RUSSELL'S LEGACY

For George Russell, it was obvious that the time had come to step down as president of the vast University of Missouri system. The reason he gave in his letter of resignation was that job had "ceased to be enjoyable." Certainly there were other reasons as well, including the fact that the university system's curators have recently become split over major issues, including the recent firing of the chancellor at the Columbia campus, Charles Kiesler.

It is clear that there has been some bothersome meddling from the highest office in Jefferson City also. Gov. Mel Carnahan attempted to thwart Russell's recommendation that Kiesler be fired as chancellor, although there was no clear reason for this high-level involvement. This interference had the effect of polarizing the curators, who now had to take sides with political overtones rather than simply making a decision based on internal evaluations and the recommendation of the university president.

Russell is credited for taking over the helm of the university system at a time when it desperately needed strong leadership. When he assumed the post nearly five years ago, Russell was considered by some to be a controversial choice simply because of his advanced age. He is leaving those duties at age 75. But, if anything, his advanced years brought experience and seasoned decision-making to the system.

By most accounts, the university system was in decline five years ago, gripped in the throes of internal struggles and the kind of bureaucratic weight that tends to make many large public institutions collapse under their own weight. To this questionable mix Russell brought a firm hand and a clear vision. He wanted to find ways to boost faculty salaries, renovate buildings and increase financial aid for students. He succeeded on all counts by being bold beyond the expectations of many Missourians who thought, because of his advanced age, he would be only a caretaker president.

In fact, part of the criticism of those who by now think it is time for Russell to leave is based on increased administrative costs -- expenses which the president sought to hold down and for which the recently fired Columbia chancellor was blamed.

Whatever the future of the 53,000-student university system, Russell's legacy will be remembered for a long time. He brought stability at a time when it was desperately needed, and he did it by being active rather than passive in a situation that demanded forceful and coherent decisions.