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Youngstown State University students, faculty members and alumni protested President Bill Johnson with a walkout on Monday, his first day on the job, Ideastream Public Media reported.
Johnson was hired on an 8-to-1 vote by the YSU Board of Trustees in November in a process lamented both for its alleged lack of transparency and for the outcome. Critics took issue with the fact that Johnson, a Republican congressman who formally stepped down Sunday, has questioned the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, spoken out against same-sex marriage and supported then president Donald Trump’s 2017 travel ban on individuals from Muslim-majority countries.
Johnson, who has expressed concerns about administrative bloat in higher education, also drew criticism for hiring congressional staffers into high-paying positions at YSU.
The hiring process prompted a shake-up at the YSU Foundation and upset some donors.
Ideastream reported that an estimated 50 people participated in the protests on Monday. YSU’s spokesperson was also at the event, encouraging protesters to arrange meetings with Johnson.
