Commentary: Benson's business background bodes well for Springs,

The Regents of the University of Colorado recently selected Bruce Benson, a Denver businessman, philanthropist and political activist, as sole finalist for the position of university president.

It's an important position, to say the least. And it's particularly important to Colorado Springs.

Our hometown university, UCCS, was nothing more than a gleam in the eyes of a few visionary educators and local leaders four decades ago.

Today, according to the university, "UCCS offers 29 bachelor's, 18 master's and four doctoral degrees and aims to become the premier comprehensive regional research university in the nation with 10,000- 12,000 students. In recent years, U.S. News and World Report named UCCS a top Western public university, placing it seventh in its most recent edition. In addition to its academic programs, UCCS fields 14 men's and women's NCAA Division II sports teams and has a full range of student life programming."

Since 2000, UCCS has been designated as the CU growth campus.

This year, UCCS has more than 8,000 students. Its campus has expanded from 80 acres during 1965 to 440 acres -- 97 percent of which was donated to the university by members of the community.

The university's annual budget is about $107 million. UCCS is an important component of our local economy, contributing $203 million annually through construction, employee and student spending, travel and operating expenses.

For UCCS to continue its rapid growth, which so benefits our community, it's absolutely critical that CU's president be aware of UCCS's importance to this city, the state and particularly to the business community.

There's reason to believe that Benson scores high on all these counts.

His success as a businessman has enabled him to have a second, parallel career as a philanthropist. Tellingly, much of his philanthropy has been directed toward higher education. He has donated more than $6 million to CU, including $3 million for the earth sciences building. And he hasn't just written checks -- he's helped shape educational policy statewide.

Benson has served as chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, as board chairman of Metropolitan State College in Denver and currently is chairman of Gov. Bill Ritter's P-20 Education Coordinating Commission.

Some have faulted Benson for his long history of political activism in the Republican Party. We don't.

In fact, we think it's a good thing that he's been willing to mix it up in the political arena and fight for what he believes. And, tellingly, he's never been a slave to party orthodoxy, breaking with many in his party to support Referendum C.

Benson has been criticized for having only a bachelor's degree because, it has been argued, a university president ought to have some deep-thinkin' credentials.

Credentials are fine, but they simply indicate that an individual, having achieved a degree, is capable of further achievement.

In Benson's case, his record of achievement is tangible and impressive. It says, more clearly than any string of letters after his name could that he's a gifted leader and entrepreneur who will succeed at CU, as he has throughout his career.

Benson has already visited Colorado Springs and met with community leaders. We look forward to further -- and, we hope frequent -- visits, as he brings leadership and support to our community and to our university.

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