The relevance of Richard E. Neustadt's presidential choice making theory to a university presidency is analyzed. This theory, which was introduced in Neustadt's 1960 publication "Presidential Power," is examined in regard to situations that occurred at Kent State University (KSU): the KSU Black United Student (BUS) confrontation with the Oakland Police in 1968; the Students for Democratic Society's disciplinary hearing conflict in 1969; the May 1970 crisis in which four students were killed by Ohio National Guardsmen; and the approaches of two KSU presidents in handling BUS demands. It is suggested that the following concepts help to explain presidential decision making: personality, experience, competing information sources, active participant involvement, self-imposed deadlines, and vantage points. In addition to having the right kind of personality and political experience, the university president needs to be an active participant in events. Personal involvement helps the president in avoiding heavy reliance on competing sources of information. The president should impose specific time deadlines and make use of vantage points and perception of power stakes to make the right decision. Making the right choices aids the current bargaining and increases the president's professional reputation and his popular prestige. (SW)