Board chooses interim SU head

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 27, 2009 - Page: 1A

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The Southern University Board of Supervisors on Friday chose a top-ranking vice president as the new interim Southern president by just one vote to replace outgoing President Ralph Slaughter.

New interim President Kassie Freeman was narrowly selected over two nationally prominent Southern alumni in retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré and James Joseph, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa.

Southern Board and alumni leaders said Honoré, who led Joint Task Force-Katrina in the aftermath of the 2005 storm, and Joseph, who is teaching at Duke University, were interested in the interim job.

“I’m completely surprised and completely honored,” said Freeman, who came to Southern in 2007 as the system vice president for academic and student affairs under Slaughter.

“I never felt like I was a candidate when I heard my name tossed around,” said Freeman, who will oversee Southern’s three academic campuses, law school and agricultural center until a long-term replacement is found.

Freeman was voted in on a 9-6 vote, with board member Walter Guidry abstaining.

Joseph was backed by some faculty and board members Guidry and Pat Magee.

Honoré was pushed by Southern Board Chairman Tony Clayton and Southern University Alumni Federation President Domoine Rutledge.

“He (Honoré) would’ve been the ideal choice for Southern University, in my opinion,” Clayton said, noting that he wanted to make a national statement that Southern had moved beyond politics and infighting.

However, Clayton described Freeman as “eminently qualified,” adding she has the board’s unified backing.

Freeman, 61, also was chosen on the stipulation that she not apply for the job beyond the interim basis.

Freeman said she does not feel like a compromise choice because there were other top candidates and the Southern Board speaks with one voice.

Slaughter, who is still locked in litigation with current and former board members, will leave Southern after Tuesday and Freeman takes over Wednesday. The board voted March 27 to remove Slaughter from office when his two-year contract expires June 30.