MEDIA ADVISORY: Bad Weather Forces Location Change for the Second Public Forum on Grambling Presidential Search

MEDIA ADVISORY: Bad Weather Forces Location Change for the Second Public Forum on Grambling Presidential Search – Feb 4, 2004

GRAMBLING, LA – A forecast of severe weather in North and South Louisiana prompted the search committee for a new Grambling State University president to change the location of its second public forum this Thursday to accommodate videoconference capabilities.

“Because of hazardous traveling conditions, we considered canceling the forum,” said Search Committee Chair Sally Clausen. “But, thanks to technology, we won’t have to do that.”

The videoconference will connect participants from Grambling to Baton Rouge and facilitate public input “without putting anyone in harm’s way,” Clausen said.

What: Public Forum for the Grambling Presidential Search
When: 10:30 a.m. to Noon, Thursday, Feb. 5
Where: Room 333, Jacob T. Stewart Building, Grambling and Room 162, Claiborne Building, Baton Rouge

Search Committee members in the Grambling area will participate in the forum from Grambling’s campus. Those who cannot travel to Grambling because of the weather will participate from Baton Rouge.

The Grambling presidential search will be similar to previous national searches conducted in recent years at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. Those searches featured open public meetings and candidate interviews and encouraged public participation.

Some 300 people participated in the initial public forum Jan. 21 on the Grambling campus.

Serving on the Grambling presidential search committee as voting members are University of Louisiana System Board members Gordon Pugh, Elsie Burkhalter, Wayne Parker, Jennifer Porter (student member), Walter Rhodes, Carl Shetler and David Wright, as well as Grambling Faculty Senate President Ellen Smiley. Serving in an advisory, non-voting capacity are Grambling Student Government Association President Adonis Ducre, Grambling Alumnus Clifton Lemelle, and Lincoln Parish District Attorney and Board of Regents member Robert Levy. UL System President Sally Clausen chairs the committee.

Acting President Neari Warner, long considered a contender for the permanent presidency, announced recently that she will retire in June, leaving the field open. By virtue of her office, she will act as an adviser to the search committee.

A web page (at www.ulsystem.net) has been dedicated to the search. It contains information about the university, search announcements, news, candidates’ resumes and other information. It also has contact information for anyone wanting to submit comments or questions to the search committee.

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For More Information Contact:
Catherine Heitman
225-342-6950
cheitman@uls.state.la.us