OSU president plans to retire next year

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Amid mounting tension, Ohio State University President Karen Holbrook announced Wednesday she will retire at the end of 2007 when her contract expires.
At the urging of some of Holbrook's critics, the university's board was recently expanded by the state Legislature -- and trustees had privately been considering her future. An option to extend her tenure into a new contract was to expire at the end of June.
Holbrook's leadership as the 13th president of one of America's largest universities has been marked by both accomplishment and a series of difficulties, including off-campus riots and sports scandals.
In a letter announcing her decision to the board, delivered to trustees in advance of their two-day meeting last week, Holbrook said she was resigning to spend time with her husband, Jim, who has been retired for 10 years.
"I also believe it is the best timing for the university as Ohio State plans to enter a major capital campaign next year," she wrote.
"It will be important to the success of the campaign for donors to have confidence in consistent leadership over the next five years and perhaps longer."