Last week, when Saint Louis University President Fred Pestello sent a university wide email, SLU actively began its search for a person to fill the new position created out of the accords reached in October between members of Occupy SLU and the administration: Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Engagement.

“[The job] is being advertised now on the University’s website,” said Father Richard Buhler, S.J., Rector of the Jesuit Hall community and chair of the search committee for the new position.

Buhler leads a search committee that consists of Kent Porterfield, Vice President of Student Development, as well as a number of other University representatives, from alumni relations to the College of Public Health and Social Justice. Several students are also present on the committee, including a member of the Black Student Alliance and Mikaela Romo, the Vice President for Diversity and Social Justice for the Student Government Association.

But, Romo says, all student input is valuable.

“The administration, staff, and faculty are always wanting and needing student input. After the selection of the candidate, it will be one of his or her responsibilities to work closely with SLU students,” she said. “SGA plans on being one of the greatest avenues for students to accomplish this kind of collaboration.”

The Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Engagement is a position created from the 13 “Clock Tower Accords” reached between SLU student demonstrators and the administration in October. And, for University officials, it is a position rife with opportunity.

“We, who are Saint Louis University,” said Pestello in the email, “have the opportunity to lead, to be beacons of truth and champions for social justice.”