Higher education institutions are responsible for developing students into future workers and leaders and conducting important research to advance fields of studies. The best way to accomplish that is through academic integrity, inclusion, and safe working and learning environments. Misconduct creates unsafe work and learning environments, impacts the credibility of the institution, and hinders students’ ability to learn and grow.
While serving as president of LSU, F. King Alexander was reprimanded for his mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against LSU football coach Les Miles. Alexander was aware of Coach Miles’ actions against several female students, and refused to take action or remove Miles from his position. His choice to keep a dangerous man on a college campus shows a clear message about his own leadership style and his inability to protect students under his watch.
When Alexander was later hired as president of OSU, the OSU community and student body knew he could not be trusted to fulfill the goals of the institution. He resigned as OSU president after just nine months, following issuance of probation from the board of trustees and a senate faculty vote of “no confidence”.
Had OSU hired a leader that worked with integrity, they wouldn’t have had to replace their president after just nine months and would have maintained trust and a positive reputation in the community and among the student body. OSU’s hiring of Alexander resulted not only in a 2nd, costly presidential search, but more importantly a positive and trusted reputation with the community and student body.