DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman University students filled the Board of Trustees meeting Friday as Judge Belvin Perry was voted out as chair.
Walking out, Perry said that the board was “anti-student.”
A fight between BC-U students and the board of trustees entered its second day on Friday, with students sitting in on board meetings and demanding that five members resign because the members have not fulfilled their duties to the university.
Judge Perry stated, “If you have no students, you have no university, and they have totally ignored and marginalized these students.”
The fight stems from the last election for a school president when students and alumni pushed for the interim president, William Berry, to be officially elected as the school’s president. Half of the board, however, rejected the idea.
Judge Perry’s departure from the post has sparked several students to continue calling for the five other board members to step down.
“They have consistently failed to act in the best interest of Bethune-Cookman University. They must resign now,” a student said.
Student Sagal Buchanan mentioned that it all started back in October when the board of trustees voted not to make interim President Dr. William Berry the new university president, despite a presidential search committee, which included students and staff, recommending Berry for the role.
“As a student leader, I don’t trust any of them. I don’t have a sense of home or sense of kindness that comes from any of them. It’s also like enough is enough,” said Buchanan.
After the board meeting Friday, several students met on campus to promote unity among classmates and take a final stand against the Board of Trustees.
“They all have had their hand in how the university is playing more than they should have and it’s come to a point where something has to give. So if a resignation is what it’s going to take, then that is what it’s going to take and that is what the student body is demanding,” said Buchanan.
Several students believe that not approving a recommendation from the search committee is an accreditation violation.
According to SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) — which governs the school’s accreditation — Bethune-Cookman has no violation.
“There is no SACSCOC standard that requires boards to accept any recommendation from a presidential search committee. Being out of compliance could result in the institution being placed on warning or probation, or dropped from membership. Those are always options our board has and it would be their determination. Losing accreditation would mean that the institution would no longer be a member of SACS and students would not be able to receive federal financial aid."
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
During Friday’s sit-in, Perry spoke to students and apologized on the board’s behalf.
“I am sorry that this board failed you,” Perry said. “At this time, I will relinquish the podium to the new chair of the board, trustee (Joyours ‘Pete’) Gamble. I will take my seat in the rear.”
Although Perry is no longer chair, he will remain as a member of the board of trustees.