ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609300038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
Douglas Covington vowed at his inauguration as president of Radford University to begin an annual tradition of a Founders Day convocation on the eve of homecoming weekend.
Friday - almost a year to the day since his inauguration - he fulfilled the pledge. Standing on a stage in Preston Hall Auditorium, dressed in full academic regalia, Covington said he hoped the first Founders Day convocation - celebrating the university's 86th year - would "stimulate school spirit, stimulate school pride and enhance and stimulate unity."
Days earlier, the man who called for school pride and unity was answering questions about reports of a campaign to fire him.
The Board of Visitors has called for an evaluation of Covington - Radford's first black president - maintaining that it would be an appropriate measure of his leadership. Others have called the evaluation the beginning of a movement to oust Covington from office, prompting charges of racism.
Petitions being circulated in the city accuse the board of action believed to be "the result of institutional racism on the part of some members."
And Friday's edition of The Tartan - the campus newspaper - contained a scathing letter to the editor, signed by two students.
"The Board of Visitors may not teach academics at Radford University but they have certainly taught us that racism and ignorance are a part of their intellect," they wrote. "This is supposed to be an institution of higher learning, not of higher bigotry."
Board members have vehemently denied claims of racism.
"I don't understand where that is coming from," said James Stutts, board rector. "To say race is involved, I truly do not understand that."
Earlier this week, Covington declined to speculate on his upcoming evaluation, which is scheduled to begin in October. He said he knows he's accountable and wants a fair hearing.
"There are some people who will always be dissatisfied," he said. "There are individuals who will criticize you no matter what you do. Those are individuals that you can never please. If I left and somebody else came in, there would still be critics."
Students have praised Covington for taking university decision-making beyond the administrative level.
"He's involved different groups around campus in university decisions," said Lauren Egan, president of the Student Government Association. "He's really concerned with people at the university.
"He's very visionary. He knows what direction to take the college."
Shaun Mosby, a freshman from Lynchburg, said Covington appears sincere and intelligent.
"I don't see where the problems are coming from," he said.
Some students seemed removed from the controversy. Students just aren't interested in the politics of their university, they said.
Others, when asked of Covington, answered "Who?"
Covington's support among faculty "is probably not deep," said Al Pearson, a political science professor.
"But the expectations of faculty are higher than anybody could have satisfied," he said. "It's hard to imagine who could have satisfied faculty expectations. But nobody thinks he deserves this. He's only been here a year, for crying out loud."
Covington has found deep support in the Radford community - particularly the church community. An estimated 150 people attended a meeting Tuesday night at the Radford Church of God in Christ, held to discuss the Covington controversy.
Elder Ronald Watson, church pastor, had been expecting only 15 people.
"I've never had a crowd to come out for any one situation than they did for this man," Watson said. "They have rallied around this man more than they rallied around people trying to get elected."
Watson said relations between the community and the university were "spoiled" at one time. Past Radford presidents never reached out to the community as Covington has, Watson said.
"He has simply touched people's lives," Watson said. "It's not a color thing. He's just reached out and touched people - black and white. I think that's what put him in the hearts of people."
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Radford University President Douglasby CNBCovington (left) talks with Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, during
the convocation. color.