YSU Board of Trustees holding special meeting Tuesday regarding presidential search

The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees will have a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

According to a YSU news brief, the purpose is to consider or take action upon the university's presidential search.

The special meeting comes amid backlash from YSU alumni and the YSU-OEA union over the Board's choice to offer Congressman Bill Johnson the university's presidential position.

Youngstown State University's Board of Trustees voted 8-1 Thursday afternoon during an emergency meeting to offer the position of university president to Congressman Johnson.

Following that announcement, some local leaders told 21 News they believed Johnson would be a good fit for the role.

Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown and Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber President Guy Coviello are among his supporters.

However, not all were on board with this choice.

YSU-OEA members said their issue is not necessarily with the potential selection of Johnson for university president, but rather, what they say, was the rushed process that the university used to select him.

For at least the last four presidents, a search was narrowed to three finalists, who were brought to campus to meet with stakeholders in person and hold public forums.

"We hope that the board of trustees reconsider and be willing to redo this process in a more standard way. The way that it has been done previously and the way that all universities do it by allowing the candidates to meet with the campus community before they are selected," Aj Sumell, YSU-OEA chief negotiator, told 21 News Friday.

A student-led petition declaring 'Bill Johnson Is Wrong For YSU' has already gathered hundreds of signatures, calling Johnson an extremist for his positions opposing abortion and gay rights and denying the results of the 2020 election.

Saturday, several YSU alumni sent a letter to the trustees demanding they rescind the offer and conduct a new search.

A campus protest is planned for Monday at noon outside Tod Hall where the president's offices are.

Johnson has not decided whether to accept the offer.