There is nothing wrong with FAMU Faculty Senate President Narayan
Persaud wanting a change in the leadership of the FAMU Board of Trustees. That is
his right as a board member. But he must not let himself be used to give Gov.
Rick Scott control over the gavel.
Late last week, Persaud responded with anger after Chairman
Chuck Badger suspended the search for a new FAMU president.
“I think Badger, by saying he is calling off the search,
shows a lack of respect for the rest of the trustees,” Persaud told the
Tallahassee Democrat. “Because of this lack of respect, I think (Badger) should
resign as chair.”
Even though Rufus Montgomery gave lip service support to the
suspension decision, moves are being made that could result in a coup to make
him Badger’s replacement. Putting Rufus in charge would be the same as putting
Scott in charge.
Faculty advocates such as Tom Auxter, a professor at the
University of Florida and president of the statewide United Faculty of Florida,
think that the Texas plan is an indirect attempt to end the public university tenure system
altogether.
Rufus has never shown any backbone against Scott. There is very
little chance that he would resist if the governor pushed him to try and end
tenure at FAMU.
FAMU faculty members need to ask Persaud to be very straightforward
with them about the names of the trustees who he would support as possible replacements
for Badger. Just saying “I haven’t thought about that yet” isn’t an acceptable
answer. Even if Persaud isn’t thinking about a specific name for a new chairman,
he needs to know that other people are already making plans.
A group of anti-Badger trustees want Persaud’s vote as part
of their pro-Rufus goal. Persaud shouldn’t let his outrage at Badger block his
ability to see that a Rufus chairmanship would be bad for FAMU.