President Clinton's appointment of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to head a key panel studying health care reform has drawn mixed reactions from University professors and students.

"The president's friends and family are best left at home," said Tim Blessing, assistant professor of history, who polled 871 historians about presidential appointments with Robert Murray, former professor of history.

Two-thirds of the respondents warned that a president should never place a family member in a high administrative post, even if qualified.

Blessing said the new president's move to appoint his wife sends a clear signal.

"This move suggests that he is turning over a part of his administration to Hillary," he said. "This would compromise the single-mindedness required for every successful presidency."

Presidents must seek advice from many resources, but the best presidents follow their own counsel, Blessing said, adding that Hillary Clinton could jeopardize the decision-making process.

"He should make his decisions with allegiance to no one but the American people," Blessing said.

But another University professor thinks the appointment was a good move.

Robert Bresler, head of the public affairs department at Penn State Harrisburg, said past first ladies had undefined positions in the White House, cloaking their power and influence.

"I would prefer that this would be done out in the open instead of behind closed doors," said Bresler, also a professor of public policy.

Bresler said the president's appointment brings Hillary Clinton's position into focus, where she will be open to scrutiny.

"I think this is a step in the right direction," he said.

Undergraduate Student Government President Rob Kampia said President Clinton's choice made sense.

Kampia, who is required to make appointments for USG, said the most important quality an appointee should possess is trustworthiness.

"There is no one better to appoint than the president's wife," he said.

Shannon Coulter, Womyn's Concerns co-director, said she thinks the first couple make a good team.

"I think it's unfair that people look at a team that works well together as a weakness rather than a strength," she said.

Coulter said she thinks the criticism of Hillary Clinton is a backlash due to her transformation of the role of the first lady.

"Change is something that is always painful for people," Coulter said.

And Kelly Lengel (senior-psychology) agreed, saying that many other presidents' wives were qualified, but due to society's norms, were denied an official position.

"It would have been a shame if she wasn't appointed just because she was related," Lengel said.

Due to Hillary Clinton's position, she will probably be criticized by the president more harshly than other appointees because what she does is closely linked to the president's image, Lengel said.

Blessing said that in a worst-case scenario, the situation could manifest itself in different forms.

One of the main dangers is if the president's wife forms her own agenda, creating a second power source in the White House, it could lead to factions and in-fighting.

"This takes place all the time, but with a strong, independent president, it is minimized," Blessing said.