Summary of Auburn Chapter AAUP meeting, December 9, 2003

The Auburn Chapter of AAUP met on December 9, 2003 at 12:15 p.m. in

Thach 202.

Introductory Remarks

After calling the meeting to order, President Gary Mullen made the following statement to explain the reasons for calling this meeting:

Today's meeting of the Auburn University Chapter of AAUP has been convened by the executive committee to address the events of November 20, 2003, and subsequent information that has come to light concerning the recent trip by William F. Walker and company to the environs of Louisville, KY, on that date.

The story of the infamous meeting and the participation in that covert rendezvous with University of Louisville coach Bobby Petrino by Dr. Walker, two members of the Auburn University Board of Trustees, and the

AU Director of Athletics does not need to be recounted here. What took place has been graphically detailed in the news media, once again drawing national attention and public ridicule to an administration that has gone completely awry.

Were this simply an isolated incident of poor judgment, or an overzealous reaction on the part of a handful of Auburn fans disappointed with this year's football season, perhaps one might be more understanding and forgiving. However, the sad reality is that, rather than an isolated incident, the events of these past few weeks reflect the same disturbing pattern of administrative arrogance, irresponsible behavior, duplicitous statements, and misrepresentation of facts that has, for years, seriously undermined Auburn University's reputation as a first-class academic institution. The only difference is that this time the perpetrators were caught in the act.

It's time things changed.

It's time to bring to a halt the deterioration of Auburn's image and the damage that continues to be felt each day, as one administrative embarrassment after another is played out in the regional and national media.

It's time to stop hiding behind lawyers, lawsuits, and litigation as routine ploys to circumvent administrative accountability and adherence to standards of conduct befitting any respectable institution of higher education.

It's time to stop filing lawsuits against the accrediting agency to which we, as an academic institution and by our voluntary membership, have pledged to uphold time-honored standards of professional and ethical conduct in matters of university governance and academic integrity.

It's time to stop squandering staggering sums of money in hiring consultants and public relations firms in an effort to polish an administration's tarnished image and that of a president and wayward board of trustees who have lost touch with what an institution of higher learning is all about.

It's time to end board appointments of university presidents without even the semblance of a search, in the process bypassing the role of faculty in university governance and violating the University's own guidelines and procedures relating to affirmative action and equal employment opportunities.

It's time to hold top-level administrators to the same ethical standards of professional conduct and accountability expected at all other levels of the University

It's time to recognize that athletes at Auburn University are also students and that, as students, the education and experience they gain while attending this university during the most formative years of their lives will significantly affect their values and sense of right and wrong long after they leave this campus.

It's time to restore the honesty, integrity, trust, character, and distinguished leadership that marked the administrations of such former presidents as Harry Philpott, Wilford Bailey, and William Muse.

It's time for the Faculty to stand tall with the Alumni Association in calling for change in the way this university conducts its business and in removing from office and other positions of influence those individuals who by their actions have defamed and dishonored this institution.

In short, it's time for some significant changes. And those changes need to start right at the top.

Resolutions

The following two resolutions were put forth by the Executive Committee:

Resolution #1

Whereas Auburn University is entrusted with nurturing the moral character of its students as well as their physical and intellectual growth, and

Whereas University Administrators and Trustees should, by their example, epitomize the honor and moral values expressed in the Auburn Creed, and

Whereas William Walker by his clandestine trip to Louisville and his subsequent accounts of that trip has betrayed the value that Auburn University places on honesty and discredits his moral authority to lead, and

Whereas William Walker's antagonistic actions toward the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) over the past two years cast serious doubt on his ability to successfully guide the University through a reaffirmation of its accreditation by SACS in February 2004, and

Whereas Earlon McWhorter, Byron Franklin, Robert Lowder and David Housel, by abetting William Walker's actions, also have betrayed the University's commitment to honesty and integrity, and

Whereas the actions of these five individuals have disgraced Auburn University's national image and reputation, and compromised any hope of successfully conducting the largest capital campaign effort in the

University's history under their leadership, therefore

Be It Resolved that the Auburn University Chapter of the AAUP calls for the immediate resignation of William Walker as President of Auburn University and

Be It Further Resolved that said AAUP Chapter calls for the immediate resignations of Earlon McWhorter, Byron Franklin, and Robert Lowder as Auburn University Trustees and David Housel as the University's

Athletics Director

The membership discussed the proposed resolution in detail, and some amendments were made. The revised version appears below.

Resolution #1: Revised Version

Whereas Auburn University is entrusted with nurturing the moral character of its students as well as their physical and intellectual growth, and

Whereas University Administrators and Trustees should, by their example, epitomize the honor and moral values expressed in the Auburn Creed, and

Whereas William Walker's antagonistic actions toward the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) over the past two years exemplifies his lack of ability to guide the University through a reaffirmation of its accreditation by SACS in February 2004, and

Whereas William Walker's clandestine trip to Louisville and his subsequent accounts of that trip demonstrate a pattern of behavior betraying the value that Auburn University places on honesty and discredits his moral authority to lead, and

Whereas Earlon McWhorter, Byron Franklin, Robert Lowder and David Housel, by abetting William Walker's actions, also have betrayed the University's commitment to honesty and integrity, and

Whereas the actions of these five individuals have disgraced Auburn University's national image and reputation, and compromised the largest capital campaign effort in the University's history under their leadership, therefore

Be It Resolved that the Auburn University Chapter of the AAUP censures William Walker as President of Auburn University and calls for his resignation, and

Be It Further Resolved that said AAUP Chapter censures Earlon McWhorter, Byron Franklin, and Robert Lowder as Auburn University Trustees and David Housel as the University's Athletics Director and calls for their immediate resignations.

The revised resolution passed: 45 yes, 1 abstain, 1 no.

Resolution #2

The Auburn University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) supports and endorses the concerns expressed by the Auburn Alumni Association's Board of Directors in its letter of December 3, 2003, to Governor Bob Riley, calling on the Governor to take specific, and immediate, steps toward resolving the current leadership crisis involving the Auburn University Administration and Board of Trustees.

The Board of Directors of the Auburn Alumni Association has sent a letter to Alabama Governor Bob Riley, calling on him to take the following actions:

1. Demand the immediate resignations of those administrators and Board of Trustee members involved in this national embarrassment of Auburn University.

2. Begin an immediate investigation to ascertain whether any other individuals representing Auburn University were involved.

3. Appoint a search committee to begin a national search for a new president of Auburn University. This committee should have no ties to the current administration or Board of Trustees.

4. Publicly reaffirm Auburn University's mission of "Research, Instruction and Extension."

5. Publicly reaffirm Auburn University's commitment to be guided by the Auburn Creed.

6. Pledge to work with SACS and assure SACS there will be no further attempts to hinder or in any way undermine their efforts.

7. Reaffirm Auburn University's commitment to work within the legal and ethical framework of the NCAA.

8. Pledge to attend and preside over all 2004 Board of Trustee meetings.

The Board of Directors of the Auburn Alumni Association thanks those alumni and friends who have taken their time to share their opinions on this matter. The board urges Governor Bob Riley, and those individuals involved in this situation, to take the time to read and reflect upon this stance and do the right thing by Auburn University.

The second resolution passed by a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:30.