Generally speaking, no one is indispensable. This is true in most every field of activity whether business, athletics, education or many professional fields.

It is dangerous when someone assumes he or she is so important to their business that if they were to leave the team, the entity in question would likely fail.

In an institution such as a major state university, the school is far greater than any one individual. This has been demonstrated time and again at Kansas University. Chancellors, coaches, athletic directors, administrators and faculty members come and go and the university remains strong. Granted, some losses are serious and cause challenges, but eventually things seem to work out.

Even so, there are a few situations when losing a truly star player can have longtime serious consequences and damage the school.

In today’s environment, with budgets stretched almost to the breaking point and faculty morale a major concern, universities cannot afford to lose their star players. These gifted individuals, who are known to have received attractive offers from other institutions but have elected to remain at KU, serve as incentive to others. It is a morale booster, evidence the school has much to offer and is an attractive place to teach and engage in research.

A year or so ago, KU Medical Center lost a true treasure with the departure of Michael Welch. He has the rare combination of high intellect and charisma, is a superb speaker, has a vision for the future and is widely known in his field of expertise. He reflected great credit and respect on the Med Center.

Welch wowed state legislators a few years ago and gave them reason to believe in the importance of using an innovative way to finance three timely research and building projects at the Med Center, Kansas State University and Wichita State University.

Unfortunately, and due to a combination of factors, Welch left his Med Center position to become president and CEO of a Chicago medical school. Many state legislators were extremely angry that university and state officials did not try harder to keep Welch at the Med Center, and these individuals hope there may be some way, sometime, that Welch might be persuaded to return to the Med Center, perhaps in a senior executive position.

Unfortunately, a similar situation exists at KU’s Mount Oread campus today. It is likely Richard Norton Smith, director of the Dole Institute of Politics, will be leaving for a prestigious position in Illinois.

If he does leave, this is a very serious loss — and one that didn’t have to happen.

Smith is a rare individual. As a nationally known observer of historians and writers told this reporter, “Smith is a hot individual” who would be welcomed on any university campus. “You cannot afford to lose him.”

Smith is a dreamer, a man with great vision. He took over direction of the Dole Institute and transformed what seemed destined to become a dull hideaway for a few political scientists and repository for Sen. Dole’s papers into an exciting public center that would be host to stimulating seminars, debates and studies, attracting nationally and internationally known government and political figures. KU students and faculty would be enriched by these opportunities, the center would probably become one of the state’s top tourist attractions and all that would reflect credit and respect on KU. The center would help in attracting top students and faculty members.

Smith is a man of action and a dreamer. As such, it is difficult for him to tolerate much of the internal bickering, turf wars and egos prevalent on most every university campus.

There’s no question Smith has an ego and has stepped on some toes, maybe many toes. But his record speaks for itself. He does not tolerate mediocrity.

It will be a shame if he leaves and a real loss for the school and the state. The individual quoted above also said that if Smith should leave, it would be a big mistake to replace him with someone from the academic community.

Smith came to KU with great enthusiasm and the intent to stay for a long period. Unfortunately, he does not think some of the commitments made to him when he was being recruited for the KU job have been honored.

Hopefully, he will decide to remain at KU and continue to build the Dole Institute into a nationally and internationally recognized center for debate, study and discussion of public issues, always stressing the point that public service is indeed a noble profession.

As noted at the beginning of this column, no one is indispensable. But losing Smith would be a terrible blow to KU and to the future of the Dole Institute.