The era of former ISU President Martin Jishcke is more than a semester behind us, but a new president’s time is approaching at break-neck speed.Tomorrow, ISU students and faculty have their first opportunity to help direct decisions made about their future president during the diversity and open forums being held for each candidate.These forums’ sole purpose is to provide members of the ISU community an opportunity to learn more about the candidates and their goals for Iowa State.Anyone can complain about a university president on sidewalks or listservs, but somehow these complaints never seem to have much of an impact.Members of the Presidential Search Committee, university administrators and student leaders will all be paying close attention to the candidates and audience during the discussion forums. What they see will determine who they recommend to the state Board of Regents, the people making the final decision on ISU’s next president.Presidents affect a university in everything from tuition rates to the kind of pop sold in vending machines. In other words, they are a crucial part of the atmosphere and attitude here. Remember Jischke. So take an hour out of your day and show these candidates that Iowa State cares about the direction it’s headed in and who will help to lead it there. Your first opportunity is tomorrow with Cora Bagley Marrett. The forum begins at 3 p.m. in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union. Hope to see you there.