DENMARK, S.C. - Dr. Marshall Bass, chairman of the board of trustees of Voorhees College, announced Monday that Dr. Valdrie N. Walker, dean of Voorhees College, will serve as acting president until an interim president is announced.

On Thursday, Bass announced that Voorhees College President Dr. Lee Monroe had been given extended administrative leave with pay and benefits until June 30, 2008.

In that announcement, Bass said Monroe, who had been on administrative leave from the college in recent months because of health reasons, would "be available for advice and consultation with the chairman of the board and other officials of the college. Under the terms of the proposal, Dr. Monroe will continue to receive his salary, medical care for his spouse and himself and use of his automobile."

Voorhees spokesman Don Fowler, a member of board of trustees, said Monroe would reside at his home in Wilmington, N.C. while he's on administrative leave.

Monroe was named president of Voorhees College in 2001.

Bass said Monday he will meet with the faculty and staff of Voorhees on Thursday, Aug. 9 "to discuss positive plans for Voorhees' future."

He expressed confidence in Walker's ability and leadership.

"Voorhees has faced some challenges in recent weeks but we have a bright future. With the cooperation and work of our talented faculty and staff, Voorhees has a bright future," Bass said. "Our beloved college has its best days ahead of it."

In April of this year, a jury found that a former Voorhees College professor was sexually harassed by Monroe and that Voorhees College "acted with malice or with reckless indifference to the federally protected rights" of the former professor.

Dr. Moreen B. Joseph brought the civil lawsuit against Monroe and Voorhees College, alleging that Monroe sexually harassed her and the college did nothing about it.

The jury awarded Joseph punitive damages of $400,000 and compensatory damages of $100,000.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, Orangeburg Division on July 13, 2004, the Louthian Law Firm of Columbia, representing Joseph, alleged that she was subjected to "lewd, gross and suggestive language of a sexual nature and unwanted touching" by Monroe for a period of several months in 2002 and 2003, creating a "hostile work environment."

Monroe and Voorhees College, represented by Evans Taylor Barnette of McCutchen Blanton Rhodes and Johnson, denied all of Joseph's allegations.

Voorhees alumni were quick to react to the change in Monroe's status at the college.

P. Martin Richburg, class of 1972, said, "So now we have to pay the salary for both a president and an interim.  Where is that money coming from? When will the board wake up? When will the board realize that this is the type of incidents that have resulted in low alumni giving?"

Denmark native Isadore Ray of St. Louis, Mo., a 1976 graduate of Voorhees College, said, "I remember when Voorhees College and the Denmark communities were thought of as one entity. But in recent years, they have grown apart. I credit much of that to Dr. Lee Monroe. Now that Dr. Monroe has been placed on administrative leave that will be extended until June 30, 2008, maybe Voorhees College and the city of Denmark can began to renew their relationship. I think that if Voorhees College and the city of Denmark can put all of their differences behind them and work together, then they both can enter into a new era that would benefit all."

"The time has come for all involved to stop and do what is right for the community," Ray added.

Mike Gagum Sr. of Durham, N.C., a member of the Voorhees class of 1988, said he believes the actions taken by the board of trustees in the past few days are positive ones.

"Now that the board has stepped in to remediate some of the concerns about the future of Voorhees, I feel very strongly that the healing process amongst the faculty, staff, students, alumni and the wonderful city of Denmark will be positive. Being part of the class of 1988 under the leadership of Dr. Dawkins, I was blessed to have an opportunity to attend, graduate and know the citizens of Denmark," Gagum said.

"I send a special challenge to the alumni: Now it is time for us to step up and take charge and support the board and the new administration with financial donations, recruiting and seek special programs that can be instituted in our fine college," he added.     

 S.C. House District 90 Rep. Bakari Sellers, D-Denmark, said, "Voorhees College is an integral part (of) not only the City of Denmark and Bamberg County but the state. We put our faith in the board and stand by their decision. And, hopefully, in the very near future Voorhees will get back on track and continue to make the progress that it has been making."

Attempts to reach Monroe at his home in Wilmington, N.C. for comment were not successful.

T&D Correspondent Vic Whetstone can be reached by e-mail at vwhets@bellsouth.net or by phone at 803-793-3402. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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