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DEAR EDITOR:
I am writing as a retired YSU faculty member urging the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees to reconsider its hasty decision to offer the YSU presidency to U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson. They took this action at an "emergency meeting," the reason for which has been hidden from the campus community and the general public. More importantly, Mr. Johnson's total lack of higher education administrative experience and his tenuous connection to YSU does not bode well for the future. Finally, the board's disregard for an open and transparent selection process that should have involved students, faculty, retirees, alumni and members of our community is troubling.
I am reminded of a similar YSU presidential search fiasco that took place in 1991. Please visit The Jambar archives for June 20, 1991, (https://digital.maag.ysu.edu:8443/xmlui/handle/1989/3752) to learn more.
Those of us who invested our talents, decades of service both during employment and after retirement, represented YSU with distinction on statewide and national forums, established scholarship funds or made other significant financial commitments for the betterment of our University clearly deserve better.
Again, for the future well-being of YSU I urge the board to rescind its decision at the earliest possible opportunity.
(I am professor emeritus of physics and astronomy, Heritage Award recipient, Fulbright Fellow, YSU's first director of Faculty Relations, former president of the YSU-OEA.)
According to a recent online poll done by The Vindicator, some 70% of the respondents indicated that Rep. Johnson is not the right choice for the YSU presidency.
STEVEN HANZELY, Ph.D.
Youngstown