{"id":140244,"date":"2024-01-09T17:12:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T22:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=140244"},"modified":"2024-01-11T10:41:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T15:41:50","slug":"retired-faculty-protest-hiring-of-republican-as-new-youngstown-state-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/retired-faculty-protest-hiring-of-republican-as-new-youngstown-state-president\/","title":{"rendered":"Retired faculty protest hiring of Republican as new Youngstown State president"},"content":{"rendered":"

Letter demands trustees \u2018put away your selfish interests,\u2019 rescind job offer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dozens of retired Youngstown State University faculty and staff protested the hiring of Republican Congressman Bill Johnson as its new president in a letter Monday to the Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n

In the letter, former employees of the Ohio public university criticized Johnson\u2019s voting record and called on the trustees to rescind their job offer to him, The Vindicator<\/em> reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs to the often-heard refrain, \u2018Give Bill Johnson a chance,\u2019 we say to him, your voting record in Congress, your uniformed criticism of higher education, your total lack (except for eight trustees) of a constituency on campus and the absence of any demonstrated qualifications for the job do not bode well for the future,\u201d the letter states.<\/p>\n

Johnson currently represents Ohio in the U.S. House, but his term ends later this month and he is slated to begin at Youngstown on Jan. 22, according to the report.<\/p>\n

The YSU Board of Trustees announced<\/a> Johnson as the new president Nov. 21, saying they believe he will be \u201cforward thinking and an investment in the future of YSU. He understands the vision of our strategic plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the nearly 90 Youngstown retirees and former employees who signed the Monday letter said Johnson is wrong for the leadership role.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur main concerns deal with how your decision will affect both the short-term and the long-term welfare of the university that we have been part of for a good portion of our lives,\u201d they wrote. \u201cIt is already clear that the good name and reputation of YSU has been severely, if not permanently, damaged as a result of the uniformly critical, scathing regional and national reviews of your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the letter, they said the decision to hire Johnson has \u201cbroken the bond\u201d between the university and its employees, and \u201cmany\u201d are looking for new opportunities elsewhere. They also accused the trustees of making the decision based on \u201cyour selfish interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

A number of current employees, alumni, and students also have spoken out in opposition to Johnson, according to The Vindicator<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Responding to the criticism, Johnson said in a Nov. 21 statement<\/a> that he wants to foster an \u201cinclusive and respectful environment\u201d at Youngstown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know some have questioned my professional and educational experience,\u201d he said. \u201cAs president, my history in politics will not be reflected in the decisions I make for YSU and the students of YSU.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the new role, the Republican lawmaker said he wants to foster \u201copen dialogue\u201d and \u201cdiverse perspectives,\u201d and he is committed to \u201cthe well-being of every student.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a recent College Fix<\/em> analysis found<\/a> the university hiked tuition for four consecutive years while full-time undergraduate enrollment fell and the ratio of administrators to students grew. At the same time, the Ohio university exhibited a growing effort to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.<\/p>\n

MORE: Zero Republican professors found in 33 departments at 7 universities: College Fix analysis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Youngstown State University\/YouTube screenshot<\/p>\n

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