"Hennessy has the capacity to make the university strong in all areas," she said. "The discipline of the president doesn't determine the direction of the university."

But such protests may be in vain. An article in yesterday's New York Times began with the phrase, "Underscoring Stanford University's deep relationship with Silicon Valley..."

Other national reports have highlighted the 23-year Stanford teaching veteran's successful Silicon Valley business venture, MIPS Computer Systems. MIPS grew out of research begun at Stanford in 1981.

Hennessy's colleagues at other universities also say he will be a standard-bearer for cooperation between universities and the technology industry.

In an e-mail message Monday night, Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 called Hennessy "a leader in finding effective and appropriate ways for Stanford to interact and be integrated with the Silicon Valley corporate and industrial enterprises."

But despite his obvious technological strengths, the Stanford community is now calling him to address other issues.

In an editorial yesterday, the university's student newspaper, the Stanford Daily, challenged their new president to focus more attention on the arts and humanities.