Students, faculty, alumni converge on Youngstown State University's campus to protest trustees lack of transparency
Students, faculty and alumni converged on Youngstown State University's campus to protest the trustees decision to offer Congressman Bill Johnson the presidency, Monday.
The group gathered at Tod Hall with a resounding message, demanding transparency from the trustees.
"We were strategically not involved in this decision," said YSU Senior Rose McClurkin.
Some students tell 21 News they fear the decision to offer Congressman Bill Johnson the presidency, could prove detrimental. They say it could put the university on a path that diminishes their collective voice and are hoping the protest will speak volumes.
"Just setting this precedent of we should be involved in these choices," McClurkin said.
Opposition is coming from a new direction now, with students citing Johnson's political views as discriminatory to a "large population of students."
Students say Johnson has anti-immigration rights views, he is against same sex marriage and they feel the students on campus who identify with those issues will feel less protected with Johnson at the head.
Protesters chanted, "Rescind the offer! Open the process," and "Hear our voice! We want a choice!" Faculty also laid out their frustrations to 21 News.
"Whether Bill Johnson is good or bad that's irrelevant," said Mark Vopat, professor and OEA President at YSU. "It's irrelevant what you feel about Bill Johnson, what you should be upset about is a board that's not including the rest of the community," he said.
Alumni also commented saying they just want the right person for the job.
"We need somebody with a background in education, somebody that's been in this environment before," said Jerry Dixey, graduate in YSU's class of 1974. "Bill Johnson has not been in this environment before," he said.
On the other side of this, there are those who support the idea of Congressman Bill Johnson becoming president saying, they believe he's more than capable to run the university.
"The only reason this is even a topic is because of his conservative beliefs," said Austin Browne, president and chapter chair of Turning Point USA at YSU. "I think he has a proven track record and an ability to lead and I think that that would apply extremely well on our campus," he said.
21 News reached out to Congressman Johnson and the YSU trustees for comment but never heard back.