Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape Development John R. Stilgoe said he supports the current system, and does not think faculty members need to be on the search committee.

"I would rather have the right to write a letter, which I will do, than be represented by a faculty member who may not really represent me," Stilgoe said.

Professor of History William E. Gienapp agreed, saying that the differing views of faculty members make choosing one representative difficult.

"Faculty should be represented, but in reality there are so many views and opinions among the faculty that a token representative, no matter who was selected, could not possibly represent the various views of the faculty," Gienapp wrote in an e-mail message.

Geyser University Professor emeritus Henry Rosovsky said that Corporation member and former University of Chicago President Hanna H. Gray will provide a strong academic background for the search committee.

Rosovsky, who was both a Corporation member and acting Dean of the Faculty in 1991, was on the search committee that appointed Rudenstine.

"There is an academic on this search committee, and it's Hanna Gray," Rosovsky said. "I am perfectly sure she will represent faculty interests."