University faculty members will meet this afternoon in an effort to persuade Chancellor Holden Thorp to reconsider his decision to step down.
The emergency meeting was called late Monday evening by Faculty Chairwoman Jan Boxill following strong reactions from faculty regarding Thorp’s announcement Monday that he would step down in June.
At the meeting, Boxill said general faculty will discuss the situation and consider a faculty-wide resolution urging Thorp to remain in office.
The resolution, which will be presented to the faculty for the first time at the meeting, will urge the University’s 3,600 faculty members to rally in support of Thorp. Though the resolution will not be signed today, Boxill said she hopes the discussion will be a step in the right direction.
The meeting will likely see hundreds of supportive faculty members, Boxill said.
The resolution will be the second since Thorp announced his resignation — a decision that came on the heels of a two year struggle with a series of academic, athletic and administrative scandals.
Boxill organized a meeting with the members of the 14-person faculty executive committee Monday night, where the group signed a resolution praising Thorp’s leadership during the past five years.
But Boxill said it is important that a second resolution be drafted — one to be signed by all supportive general faculty members — because Thorp’s resignation affects all members of the University.
Though it is unclear as to whether Thorp will reconsider his decision, Boxill said widespread faculty support will help the University move forward.
