New restructuring of educational programs at YSU is, by nature, a contentious topic, so we understand the frustration being expressed by students, faculty and alumni about the changes and cuts made to various Youngstown State University academic programs, including in the highly regarded Dana School of Music.

YSU has not been a stranger to controversy recently, particularly in light of the secretive selection process of U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Canfield, who soon will resign his congressional post to take over as new university president. Despite his lack of educational or academic experience, he will be well compensated at $410,000, the highest paid president in YSU history.

Given that cuts to academic programs are occurring before Johnson takes office, some might argue that one issue has nothing to do with the other.

We would argue that’s not necessarily the case. The connection lies in trust and transparency.

Students gathered Wednesday on campus to protest the program cuts, much as they did the day last semester when Johnson was approved as president.

The distrust that has grown among the campus community began largely with the trustees’ decision to act in darkness with Johnson’s hiring. That cloud now looms over other issues, including the latest decisions to cut academic programs.

Music and arts students and some alumni gathered outside Tod Hall with signs and bullhorns, some with their musical instruments Wednesday afternoon.

“No more secrets! No more lies! No more silence money buys!” the crowd chanted, before moving on to: “Y-S-U, Shame on you!” Later in the protest, they called out: “We don’t give a damn about the trustees of YSU … and for Johnson too.”

Rachel Gardner, a Dana graduate student, told our reporter the protests are here to stay and Wednesday’s event was just to prove they have a voice.

“They think we’re just a small school, but we’re not that small. We have a voice and we want them to listen,” she said.

Earlier in the week, YSU alumnus Madeline Grimes questioned the accuracy of data used in determining which programs should be cut. Like others who have spoken out recently, her comments quickly circled back to trust, transparency and, yes, Johnson.

She said the lack of transparency in Johnson’s hiring only increases skepticism about the process being used now.

“If we can’t count on these programs to be evaluated reliably, we can’t be confident in the administration and trust them to make these decisions,” Grimes said.

Others, too, have been expressing their lack of faith in the administration, including its understanding of the value in what’s being lost.

Frankly, we believe what is being lost goes much further than just faculty members and academic programs. TRUST is being lost, and without swift action from the board, the administration and the incoming new president, trust will be far more difficult to regain.

Indeed, it appears the university board of trustees has adopted an informal, but very real, policy of acting under cover of darkness. It is true the board of trustees is the governing body with final decision-making rights. However, as a publicly funded Ohio institution, students, faculty, alumni and the Mahoning Valley community as a whole should be invited to participate in open, honest discussions on major decisions. To continue to operate without complete openness will serve only to further widen the division building on campus.

It has been said that trust can happen only when leaders are transparent.

YSU’s board of trustees would do well to take heed.