Two Ball State trustees resign

MUNCIE — Two of the nine members of Ball State University's board of trustees, which soon will embark on a search for a new president, have submitted their resignations to Gov. Mike Pence.

The resignations are unrelated to the recent resignation of Ball State President Paul Ferguson, said Frank Hancock, one of the two trustees leaving after serving a decade on the board.

"We both felt fresh blood would be good for Ball State and for us," Hancock told The Star Press. "I think the board can use some new, fresh views on things."

Trustee Marianne Glick, who also has spent a decade on the board, is also resigning.

Hancock dispelled rumors that the two resignations were a protest of Ferguson's resignation, which possibly was forced, after only 17 months in office.

How unusual is a 2-year term college president?

The two trustees, both from Indianapolis, submitted their resignations to the governor in December, the month before Ferguson's resignation.

Hancock also denied rumors that Ferguson had gone to the governor to complain about trustees meddling in the management of the university, and that got Ferguson fired.

"That's the first I ever heard of that," said Hancock, 67. "Both of our resignations have nothing to do with Paul Ferguson. It really doesn't. I'm not protesting anything. I'm tired. I'm tired. I have served on this board for 10 years and I served for eight years on the Warren Township School Board. I was on seven boards at one time."

Hancock not only submitted his resignation a month before Ferguson's but also expressed his intent to resign via email in November.

Opinion: Ball State trustees should step aside

The terms of both Hancock and Glick on the board of trustees expire at the end of 2017. Hancock is a Ball State graduate, while Glick is an alumna of Butler University, a philanthropist, painter and president of GlickArt. They will continue to serve as BSU trustees until the governor names replacements.

In her Dec. 17 resignation letter to the governor, Glick said her true passion was to make a difference in the lives of  "at risk" youth and offered to serve on the Ivy Tech Community College board.

In his letter, also dated Dec. 17, Hancock told the governor: "While continuity on any board is good, fresh faces, new ideas and term limits are also very much needed for any organization to prosper and improve. The Ball State Board of Trustees now with a new president very much different than Jo Ann (Gora) needs some fresh faces, new ideas on its board as well."

Hancock is the founder and owner of Sports Graphics, an Indianapolis firm whose clients have included the NCAA, the 2012 Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts and the Indianapolis Pacers. He has served on boards including the Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis 500 Festival and the Ball State Alumni Association.

Ball State's Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass, funded by the Central Indiana Community Foundation's Glick Fund, is a studio that supports contemporary glass arts in East Central Indiana as well as undergraduate and graduate studies at BSU.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.