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Lucas: WLU board will make decision about president

WEST LIBERTY — The West Liberty University Board of Governors has asked the schools’ human resources department to gather information pertaining to plagiarism accusations against WLU President W. Franklin Evans, but HR staff won’t be involved in any determinations about their boss, according to board chairman Rich Lucas.

“The Board of Governors will make all decisions, and Human Resources is the correct source to collect information,” Lucas said Friday.

“HR will not discuss or report to Dr. Evans regarding this matter.”

His words back up statements he made at the board of governors Wednesday, when the matter was referred to the human resources department.

“Human Resources will provide all requested information to the full Board of Governors with all pertinent materials,” Lucas said Wednesday.

“Human Resources will come back to the board after all requested information is reviewed. The Board of Governors will make a final resolution.”

WLU Faculty Senate President Sean Ryan said it was now time to let human resources staff do their job.

“The chairman of the board said he was deferring to human resources to get specific information needed by the board. That specific information has been requested,” he said.

“To that end, I believe human resources will put together the information requested. I believe human resources is going to give the board answers.”

The faculty senate members are scheduled to meet virtually via a closed Zoom session set for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Ryan said he is certain the plagiarism accusations against Evans “will be a topic of discussion.”

Results of a faculty senate survey were read aloud during the WLU Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday, and they suggest a strong pushback against Evans by staff.

Eighty-six percent of the respondents indicated in the survey they believe Evans’ leadership has been compromised following the plagiarism revelations.

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