Alivia Welch
Managing Editor
Almost two weeks after former President Thomas Hudson was placed on administrative leave following a confidential meeting with the Board of the Institutions of Higher Learning, Hudson resigned as JSU’s 12th President.
According to a press release issued by the IHL Board, Hudson will remain on paid leave until March 31, 2023. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, Ph.D., who was appointed temporary acting president when Hudson was first place on leave, will continue in that role until further notice.
Although the leadership has changed, students are adamant about voicing their concerns to Anthony and have full confidence in her abilities.
Madison Cathey, a senior accounting major and president of the Student Government Association (SGA), said the SGA has met with Anthony and are ready to move forward.
“We have started to work with the new acting president to get her acclimated. We’re having those intentional conversations to make sure she’s in the loop about everything concerning student life,” said Cathey.
With Hudson having the shortest tenure as president at JSU, it has students speculating on whether or not the student body has been affected by the abrupt change in the president’s office.
“Jackson State is a machine that doesn’t rely and live and die on the shoulders of one person and transitions are something that we have and will continue to work through. I don’t think it has a high impact on the university’s ability to serve students and be a great place to matriculate.”
Student engagement and awareness of the changes going on around JSU is their top priority, said Markyel Pittman, a senior political science major and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) JSU Chapter.
He said that he and the JSUNAACP want to keep President Anthony engaged as much as possible.
The JSU Day held at the State Capitol was the starting point.
“We want to get her involved politically as much as possible with our campus and students especially because of the new bill 1020 that was recently passed,” said Pittman.
House Bill 1020 will allow the Capital Police to takeover and be the primary police force for certain areas and set a new district for the city of Jackson.
Pittman said that the new police force would put new levels of fears in students because of the short history that the Capital Police have already established.
“We’re concerned with the safety of our students because we will no longer be advised by the Jackson Police Department, who are more than capable of doing their job properly,” Pittman stated.
After not receiving a reason as to why former President Hudson requested resignation, students claim that the lack of communication and transparency from the university is not making the transition easier.
Deja Butler, a freshman political science major said that the university not being straightforward with Hudson and potential allegations, which makes room for suspicions.
“It blindsided us you know. We don’t know why he left or the situation around it. We don’t know if it was him personally or the administration under him,” said Butler. “I think the university owes us at least a face-to-face explanation. After all, we’re paying their salaries with our tuition.”
Butler refers to the special meeting held by the IHL Board on March 2 to discuss what they called in a press release, “a Jackson State University personnel matter.”
Many students, staff and faculty were shocked to learn that the meeting was held to determine the future of President Hudson.
Later that evening, the IHL board released the following statement:
The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning has placed Thomas Hudson, President of Jackson State University, on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately, and named Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony as temporary acting president of JSU at its meeting held today in Jackson, effective immediately. Dr. Hayes-Anthony currently serves as Chair and Professor, Department of Journalism and Media Studies, at Jackson State University.
“We are grateful that Dr. Hayes-Anthony has agreed to serve as Acting President,” said Tom Duff, President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. “As alumnus and long-time administrator and faculty member at the university, she understands the campus, its students, its challenges and opportunities.”
Dr. Hayes-Anthony has served as chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University since 2015. She served as professor of Communications and chair of the Department of Communications at Belhaven University from 1998 until 2015….
Acting President Hayes-Anthony addressed some of the student concerns in a press conference held on March 6 in the Student Center Ballrooms at JSU.
“I’m an alum of this institution. I love it. I’ve walked these halls and received two degrees from Jackson State and then went on to take the Ph.D. in organizational and broadcast law from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; but I’m indeed grateful to have the opportunity that’s been entrusted to me through IHL to really transition the process at Jackson State,” said Hayes-Anthony.
Hayes-Anthony also stated her first focus would be the students at JSU.
“I’m committed to upholding the Jackson State University mission to serve our student body. The first people on my list for service will be students. That’s why I’m here and I will be carrying those traditions forward,” she said.
She added, “Together with the faculty and staff, we are willing and continue to execute the JSU Elevate Strategic Plan, which is focused on student success, academic excellence, increase research excellence and enhancing the JSU brand.
Hayes-Anthony stated that the goal of her administration would be to move the university forward with integrity, transparency and accountability.
“We recognize that trust is earned and I intend to earn your trust,” she said.
She assured those concerned about the high turnover rate in the president’s office that she would be there as long as she was needed.
“I’m homegrown. I’m not going anywhere. This is not something for me as a resume builder. I love this university, and I think it shows,” Hayes-Anthony stated.
The Blue & White Flash campus newspaper will continue to update this story online at https://sites.jsums.edu/jsuflash/
Other members of The Blue & White Flash staff also contributed to this article.
