THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 8, 1994 TAG: 9408080043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
After an airing of concerns about President S. Dallas Simmons' leadership at a special meeting this spring, the chairman of the Virginia Union University board of trustees moved for a vote of confidence.
Simmons got it last week - an executive committee of the board approved a six-year extension of his contract to June 2000.
But board members told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a story published Sunday that a May vote to create the committee wasn't unanimous, that one committee member voted against the contract, and that the board acted on the contract because Simmons and board chairman Frank S. Royal mistakenly believed it would expire in June 1994. It was to expire in June 1995.
Two board members also told the newspaper that their concerns about Simmons' leadership had not been resolved at the special meeting April 19, despite the fact that after each issue was discussed, the board voted it had been thoroughly reviewed.
The concerns arose from an anonymous three-page letter to the board last fall and in a petition to the board this spring signed by 384 students.
Board members and Simmons confirmed that among the matters raised at the special meeting were:
Out-of-court settlements of four sexual-harassment complaints brought since 1991 by at least five female students and employees against two longtime professors and three administrators.
The granting of more than 100 academic credit hours - the equivalent of more than three years of full-time course work - to a musician for so-called ``lifetime experience.'' Those credits enabled him to graduate with a bachelor's degree in 1990.
The extent of litigation involving Virginia Union since Simmons became president in 1986 and the source of funds used to cover those costs.
State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III, D-Richmond and a Virginia Union alumnus, defended Simmons. Lambert is the board's secretary.
``There was nothing to indicate President Simmons had done anything'' wrong, Lambert said. ``The board went into all the concerns. They were brought out. There was no cover-up.''
But another alumni board member, the Rev. Wyatt T. Walker of New York, said his concerns ``were not completely resolved'' at the special meeting. He declined to elaborate, saying he was ``bound by the board action.''
Simmons said Virginia Union has settled out of court four sexual harassment cases dating to 1991. The combined settlement costs, which were paid out of operating funds, totaled less than $50,000, Simmons said. A significant portion of the school's operating funds come from tuition.
As for the degree-granting case, Simmons said he was aware of - but not involved in - the decision to award more than 100 hours to the musician.
``This went through the music department chairperson, it went to the music faculty, it went to the vice president of academic affairs and from there to the Faculty Senate and the full faculty,'' said Simmons. ``I, as president, never got involved in it.''
Simmons said he could not explain why concerns have been raised about his leadership by some board members, faculty members and students.
``I wonder why anyone - board members or nonboard members - are continuing this kind of questioning,'' Simmons said. ``Virginia Union is in the best shape now that it has been in any time in its history - academically, financially. Sometimes, you have people who don't like to see things go well.'' by CNB