By Peter Onear

Usually it is not good news when I show up in somebody's office on the campus.

Oh, it's good news for me. I'm going to get an answer that I need or have a problem solved. It's just not good news for the person I'm visiting.

Long ago someone told me that I had a winning personality; the very next day I decided to go into government relations. It is true that most of my colleagues in campus government relations also have winning personalities. When we get together at our national meeting, it's like an Amway convention. Lots of smiles and handshakes.

Therefore, when I show up at your office door, I will be using the winningest aspects of my personality to persuade you to do something. But why exactly will I be coming to see you?

I am going to ask you to explain something. For free. Politicians and their staffs believe that university people have all the answers. Well, that's generally true. Much legislation is about complicated subjects and, quite honestly, it's easier for lawmakers to get an explanation from a professor than it is to do the research themselves. TV reporters (who are not nearly as smart as politicians, but dress better) have used that method for years.

I am going to ask you to testify before a government body. For free again, although you might get expenses paid to drive to the state capital or fly to Washington. Supposedly those trips are good for the university because they demonstrate that it has "world renowned" experts. But in reality, legislative expert testimony seldom gets much media play and is tedious both to arrange and to give.

Interestingly enough, this is one area in which students sometimes are used by government-relations officers. Recently I was asked to provide a student to testify before a finance committee during the state's budget process. Students are not necessarily experts about higher-education administration, although they generally know more about financial aid than the average politician or government-relations officer. However, students do tell great personal stories, and politicians love hearing about such struggles and triumphs. The student I corralled did great, which reflected positively on our university.

I am going to ask you for something for a politician. What I mean is that the politician (or someone in his or her office) is asking for something of value—like tickets to some campus event. (Not that your expert opinion doesn't have value, but we're talking about something concrete here.) This can be a dangerous situation for a government-relations officer. Most governments, from the local through the state to the federal level, have ethics regulations that govern giving politicians anything. It is generally permissible to provide a state senator visiting the university president a cup of coffee and even a bagel. But two free football tickets on the 50-yard line for the homecoming game is another matter. Personally, I would never make such a request, since it's my responsibility to know what is permissible to ask for and what is not.

I am going to "alert" you to a problem. That usually means a constituent has gotten to a politician to complain about something the university did (or is thinking about doing). Following a law of physics, any action that a university takes causes an equal and opposite political reaction. No politician is above at least "inquiring" why the university declined to admit the kid of an influential constituent. (Maybe because the kid had a GPA of 1.5?) A politician almost always is polite if the university has a somewhat reasonable explanation. It's important to remember that politicians have to demonstrate only that they are following up on a constituent's request. Politicians never want to act as mediators between the university and their constituents.

So, let's say a government-relations vice president appears in your office and asks you to do one or more of the four requests I've just outlined. What should your reaction be?

First, you never have to drop everything and comply instantly. If you don't want to do something, however, first make sure you understand exactly what is being asked and who is doing the asking. If the president of the university is asking you—through me—to testify before the Senate finance committee at the state capital and there's a $10-million grant on the line, you might want to spend the afternoon making the trip, even if it will probably be a hassle.

Nevertheless, if you have any qualms about the request, be sure to discuss them with the government-relations officer. For example, perhaps there is someone more qualified who should be explaining a concept or offering testimony. Or maybe the officer is asking you to fix a problem that is not within your power to correct.

Finally, ask us for more information if the situation doesn't seem to you to pass the "smell" test. For example, maybe the politician doesn't want free football tickets but is willing to pay full price and merely wants decent seats.

What are the consequences for a faculty member or administrator of helping out with a request from a politician?

More than likely, you'll be asked again. A faculty member who can provide succinct and knowledgeable testimony will be asked over and over again. An administrator who can solve a sticky and complicated campus problem will be sought out over and over again.

Another consequence is that you might become somewhat of a local media star. Coming out as a talking head will get you some attention. You will also gain the attention of senior administrators, who will appreciate your support of the university and of key politicians.

You will finally, and most important in my mind, also earn the gratitude of your friendly government-relations officer. Despite our winning personalities, we are still needy.

Peter Onear is the pseudonym of a vice president for government relations at a university in the Midwest. His previous column was on "The Politics of Travel."