LSU System Board of Supervisors Chairman Bernard Boudreaux resigned from the board Thursday.
In a letter to Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Boudreaux said he is resigning to stop the recent negative publicity that has focused on the board and at him in recent weeks. Boudreaux said the criticism overshadowed important issues.
Roderick K. West, a New Orleans utility company executive and chairman-elect for the boards, will succeed Boudreaux as chair. West will be the second black person to act as board chairman.
The resignation came only a month after System President William Jenkins announced on Feb. 9 that he will step down as president.
Members of the state Senate, University faculty and fellow board members criticized Boudreaux for his lack of input and the haste with which he formed a search committee to seek a replacement for Jenkins.
Soon after the announcement Boudreaux received public criticism about his relationship with University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen.
Sen. Robert Adley, D-Benton, and Sen. Robert Barham, R-Oak Ridge, asked Clausen to publicly abstain from applying for the LSU position because of her relationship with Boudreaux.
In a letter to the two senators Clausen refused to remove the possibility of applying for the position and refused to comment on her relationship with Boudreaux.
Boudreaux did not return repeated phone calls to inquire about the nature of the relationship.
In Boudreaux’s letter to the governor, he said LSU needs a “positive focus, attention and support.”
Boudreaux also said in the letter that it is necessary to have support from “board members, alumni, legislators, the general public and most importantly members of the media.”
Boudreaux said in the letter that “recent distractions” have caused delays in more important issues.
“I believe the distraction to have been unfairly and unnecessarily continued,” Boudreaux said. “However, crying foul is still crying, and that is just not my style. Such a distraction should not be allowed to continue, and to the extent to which I can prevent it, I will certainly do so.”
Jenkins said he was surprised when Boudreaux told him Wednesday afternoon that he was resigning, and he said he deeply regrets Boudreaux’s announcement.
“He is an insightful person, and I’ve enjoyed working with him,” Jenkins said.
Stewart Slack, LSU System board member, said he is disappointed that Boudreaux is stepping down and said he thinks Boudreaux has always acted with integrity.
“He is very concerned about the integrity of LSU,” Slack said. “He does not want to do anything to take away from what we’re trying to do.”
Lacey Spencer, student representative on the Board of Supervisors, said she thinks Boudreaux stepped down to prevent the negative publicity surrounding the board.
“Public perception had a lot to do with it,” Spencer said. “He had the best intent of LSU at heart. I’m sure that’s why he wanted to remove himself. Not saying it was needed.”
Spencer said the problems created by the controversy will take time to remedy.
Spencer said the healing process will begin when the board passes a resolution which will outline how a search committee will be selected and how the search process will be executed.
“I hate when anything negative is put in the paper about LSU and the LSU System,” Spencer said. “The board needs to remedy this.”
When contacted for comment Adley said he had no time to comment and hung up the phone.
 
Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]