THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Friday, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200497 SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Albert C. Robinson Jr., a veteran City Council member and an assistant vice chancellor for finance at Elizabeth City State University, is leaving ECSU at the end of this month, he said Thursday.
The statement by ECSU's second-highest money man came after weeks of campus speculation about Robinson's academic future. The speculation began shortly after the unexpected resignation Aug. 3 of Chancellor Jimmy R. Jenkins Jr.
``I've been working for 31 and one-half years and it's time to retire,'' Robinson said.
Robinson, known as ``A.C.,'' said a letter expressing his intentions to leave the university by Nov. 1 ``is on the desk'' of Vice Chancellor Roger McLean, the chief financial officer at ECSU and Robinson's administrative boss.
Both McLean and Robinson were part of an inner council of advisers who helped Jenkins build ECSU in 12 years from a small black teachers college to a full-fledged and integrated university within the 16-campus University of North Carolina system.
No official comment has come from McLean. Mickey L. Burnim, named interim chancellor by UNC President Clemmie D. Spangler Jr. after Jenkins resigned, said, ``It would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.''
Robinson, as a city councilman and as a member of the ECSU administration, has for 10 years often polarized the feelings of those he has worked with on campus or at City Hall. He is now in his third term on the council, easily winning all of his elections in the 4th Ward.
As one of the four African-American members of the eight-member City Council, Robinson has often acted as a strong-willed mayor pro-tem in the absence of attending mayors. White councilmen soon learned that black support on the council often depended on Robinson.
Robinson said nothing this week about stepping down from his elected job, although there has been speculation on that issue because of Robinson's absence from several recent council meetings.
Elizabeth City Mayor H. Rick Gardner said Thursday that Robinson's departure ECSU would ``have a positive impact'' on the council.
``Maybe he'll have more time to work on his city duties,'' Gardner said.
Gardner, a tough Republican on the other side of the political fence from Robinson's solidly Democratic supporters, sought to stifle any further City Hall talk about Robinson.
``It's certainly no secret that he was going to retire. . . I don't put much stake in rumors,'' said Gardner.
Robinson, who lives in the 800 block of Park St., is an ordained minister who is frequently called upon to officiate at Albemarle religious ceremonies. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
A.C. Robinson, Jr.
by CNB