George Mason University’s board of visitors voted to keep President Gregory Washington after supporters waged a support campaign amid concerns the Trump administration may use federal investigations to try to force him out.
The board voted to give Washington a 1.5% raise.
“Support our president!” supporters chanted.
Worry that Washington, the school’s first Black president, could be forced out began to grow as the federal government announced four separate investigations questioning the school’s diversity practices and handling of antisemitism on campus.
Similar allegations at the University of Virginia led that school’s president to step down in June.
“We want the board to wake up, to defend a successful leader, President Gregory Washington, and to defend us as Mason community from these attacks coming from the Trump administration,” said Tim Gibson, an associate professor of communications.
Political, community and business leaders, along with thousands of GMU faculty, students and alumni, waged a campaign to express their support for Washington. They rallied outside the board meeting and lined a hallway holding signs.
After a nerve-wracking, three-hour closed session, the board’s vote for the president’s pay raise sent a wave of relief through supporters.
“It became very clear that the consequences of terminating a very popular official in the form of President Washington were going to be quite significant,” said Ben Mansky, a sociology professor.
“I think that this shows that people can stand up for our public institutions and for democracy, and that’s important today,” he said.
Washington declined to comment as he left the meeting but issued a written statement.
“Regardless of how one views the events unfolding at George Mason University, today’s display of unity by the Mason community is inspiring. It is a reminder of how centrally important our university is to northern Virginia’s families and economy. For now, the community can refocus on what really matters most: in just three weeks we will welcome the incoming class of 2025, which is once again the largest, most diverse and one of the most qualified freshman classes in the history of George Mason. Fellow Patriots, you are simply the best. Let’s get back to work,” the statement said.
In two days of meetings, Washington detailed GMU’s success story, stature and financial picture.
Rector Charles Stimson, who leads the board, only said this when News4 asked about the board’s level of support for Washington’s leadership.
“We have a fiduciary duty to the people of the commonwealth and George Mason University. We’re going to fulfil our fiduciary duty, and George Mason University means everybody at the university, period,” he said.
Demonstrators were disappointed by another action on Friday. The board passed a resolution wiping diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies off the books at the university.
All 12 members of the board who voted were appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Get the D.C. area’s top news and weather delivered to your inbox every morning. Sign up for First & 4Most, our free newsletter.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/rh0dcoY
0 Comments