YSU students plan walkout in protest of Bill Johnson presidency

Congressman Johnson takes questions from reporters during a press conference announcing his formal acceptance as YSU's 10th President.

Monday marks the first day of now former Valley Congressman Bill Johnson's new job as Youngstown State University's new president.

Johnson's appointment comes after a great deal of protest from students, faculty, alumni, donors, and the Mahoning Valley as a whole, and those protests will continue Monday morning.

Students will be walking out of class at 10:00 a.m. Monday and gathering outside of Tod Hall on campus to protest Johnson's presidency, as well as the closed search process used in hiring him.

In a press release, YSU Senior Rose McClurkin is quoted stating that the University Trustees should be held accountable for the process they used in hiring Johnson.

"The administration is hoping this will blow over, and they can get away with their lack of transparency and divisive decisions. As students who love YSU, we cannot let them," McClurkin said.

Students at the protest told 21 News in addition to being upset with the hiring process; they also don't feel like the university's administration is being truthful with them. 

Additionally, students at the protest say they feel like the administration is not putting the students first, instead, cutting faculty and programs and hiring new administration to work with Johnson.

YSU faculty, staff, and members of the community are also invited to attend this event.