The task of finding a truly top-flight individual to serve as Kansas University’s next chancellor becomes more difficult with each new disclosure about the almost obscene bonuses and contracts awarded to KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins.

News of million-dollar bonuses and contract extensions could not come at a more inopportune time.

At a time when KU and most other universities in the country are facing severe money problems, eliminating faculty, considering tuition increases and making every reasonable cutback to reduce expenses, the KU athletics department hands out huge bonuses, approves million-dollar incentives and does who knows what else for its athletics director.

Fancy cars, first-class air travel, club memberships, extra tickets for the AD and his family and other goodies used to be fairly normal for those in the big-time athletics scene, but KU has taken it to a new level. Where will it stop?

This raises the question of whom Perkins works for, the athletics department or KU? It’s supposed to be the chancellor, so evidently he approves all of the extras for Perkins.

What does this say about Chancellor Robert Hemenway and/or those who run the athletics department? They have OK’d the riches and incentives for Perkins through 2013, thereby tying the hands of the new chancellor. What if the new chancellor doesn’t like the Perkins contract? Will KU have to pay a costly severance sum?

KU also will be looking for a new provost. Richard Lariviere will be leaving to become president of the University of Oregon, and the new KU chancellor will select his replacement. The provost is supposed to be “Mr. Inside” at a university such as KU with the chancellor serving as “Mr. Outside,” pleasing legislators, alumni, donors and sports fans.

The provost is in charge of the academic side of the university and is responsible for building excellence and enthusiasm among the faculty and students.

Consider the challenges of Lariviere and his successor in trying to stimulate and motivate faculty when professors and researchers are told budgets are tight and some may lose their jobs and, yet, millions are paid in salaries and bonuses to those in the athletics department.

It’s no wonder faculty morale, frustration and anger are so bad on Mount Oread these days. One of the university’s most prominent faculty members said the infighting, turf wars and unrest among faculty members are intense.

Hemenway has requested and been given an office in the new Hall Center for the Humanities for the next school year while he is on sabbatical.

It has been reported he intends to write a book about intercollegiate sports during his leave. How will he describe the athletics situation at KU during his administration and its relationship with the academic side of the university? Has it been a story of success or an example of athletics programs and salaries getting out of balance?

There is justification for concern about what is going on with the chancellor’s selection process because several leading members of the search committee are closely tied to the KU athletics scene and are supportive of the current out-of-balance situation.

Again, what is a superior chancellor candidate to think of the KU situation?

It’s an excellent state-aided university with the potential to become one of the nation’s best, but faculty members are hungry for leadership and inspiration. They are frustrated.

Members of the Kansas Board of Regents surely have been aware of the growing dissatisfaction, frustration and lack of leadership, and did little to intervene.

Others, in the KU Endowment Association and KU Alumni Association knew of the situation but, again, did nothing.

In fact, those officials not only didn’t do anything to correct the worsening situation, they covered up the seriousness of the matter. Action should have been taken years ago.

Interviews of chancellor candidates will begin in several weeks. A recent report indicates an interim chancellor is likely to be named to fill in until the new executive can move into Strong Hall.

What does this mean? Have those on the search/selection committee come to the realization they need to seek more candidates, which is likely to take more time?

The importance of securing the services of an outstanding individual to move into the chancellor’s office cannot be overemphasized. Have recent news reports about the continuing excesses in the athletics department, poor faculty morale, the worsening fiscal climate in Kansas and the impact that will have on the university damaged the chances of KU attracting the services and talents of an individual so good he or she soon could have been looked upon as one of the country’s top university administrators?

Or does the present KU situation present a rare opportunity for an individual who is looking for the chance to showcase his or her talents and vision to make the changes necessary to raise the school’s excellence and image to national prominence?

What are those on the search/selection committee looking for? Are they comfortable with the way things are today? Is it preordained that someone will be chosen to replicate the overall environment we have today, or are they looking for someone who can make changes and, by his or her own excellence and ability to communicate and enthuse, enlist the support of faculty, students, state legislators and the people of Kansas to build and support a greater university?