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YOUNGSTOWN – The recent hiring of U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson as Youngstown State University president may be leading to a financial fallout as university donors and supporters consider pulling the plug on their giving going forward.
The Youngstown State University Foundation today said they have been contacted in recent days by supporters who now are expressing concern and reluctance to provide on-going support moving forward.
The pushback from supporters has come in direct correlation to the university board of trustees’ controversial decision last week to hire Johnson as new university president. The move has been criticized because of the lack of transparency in the process and because of Johnson’s far-right stance on various issues.
The foundation this morning released a public statement on the matter, raising concern over the presidential search process and the effect it could have on the YSU Foundation’s mission.
“Because of the unique relationship of the University and the YSU Foundation, the YSU Foundation finds it necessary to express our concerns regarding recent developments surrounding the YSU Presidential Search with our donors, friends, the YSU Board of Trustees, and the YSU community at large. We would have preferred a more inclusive process that represented the University's students, faculty and staff, along with its donor base, supporters, and alumni,” the organization said in its release. “During the past few days many of these individuals have reached out to the YSU Foundation trustees to express their concerns and their reluctance to provide on-going support moving forward.”
Until now, the foundation has remained silent on Johnson’s appointment. YSU Foundation is a fundraising and philanthropic organization independent of YSU.
Later in the day Tuesday, the university issued a letter to the community offering an explanation on how the presidential search was carried out. However, the university continues to withhold copies of the resumes or names of the other candidates who were considered for the post.
YSU Board of Trustees letter to community
For more on this developing story, read Wednesday’s print and online editions.