Earlier this week, graduate student Nyesha Sevier had the ride of her life – or at least her first week at Eastern.

Sevier was picked up on a golf cart by a silver-haired man who offered her a ride.

Sevier transferred from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was telling the driver about her experiences so far at Eastern.

The campus is smaller, which she was happy about, and people are much nicer than in Champaign, she explained.

The man listened intently.

She couldn’t get over the fact that she was saving hundreds of dollars by renting her books either, she said, while being dropped off at Booth Library.

That’s when the man opened his mouth.

“Well, as the president of this university.”

Eastern President Lou Hencken told Sevier that students mean the most to him, and if she ever had any questions or needed anything at all not to hesitate in calling him or making a visit to his office.

“I haven’t even met the president of U of I and that’s where I did my undergrad work,” Sevier said.

Hencken will announce whether he will retire at the year’s end during today’s 11 a.m. Board of Trustees meeting in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

“I hope he’s staying,” Sevier said.

Graduate student Matt Lythberg said Hencken’s career at Eastern since 1976 hasn’t been enough.

“Forty is not enough,” Lythberg said.

Judging by the campus and improvements, Lythberg said he thinks Hencken has been great for Eastern.

He handled the burning of Blair Hall in May 2004 very well, Lythberg said.

“I’ll go out when Lou does,” Lythberg said.

Hencken has considered retirement for 10 years, said Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining.

People typically put in 30 years before retirement, Hudson said. But Hencken went a decade more.

“He’s doing it for the love of the institution,” Hudson said. But the BOT has been anticipating Hencken’s decision for a while.

“The ball is in Lou’s court,” he said.

Hudson was in the Residence Hall Association when Hencken was the housing director. Hudson was a Resident Assistant, then graduate student and hall director, and currently the director of housing and dining.

“Lou hired me for all three positions,” he said.

The Greek community at Eastern would be sad to see Hencken go.

“If he stays, we’d be very, very happy,” said Bob Dudolski, director of Greek Life. In fact, he’d “strongly encourage” Hencken staying at Eastern.

Hencken has been a strong supporter of Greek life at Eastern, as well as a great resource, he said.

But what’s Hencken’s conclusion?

Hudson did ask Hencken about his upcoming decision.

“I think he’s really wrestling” with the decision, Hudson said.