Comm. Dispatch, 9/29/07: Judge rules against ‘W' in alum lawsuit - USM Forum -- Message Board

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Comm. Dispatch, 9/29/07: Judge rules against ‘W' in alum lawsuit

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CD, 10/1/07

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2007/10/01/local_news/local02.txt

Colom: Limbert, MUW stifled free speech

MUW President Claudia Limbert has been ordered by a judge to reunite the university with the alumni association she's been fighting against and to also end relations with a new alumni group allied with her.

Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom ruled Friday that Limbert violated alumni's legal rights to criticize her and to be independent.

The embattled school president illegally severed Mississippi University for Women's affiliation with the MUW Alumnae Association earlier this year, Colom said.

While Limbert unconstitutionally stifled free speech by cutting off the MUWAA's university ties, the judge did say alumni leaders' criticism of the president were undeserved.

"However, in a democracy, one must allow the most vicarious and unrestrained speech. And even parties who engage in speech that seems patently unfair and unworthy of protection, are accorded that protection," Colom wrote.

She ordered Limbert to resume formal relations with the alumnae association and dissolve MUW's ties with the new group of alums Limbert has said would get along better with the university....

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CL, 10/2/07

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/NEWS/710020377/1001/news

Officials weigh action in MUW fight
College Board panel to meet in wake of court ruling on alumni group

The State College Board must decide whether to continue a legal fight between the Mississippi University for Women Alumnae Association and school president Claudia Limbert after a court ruling against the university.

The College Board's legal committee will hold an emergency meeting at 1:30 p.m. today to decide how to proceed after Lowndes County Chancery Judge Dorothy Colom ordered Limbert to dissolve an alumni group she created while feuding with the 118-year old alumnae association....

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CD, 10/2/07

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2007/10/02/state_news/state01.txt

IHL meeting today about next step on MUW ruling

JACKSON - The state Board of Institutions of Higher Learning today is discussing a judge's order for MUW President Claudia Limbert to resume relations with the university alumni association she doesn't want to deal with.

The IHL board and Limbert are expected to seek a reversal of Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom's decision, but they say they're still weighing their options.

Adhering to Colom's mandate would hurt Mississippi University for Women's educational mission, Limbert said.

"To achieve this mission, a university's leadership must have confidence that its officially affiliated groups will work in concert and not undermine university operations. This ruling effectively means that a university has no ability to ensure that these official groups actually support the university," Limbert said in a statement she issued Monday.

The IHL board this afternoon is holding what it terms an "emergency" teleconference meeting of its legal committee....

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IHL PR, 10/2/07
http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=518

IHL PRESS RELEASE
BOARD LEGAL COMMITTEE TO BRIEF BOARD BY OCTOBER 16

Following an executive session held today during an emergency teleconference meeting of the Legal Committee of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the committee announced that it had discussed the judgment issued by Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom. It is the intention of the Legal Committee to brief the full Board of Trustees no later than October 16, 2007. Board members in attendance during the emergency teleconference meeting included Legal Committee Chair Amy Whitten; Board President Dr. L. Stacy Davidson, Jr.; and Legal Committee members Dr. D.E. Magee, Jr.; Mr. Bob Owens; Ms. Robin Robinson; and Mr. Scott Ross.

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CL, 10/3/07

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/NEWS/710030368/1001/news

MUW alumnae flap goes to College Board

The state College Board will consider at its Oct. 16 meeting how to proceed regarding a ruling that reverses the ouster of a Mississippi University for Women alumni group.

"The ramification of this decision could carry over to all of our universities," Commissioner of Higher Education Tom Meredith said Tuesday after spending more than an hour in closed-door session with a College Board legal committee....

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CL, 10/3/07

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/OPINION01/710030332/1008/OPINION

The 'W': Court proves what lawmakers found

The 2007 College Board is learning as former members and lawmakers did a decade ago: If you fight the alumnae of Mississippi University for Women, you'll lose....

...The real issue, though, beyond personalities, is the board's power.

Under Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith, the board last year enacted a policy that requires alumni associations and all foundations at the universities to reach agreements stating the relationship between each university and its affiliates.

While acknowledging the private, independent nature of the groups, it introduces the threat of disaffiliation in a conflict.

Meredith encountered similar problems with a University of Georgia foundation while there....

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http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=520

IHL PRESS RELEASE
BOARD TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING OCTOBER 8 VIA TELECONFERENCE

10/5/2007

Jackson, MS - The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning will hold an emergency meeting via teleconference Monday, October 8, 2007, beginning at 1:30 p.m., for the purpose of discussing a Board/Mississippi University for Women litigation matter.

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http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=521

IHL PRESS RELEASE
BOARD RECEIVES UPDATE DURING EMERGENCY TELECONFERENCE

10/8/2007 Jackson, MS

Following an executive session held today during an emergency teleconference meeting of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to discuss a Board/Mississippi University for Women litigation matter, the Board announced that it received an update from its legal counsel and the Board's Legal Committee regarding the judgment issued by Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom. No action was taken. The Board will discuss the matter further on or before October 16, 2007.

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CD, 10/9/07

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2007/10/10/state_news/state01.txt

IHL still talking privately about MUW court decision

JACKSON - The state Board of Institutions of Higher Learning and Mississippi University for Women President Claudia Limbert continue to privately discuss a court order that she join hands with the alumni association she alleges works against the university.

Limbert conferred Monday with board members and state Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith by telephone in what they declared an "emergency" board meeting, but they shut the speaker phone off to the public gathered at the board office to listen.

This is the second such "emergency" session the IHL Board has held since Lowndes County Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom's ruling Sept. 28 in a lawsuit filed by the MUW Alumnae Association to stop Limbert's disaffiliation of the group....

...Meredith and IHL Board members declined to take questions to publicly explain the urgency requiring emergency meetings and what factors are being considered in deciding whether to challenge Lowndes County Chancellor Dorothy Colom's ruling....

...Among others closed out from Monday's IHL discussion were retired state Supreme Court Justice Kay Cobb, a former MUWAA president, and former Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne, another MUW alum. They're urging Limbert to reach an accord with the MUW Alumnae Association....

...Meredith and the IHL board will not publicly discuss the ruling, as it cloisters with legal counsel under a state law allowing government boards to meet in closed session if openness would have a detrimental effect on the board's litigating position.

The 12-member board issued a statement Monday saying it'll discuss the litigation more on or before its next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16.