Wednesday, the new board of trustees accepted the resignation of embattled President James Ramsey and agreed to pay him $690,000.
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Attorney General Andy Beshear challenged Bevin’s reorganization of the board, arguing that state law protected trustees from being fired without proper cause. “It’s in the governor’s or judges, or whoever”.
Bevin last month issued an executive order that abolished the university’s board of trustees.
In a statement, the governor has expressed confidence that the “temporary injunction” will be reversed on appeal. “I look forward to continuing the Foundation’s work to keep our great University moving forward”.
Attorney General Andy Bashear calls the court’s ruling “a win for Kentucky students, their families and our public universities”. Shepherd’s order specifically strips the board of its “authority to act as the duly constituted Board of Trustees”.
But both Ramsey and Board Chairman Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman said the resignation did not affect Ramsey’s position with the separately governed foundation, which provided Ramsey with another substantial salary and compensation package. It will be decided by the governor and the courts.
Ramsey said he intends to continue to serve in some capacity on the UofL Foundation. It was just what everybody thought was best for the university, including Dr. Ramsey.
He said that however the case is finally resolved, it should be done quickly. A spokeswoman for Bevin did not immediately return a request for comment.
At a news conference on June 17, Bevin said that controversies surrounding the university and an often deadlocked board showed leadership at U of L was dysfunctional and that a fresh start was needed. He also argues Bevin’s orders violate the separation of powers provisions within the Kentucky Constitution. As WFPL’s Howard reports, the state attorney general is seeking to block an order by the governor that dissolved and then reorganized the school’s board.
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The actions of the governor and his appointees “could cause substantial disruption that would be hard or impossible” to undo, Shepherd wrote.
