Former YSU president sends open letter to university community criticizing presidential search process
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown State University is still receiving backlash from its community over its selection of Valley Congressman Bill Johnson as the university's new president, as well as University Trustees' process in getting him to that position.
The latest criticism comes from former University President Leslie Cochran, who served as president between 1992 and 2000. Cochran states in his letter that Trustees' actions have "placed the university in jeopardy."
In his letter, Cochran stated that at the time of his appointment as president, the university was thought to be "dead in the water," with the lone exception being the football team winning the National Football Championship.
Cochran says this win was a cornerstone to rebuild the university.
"That’s what the presidents did over the next three decades. Brick by brick, dollar by donated dollars, program accreditation by program and win by win in the
athletic programs. Students excelled reaching new heights, alumni pride skyrocketed, millions of contributed funds enriched the institution and each new president was welcomed to a campus full of excitement, enthusiasm and a promise for higher levels of excellence," Cochran wrote.
However, Cochran says Johnson's announcement and subsequent appointment was different, accusing trustees of "turn[ing] their collective backs" on these achievements and success.
Cochran, like many others, criticized the board's closed search process, lack of transparency and not letting students, alumni, faculty and staff weigh in on the selection.
"The results speak for themselves. Votes of no confidence, and expressions of resentment, bitterness and anger, a place where boos and protest signs filled the Board room, a place where the new president was confronted by a vote of no confidence and a place where the Board has become recalcitrant, unwilling to listen, change or interact with campus constituencies," Cochran wrote.
Cochran went on to cite an article from new outlet The Daily Beast with excerpts from an interview with Molly Seals, the lone trustee who voted against Johnson's appointment. One of those excerpts is below.
“Never in the history of the university am I aware that we have ever . . . handled a search in this manner, and ended up in the predicament that is being faced today. I just absolutely could not, in good conscience, vote any other way.”
Cochran ends the letter with suggestions for what the university can do looking ahead, asking trustees to initiate a process to rescind the offer and asked Johnson to withdraw immediately.
The letter in its entirety can be read below.
