Dear Editor,

Many readers are aware of the article in The Times Leader entitled “Former YSU President Blasts Trustees,” which appeared on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Leslie Cochran, a former Youngstown State University president, called for the Board of Trustees to rescind its offer to make U.S. Representative Bill Johnson the next president, and for the congressman to withdraw from consideration.

Although he demonstrates strong leadership skills as a U.S. Congressman; most glaringly, Mr. Johnson lacks professional experience in the academic environment.

Irregularities cited were ‘confidential search criteria,’ the use of a private executive search firm (not previously utilized), not releasing the names of the other candidates in the “top 3” list; and the lack of public meetings and comment — when, in fact, YSU is a public university.

Apparently, these factors, all having no precedent in the school’s history, arouse far more than cursory suspicion and speculation.

This reader posits the question: are we witnessing a backlash to the “woke consciousness” that some believe has permeated the college campuses in the U.S.?

Is there a retaliatory flavor here with strong political overtones?

Only time will tell.

Jeff Aland

St. Clairsville