The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents acknowledged a spelling error Thursday in the contract for the University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor position that gave the job to singer Rebecca Black and not Dr. Rebecca Blank.
Blank, the acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce, was one of four finalists for the position, all of whom have attained a doctorate degree. Black, who performs hit single “Friday” and the less-famous “My Moment,” is 15 years old.
“I appreciate that they meant to choose me,” Blank said, as she listened to the viral video hit in an attempt to better understand Black. “But I am somewhat glad not to be tied to a university that would make such a mistake. This song is catchy, though.”
Black was surprised at the news but couldn’t wait to take on a new opportunity after already winning the Internet.
While Black didn’t have time to consider her main goals for her chancellor tenure between studying for her math test on long division and reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” for her English class, she said she wants to stay true to her principles. These include only serving cereal for breakfast, mandatory 7 a.m. wake-up times and replacing all campus bus routes with convertibles.
“I just hope everyone can figure out which seat they can take,” Black said. “But they are in college, and I was only in middle school when I did it, so I’m sure it will work out.”
UW System President Kevin Reilly refused to comment on the story beyond saying, “We’ll talk in one year when this is all over,” referencing the yearlong term before the system can opt out of the contract.
UW students had mixed emotions, but many wanted to give Black the benefit of the doubt.
“Her song went viral, and it really gets stuck in your head, even if you only hear like two words from it, so I hope she can bring that notoriety to the university,” said junior Kylie Tanner. “Maybe we can use a mash-up of ‘Friday’ and ‘Call Me Maybe’ to really attract students.”
Upon hearing the idea, Black immediately called Carly Rae Jepsen and offered her an assistant chancellorship.
Some students think this move signifies great progress for the university, although half of the undergraduate population un-enrolled after hearing about the hire for no apparent reason.
