Faculty head says university boards need more diversity

LSU faculty senate President Kevin Cope says the state’s various university management boards would benefit from more diversity. During remarks to the Baton Rouge Press Club today, Cope called for not just greater ethnic and gender diversity, but also appointees of varying ages, vocations and economic backgrounds. “What we have now is about as far from diversity of any kind as you can get,” he says. He also accused the LSU Board of Supervisors of forging ahead with consolidation of the offices of LSU chancellor and system president—and searching for the university’s next leader—through a secretive process without faculty input, while downplaying the concerns of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting body and the American Association of University Professors. Cope says LSU’s next president should hold a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree. Appointing a university system leader without the proper academic credentials would be like LSU board Chairman-elect Bobby Yarborough hiring a vegetarian to run his company, Manda Fine Meats, Cope suggests. The LSU Transition Advisory Team held its first meeting Jan. 8, and plans to present reorganization recommendations to the Board of Supervisors by July. The LSU System has set up a website with more information. —David Jacobs