Vivian Winston, a former Indiana University trustee, has publicly detailed her growing concerns about the leadership of President Pamela Whitten. Speaking at a Bloomington Press Club event on Wednesday, Winston described a pattern of being excluded from significant board decisions, including the renewal of the president's contract.
Winston, who was elected by alumni three years ago, was removed from her position this spring following changes to state law that granted the governor full control over the board's composition. Her recent remarks highlight internal friction within the university's governing body and raise new questions about transparency.
Key Takeaways
- Former IU trustee Vivian Winston publicly criticized President Pamela Whitten's leadership style.
- Winston claims she was not informed about a board statement supporting Whitten after a 93% faculty no-confidence vote.
- She was the only trustee to vote against renewing Whitten's contract, alleging she was notified of the meeting only hours before.
- Winston is calling for the release of a plagiarism report and Whitten's new contract, and questions if a required five-year review will occur.
Winston's Public Remarks on Leadership
During a speech to the Bloomington Press Club, Vivian Winston outlined her experience on the Indiana University Board of Trustees. Much of her address focused on what she described as a significant decline in her confidence regarding President Pamela Whitten's administration.
Winston, an IU alumna and former lecturer at the Kelley School of Business, served on the board for three years after being elected by university alumni. Her tenure was cut short when Governor Mike Braun gained the authority to appoint all trustees under a new state law, leading to her removal.
A Shift in Perspective
Winston stated that her initial view of President Whitten was positive. For the first year and a half of her term, she was a supporter of the new president's agenda and leadership.
“Pam can be very charming, very enthusiastic. I mean, I was 100% behind her,” Winston said during her speech. However, she noted that her perspective began to change over time. “Looking back, I talked to people who said things aren't going well,” she added, indicating a growing awareness of internal issues.
Background on Trustee Appointments
Historically, the Indiana University Board of Trustees included members elected by alumni. A recent change in state law, passed in the spring, granted the Indiana governor the power to appoint all members of the board. This legislative shift led to the removal of Winston and other elected trustees, centralizing control over the university's governing body.
The Faculty No-Confidence Vote
A critical turning point for Winston occurred last summer. The IU faculty held a vote of no-confidence in President Whitten, with 93 percent of participants voting against her leadership. Following this, the Board of Trustees released a letter offering unambiguous support for Whitten.
Winston claims she was completely unaware of this statement before it was made public. She said she was not consulted or informed, despite being a sitting trustee. After its release, she urged her fellow board members to take the faculty's widespread concerns more seriously.
The Contract Renewal Vote
The situation escalated in February when the board met to renew President Whitten's contract. According to Winston, she was only informed of the meeting's purpose on the morning it was scheduled to take place.
“I had the feeling that I was the one lone person there who had not been told beforehand,” Winston recalled.
This lack of advance notice contributed to her decision to be the sole trustee to vote against the contract renewal. Her vote marked a public break from the rest of the board on the issue of the president's leadership and future at the university.
Vivian Winston's Connection to IU
Beyond her role as a trustee, Vivian Winston has deep roots at Indiana University. She is an alumna, a former lecturer at the Kelley School of Business, and served as the business manager for WFIU and WTIU, the university's public media stations, during the 1980s.
Unanswered Questions and Calls for Transparency
In her address, Winston concluded by listing several outstanding questions she believes the university administration has yet to answer. These points focus on transparency and accountability regarding President Whitten's tenure and contractual obligations.
Winston's key questions include:
- Will the university conduct a fifth-year independent review of President Whitten? Winston noted this review is stipulated in her original contract.
- Why has the university not released the report from an outside law firm concerning allegations of plagiarism in Whitten's dissertation?
- Why has the president’s newly renewed contract not been made public?
These questions remain unanswered by the university. Winston's public statements have now brought these issues to the forefront, adding to the ongoing debate about governance and transparency at one of the state's largest public institutions.
