Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 9, 1993 TAG: 9304090213
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
WILDER FORCES RESIGNATION OF VSU BOARD
Gov. Douglas Wilder, in an unprecedented exercise of executive muscle over a state university, has demanded and received the resignations of all 11 members of the Virginia State University Board of Visitors.The demand by Wilder in a closed-door session last week was unexpected, particularly coming just a few weeks after the visitors named a member of Wilder's administration, state Treasurer Eddie Moore, to be the school's new president.
Most board members were appointed by Wilder, and several contacted Thursday said they had no clear idea why they were asked to quit. Their resignation letters rest with state Secretary of Education James Dyke, who has not indicated whether any will be asked to stay on.
Virginia State, near Petersburg, is the nation's oldest publicly supported black college. It has been beset by financial difficulties for more than a decade and has had to call on a succession of governors and legislative sessions for fresh infusions of cash. Moore will be the school's seventh president in 25 years when he takes office June 1.
Moore, 45, who holds a master's degree, is a certified public accountant who was comptroller at the College of William and Mary for two years before Wilder named him state treasurer in 1990. His appointment, widely seen as a move to put the school's finances in order, triggered a student protest and complaints by faculty who argued that someone with a stronger academic background should have gotten the job.
"The reason [Wilder] gave is he wanted to make sure the new president would have the opportunity to be successful, and to make sure all board members are reasonably supportive of Mr. Moore," said board member Stephen J. Schley, a first vice president at NationsBank.
Moore was appointed unanimously by the board.
Wilder was unavailable for comment Thursday.
One board member suggested privately that Virginia State was unfairly singled out by Wilder, noting that the governor has not challenged Virginia Military Institute's board over their continued refusal to admit women to that school. Wilder has said he believes women should be allowed at VMI and a federal lawsuit demanding their admission is before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Davidson said Wilder didn't go to Virginia State to talk about policy issues, like admissions, which are for the board to decide, "but to discuss legal and personnel issues."
Several of the visitors expressed concern that Wilder's action may delay Moore's scheduled start. The board has not completed negotiating his contract, and now, one lawyer member suggested, it would be unwise legally to act on that any other policy matters until everyone's status is resolved.