Canadian Janyne Hodder has withdrawn from the College of the Bahamas presidential race, insiders claimed last night.
She reportedly told supporters that she could not contemplate taking the job without the full backing of the faculty.
Ms Hodder, 55, a vice-principal at Canada’s prestigious McGill University, was said to have stepped down following the furor over alleged “lack of process” in introducing her as a candidate.
Faculty staged a walkout earlier this week when Ms Hodder was introduced as “the third candidate” in the presidential race by college council chairman Franklyn Wilson. Later, the student union joined the protest, staging a demonstration outside parliament.
Both bodies maintained that protocol had not been followed in throwing Ms Hodder’s name into the ring. And lecturers accused Mr Wilson of “arrogance” and “acting like a corporation boss instead of a college chairman.”
If Ms Hodder’s reported withdrawal proves irrevocable, COB is once more left with just two candidates for the top job – acting president Dr Rhonda Chipman-Johnson and senior academic Dr Pandora Johnson.
However, Dr Pandora Johnson is now also reported to have lost interest in the job. A lecturer said: “She is fed up with all the controversy and wants nothing more to do with it.”
If true, that would leave Dr Chipman-Johnson as the sole contender.
Faculty sources said yesterday there was strong support for Dr Chipman-Johnson, a COB stalwart described as having “excellent leadership qualities.”
Resistance to her appointment came, it was claimed, from campus nonacademic workers who resented her strict disciplinary approach.
Meanwhile, supporters of Ms Hodder said COB had probably lost a major opportunity to push ahead under genuine “world class” leadership.
“The college may well rue the day this woman was rejected,” one lecturer said. “She was a very impressive person with excellent international credentials and lots of overseas experience.”
Source: The Tribune
