Assemblymember  131st Assembly District

ALBANY OFFICE:  
   Room 522 LOB, Albany, NY 12248 •  (518) 455­4527
DISTRICT OFFICE:  840 University Ave. Rochester, NY 14607 

Contact: Allan
Richards
Date: June 8, 2008 585/244-5255
585/230-6234

Assemblymember Susan John calls on Chancellor Clark to take action

Assemblymember Susan John calls on SUNY Chancellor Clark to remove the board of trustees
at Monroe Community College.

See attached letter:

June 6, 2008

Dr. John B. Clark, Interim Chancellor

State University of New York
State University Plaza
353 Broadway
Albany, New York 12246

VIA FAX

Dear Dr. Clark:

I would like to express my concern over the lack of leadership displayed by the current
Board of Trustees at Monroe Community College. I believe that their lack of leadership is
destroying the reputation and academics of the best community college in the nation.

As you are more than aware, the current board has failed in its search to appoint a
replacement for retiring President Thomas Flynn. While not all searches are successful on the
first attempt, the failed search at Monroe Community College has been fraught with board in-
fighting, which caused an overwhelming vote of no confidence by faculty, staff and students on
May 29, 2008.

To date, I have held my tongue on this issue and have not taken any public pot-shots at
the board. I can no longer remain silent. The time has come to speak out and do what is best for
Monroe Community College, its students, staff, faculty and our community. I am requesting that
you, as head of our entire university system, fill the void of leadership that has been
demonstrated by the current Board of Trustees. More specifically, I am requesting that you
remove ALL the current board and actively oversee the selection of replacement members to
assure the community that those selected have the college and community first and foremost as
their mission of service.

I believe that your strong action, with the removal of the board, is the only way that we
can continue to offer our students the education they deserve and maintain the economic integrity
that Monroe Community College symbolizes for our local employers.
 This summer provides a narrow window to bring this sad chapter to a close before the
start of the traditional academic year. The longer this board stays in place, the less likely any

-Continued-

qualified person will accept any offer to assume the MCC presidency. As state officials, we give
great deference to local officials. When a local board behaves as this one has, ignoring the
choices of two search committees, the views of faculty and students, and the community at large,
it demonstrates it is no longer deserving of such deference.

I know that you and I share the same goal of doing what is best for our community
colleges, which is why I request that you take the situation firmly by the hand and show the
leadership needed at this critical time. This responsibility falls to you as the chief executive
officer of the State University of New York.

On behalf of the 800,000 taxpayers of Monroe County, and for the integrity of a shared
and decentralized university that is the State University of New York, I urge you to stop the
madness that has taken hold of the MCC presidential search process.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding this request.

Sincerely,

Susan V. John
Member of Assembly

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