California State University placed Sonoma State campus President Mike Lee on leave Wednesday after he agreed to protesters’ demands to involve them in university decision-making and pursue divestment from Israel.
California State University placed Sonoma State campus President Mike Lee on leave Wednesday after he agreed to protesters’ demands to involve them in university decision-making and pursue divestment from Israel.
Imagine the board came to an agreement with the protestors, but the president refused to abide by the agreement. You would not be surprised if he were suspended, after all the board is the president’s supervisor.
Well, this is the same thing. The board didn’t want this agreement but the president went ahead without them. So the outcome is not surprising. Insubordination is insubordination regardless of which side you’re on.
I think it depends on whether investment choices is something the board normally weighs in on, but your point is good: if this were the other way around, I would probably feel the action was justified.
Honestly investment choices is what I would expect a board to be most involved in. Why would the president be making investment calls?
I think investment choices is one of the primary things boards usually focus on, at least in my nonprofit experience. Not entirely sure about the university, but given some of the demands I have read, that seems to be the case.