Alabama Governor Robert Bentley removed Judge Marvin Wiggins from his position on the Alabama State University Board of Trustees Friday, days after calling for both the chairmans and vice-chairmans resignation. Wiggins, in an interview with ASU campus radio station WVAS Thursday, refused to step down saying that hed done nothing wrong. Board chairman Elton Dean, stepped down by the governors 5 p.m. Thursday deadline. The governors letter dismissing Wiggins is full of statutes supporting his position and decision to remove the sitting trustee. [DOCUMENT: Governors removal of Wiggins (.pdf)] Based on the last two letters to Wiggins, Governor Bentley said he was concerned about the recent 6-month warning issued to the university by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or SACS. SACS cited a financial conflict of interest, saying multiple members of Wiggins family were employed by ASU. The governor says Wiggins procured the hiring of this own sister-in-law and failed to disclose the fact that she was disbarred in North Carolina. And Gov. Bentleys letter also addresses the $100,000 transfer of university funds that Trustee Wiggins requested during the last board meeting. The governor says Wiggins knew the money was requested a month prior and knew that it had already been transferred. Alabamas governor, by power of the office, also serves as the board president at all 2 and 4 year public universities, including ASU. The governor cited Alabama law that allowed him to remove Wiggins from his seat. The govern had two options, petition the ASU board to remove Wiggins or remove him by himself. He chose the latter option. Within hours, the governor made a decision to fill the seat with a man named Ralph Ruggs. Were working on details regarding Ruggs background.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 22:04:27 +0000
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