A chorus of prominent former Youngstown State University Trustees have voiced their disdain over the university's decision to appoint Congressman Bill Johnson as university president. 

The former trustees penned a letter to the current trustees, expressing their disapproval and dissatisfaction with the Board's actions. 

"We, the undersigned former Trustees of Youngstown State University, share the concerns of many students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the YSU Foundation, who have voiced their dissatisfaction with recent Board actions to select the next university president. The outcry across multiple University constituencies is alarming," reads the letter. 

The letter is signed by the following former trustees: 

• Atty. James E. "Ted" Roberts, 2013-2022

• Capri Cafaro, 2017-2021

• Atty. Leonard D. Schiavone, 2010-2018, Chairperson, 2017-18

• Carole S. Weimer, 2008-2017, Chairperson, 2014-2017

• Scott R. Schulick, Chairperson, 2008-2011

• Donald Cagigas, 2004-2008

• William J. Bresnahan, 2004-2007

• Atty. John L. Pogue, 2001-2010, Chairperson, 2006-08

• Dr. Chandler M. Kohli, 1996-2005, Chairperson, 2001-02

• Eugenia C. Atkinson, 1992-2003, Chairperson, 2001-02

• Dr. Y.Y. Chiu, 1991-2010, Chairperson, 1997-98 

This is the latest wave of backlash that started since Johnson was named university president at the end of November. 

Since his appointment, several university groups have criticized Johnson's right-wing Republican politics, and various donors, alumni and faculty of the university have also slammed the trustee's lack of transparency during the search. 

In the former trustee's letter, they express their concern over the current trustees' process as well. 

"Presidential searches at YSU have previously embraced the ideal of shared governance that sought and considered the input of many before selecting a new president. That approach is standard practice in higher education. It has yielded broad-based institutional and community support for leadership at YSU. A welcoming, enthusiastic launch of a presidency is more likely to be successful for both the university and the new president," reads the letter. 

Current Trustees released a statement last week, explaining their process and claiming that they sought input from "the entire YSU community" including over 600 stakeholders and enlisted to a national search firm to look who is best qualified to fill the role. 

Trustees also say that this was a "confidential" search not a "closed" or "secret" one as over 20 campus constituents were included in the process and that confidential searches like this are common in higher education. 

Former trustees responded to this explanation specifically in their letter, "The current Board of Trustees chose a narrower course. We do not share the Board's view that a more open process yields lesser quality candidates. YSU has done well with its past selections through a more open process. But the current Board kept the process close to its vest. That seems counter to the ways of a public board operating in the public interest, and it has brought suspicion, distrust and discomfort. We are concerned that the current Board actions negatively impact YSU's institutional integrity and credibility, thereby negatively impacting its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and region it serves." 

Last week, Valley entrepreneur Bruce Zoldan announced that he was considering removing his name from the university's brand new student center, currently dubbed Zoldan Family Center. 

Other university donors have threatened to pull their funding following Johnson's appointment as president, criticizing the process leading to his appointment as well as his political views. 

The letter says the current board is not living up to the ideals of the John W. Nason Award that YSU trustees received in 2019. That award honors exemplary service in higher education. 

The letter concludes with the former trustees offering their assistance to the Board, "We ask the current Board to thoughtfully consider and undertake actions to restore confidence in the Board of Trustees by embracing the ideals that merited the Nason Award. We are available to assist." 

The letter can be read in full below. 

"Dear Youngstown State University Board of Trustees: 

We, the undersigned former Trustees of Youngstown State University, share the concerns of many students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as the YSU Foundation, who have voiced their dissatisfaction with recent Board actions to select the next university president. The outcry across multiple University constituencies is alarming," reads the letter. 

Across American higher education, university boards in their fiduciary roles must employ governance practices, with a duty of care and a duty of layalty to the institutions they serve, as well as duty to the public interest at state universities like YSU. 

Presidential searches at YSU have previously embraced the ideal of shared governance that sought and considered the input of many before selecting a new president. That approach is standard practice in higher education. It has yielded broad-based institutional and community support for leadership at YSU. A welcoming, enthusiastic launch of a presidency is more likely to be successful for both the university and the new president. 

The current Board of Trustee's chose a narrower course. We do not share the Board's view that a more open process yields lesser quality candidates. YSU has done well with its past selections through a more open process. But the current Board kept the process close to its vest. That seems counter to the ways of a public board operating in the public interest, and it has brought suspicion, distrust and discomfort. We are concerned that the current Board actions negatively impact YSU's institutional integrity and credibility, thereby negatively impacting its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and region it serves.

From our collective service, we understand the authority and the fiduciary responsibilities of the YSU Board of Trustees. However, we do not believe that the Board's recent actions serve the university's best interests. We are saddened by the increasing divide across the university community and the community-at-large that the Board's actions produced. The resulting challenges may be difficult to overcome, but the Board must work to overcome them. 

In 2019, the YSU Board of Trustees received the John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership from the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) of Universities and Colleges, one of the nation's top honors given to governing boards demonstrating exceptional leadership and initiative. 

We ask the current Board to thoughtfully consider and undertake actions to restore confidence in the Board of Trustees by embracing the ideals that merited the Nason Award. We are available to assist.

Our collective concern is for the future of Youngstown State University and its unique role to positively impact and serve its students, faculty, staff, and region, a role that is at risk with the Board's recent actions."