

"I think the normal planning process broke down," said Toll, the former chancellor. "I think the situation has now been corrected."

Toll said that a recent decision by a Board of Regents committee against moving the law and social work schools away from the Baltimore campus has allowed Maryland to "move ahead."

Several members of the Board of Regents have also hinted that the problem was never as serious as White indicated, according to the Washington Post.

Observers said that despite his reversal, White's qualifications were never in question.

"I think Dr. White is a very fine person who behaved with great integrity at every stage," Toll said.

And other Maryland officials were particularly enthusiastic about White's potential to influence young minorities.

"There are very few Augustus Whites in America which one could hold up to Black youngsters as a role model," said Maryland delegate John P. Rawlings, a prominent Black legislator. "His mere presence speaks a thousand words to people in general and to Blacks in particular."

Rawlings said he had also hoped that White's leadership role would boost racial harmony on campus.

"Deans and department heads are not going to go around offending Blacks because they will perceive that the man in charge has an affinity for [Blacks]," Rawlings said.

But for now, it's back to the drawing board for Maryland in its search for a president.

Rawlings is not optimistic. "You just don't go around finding these kinds of gems," he said.

Toll disagrees, saying Maryland "ought to be able to attract as good a president as Gus White." But Toll acknowledges that the White episode may hurt the school system for some time.

"It'll take time to recognize that the president will be the true leader of the campus," he said.

White's career may also take time to develop further. Rabkin said, "He has no plans other than to continue to build a strong orthopedic department."