MU president wants to hold the line

As the head of the University of Missouri system, with 60,000 students at four campuses across the state, Dr. Elson Floyd would be expected to have solid leadership skills.

And during a visit to Southeast Missouri last week, Floyd demonstrated one of the reasons he was picked to become MU's 21st president in January: When he's in the room, Floyd discharges an electrical excitement and enthusiasm for the institution he represents and for all the students and faculty members associated with it.

In addition, Floyd is about as forthright as you could expect any public official to be. In his no-nonsense way, Floyd said the university must remain affordable for students and must have a high degree of accountability to those whose taxes fund the system.

Later this month, Floyd will ask the MU board of curators to tie tuition increases to the rate of inflation. That should come as welcome news to students.

MU, like all other state-funded colleges and universities, faces some real budget challenges. But Missourians should be pleased to know someone like Floyd is at the helm.