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YOUNGSTOWN -- In the latest rebuke of Youngstown State University's Board of Trustees decision to hire U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson as the school's next president, the Academic Senate approved "no-confidence" resolutions against both.
The Academic Senate closed its online voting Saturday on the two "no-confidence" resolutions.
Of the 95 members, 77 voted on the resolutions.
Of those who voted, 78% -- 60 out of 77 -- voted in favor of a resolution expressing "no confidence in the presidential search process" led by the trustees and Mike Sherman, vice president of student affairs, institutional effectiveness and board professional.
The resolution "cited the lack of shared governance, transparency, input from faculty, students and staff and also the misleading communication about the search, damage to campus climate and trust in YSU and the negative impacts on donors and alumni as the reasons for no confidence."
The second resolution was approved by 58% of those who voted -- 45 out of 77 -- having no confidence in Johnson.
The resolution cited "concerns about Johnson's qualifications for the role, the damage done by the appointment of a partisan, the lack of interaction between Johnson and campus stakeholders during the hiring process, Johnson's presumptuous statements about universities 'indoctrinating' students and the disconnect between Johnson's public stances on issues important to YSU constituents and YSU's own mission and vision of being an inclusive, diverse and equitable campus."
Becky Rose, a YSU spokeswoman, said: "Across academia, a no-confidence vote is a traditional way that university constituencies can voice their concerns. The board hears those concerns and it will continue to work with the faculty and with all YSU stakeholders to serve our students and meet the needs of our region."
Rose added, "President-Elect Bill Johnson is committed to YSU and excited to get to work. He is committed to being the president for 100% of the university's stakeholders. He is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment at the university regardless of politics, religion or personal affiliations."
Amanda Fehlbaum, a sociology professor and at-large senator, proposed the resolutions at a Dec. 6 Academic Senate meeting.
Faculty, staff, students, alumni and major donors have been vocally opposed to the hiring of Johnson, a conservative congressman with no higher education experience. Several donors have criticized the decision and are urging the YSU board of trustees to rescind the three-year contract with Johnson that's already been signed.
Johnson has said he should be given the opportunity to prove himself as president before being dismissed by critics.
Johnson was hired by the board Nov. 21 by an 8-1 vote with Molly Seals casting the lone "no" vote.
At the Nov. 21 meeting, the board refused to take public comments with Michael Peterson, trustee president, saying at the time that those would be permitted at the next trustee meeting, which was Dec. 7.
However, the trustees refused to take public comments at that meeting with Peterson contending three people were heard at a Dec. 6 trustees committee meeting and three addressed the trustees in an executive session, away from the public, on Nov. 21.
Peterson said after the Dec. 7 meeting that "there's a process. You have to make a request."
But that process included in the trustees bylaws -- which includes providing three weeks' written notice -- wasn't followed at any of those meetings.
Johnson, R-Marietta, is supposed to start no later than March 15 as YSU president. Peterson said he wants it to be sooner.
Both Johnson and Peterson have said no objections were going to change the hiring.
Johnson plans to resign from Congress in February or early March leaving the 6th Congressional District, which includes Mahoning and Columbiana counties, without a representative for what could be several months.