To: Alumni, Friends, and Supporters of Alabama State University (ASU)

From: Alma S. Freeman 63, ASU Dean/Professor (Retired)

Date: July 18, 2014
RE: Action to Preserve ASUs SACS/COC Accreditation
ASUs Accreditation is in danger of being revoked!!! One primary reason: BOARD OF
TRUSTEES FAMILIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
A recent letter from SACS/COC, ASUs accrediting association, makes clear that the chair
and vice chair of the board--Elton Dean and Marvin Wiggins--have violated the
associations conflict of interest standards. One other board member cited in violation,
Lawerence Lemak, resigned in April 2013. Elton Dean and Marvin Wiggins must also
resign. The SACS/COC letter is available to the public at montgomeryadvertiser.com.
I am sure you are aware of all phases of the grand kerfuffle surrounding our university
for the past two years. We are truly at a point of losing our accreditation if something is not
done. I believe those of us who love and support ASU need to act. We need to call for the
resignation of the above mentioned trustees, recently re-elected to their offices by the board,
and if they do not resign, we need to flood Governor Bentley with letters and emails
calling for their removal. (Contact Info: Alabama State University Board of Trustees (pdf)
mediad.publicbroadcasting.net) The Governor has the power to act, according to the Code
of Alabama 1975, Section 16-50-29, Conflicts of Interest: . . .the violation of this
provision shall subject the member so offending to removal by the Governor or the board.
(Italics are mine.) Google it for yourself! You can write Governor Bentley one or two
sentences such as, This is a request for the removal of Elton Dean and Marvin Wiggins
from the board of trustees of Alabama State University. Action on your part is essential to
preserve ASUs accreditation. Reference the above Code of Alabama 1975.

Some people in the community claim that we must try to hold on to these two board
members because the governor wants to take over ASU and they can stop him. Believe
me, we have scores of citizens, that we can recommend, who are more capable and
accountable and who are willing to serve and protect ASU without embarrassing ASU and
using ASU for personal gain. These two are truly DISPENSABLE. We do not need them to
continue to imperil our university. Their immediate removal will demonstrate to
SACS/COC that corrective steps are being taken to address the universitys problems. The
other violations concern stability and control of finances, and we must, at the moment,
trust and have faith that the new administration will handle these in a responsible and
timely manner.
Alma 63