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W e d n e s d ay, n ov e m b e r 12, 2025
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UL faculty sound alarm over search
Board could pick new president without input from staff, students, public BY MEGAN WYATT and ASHLEY WHITE Staff writers
Faculty members of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are expressing concern over the possibility that the UL system Board of Supervisors could name a new university president this week despite a lack of involvement from faculty, staff, students or the public.
The Advocate | The TimesPicayune reported Sunday that Ramesh Kolluru, UL’s vice president for research, innovation and economic development, is the front-runner for the position and a selection could come as soon as Thursday. The UL system board has announced a special meeting for Thursday morning at the university, but the agenda has yet to be published.
sors demanded a transparThere has been no formal ent process for finding the presidential search pronext university president. cess happening at UL, and “Regardless of who is no public announcement ultimately selected for of a search committee or the position, the process plans on how to hire the for identifying the next new president. president of UL Lafayette In a Monday letter to UL Kolluru must be fair and open and system board Chair Mark Romero and the rest of the board, must involve the input of faculty, the UL chapter of the American staff, and students,” the letter said. “To that end, we ask that you Association of University Profes-
Honoring those who served
direct the Board of Supervisors to form a search committee composed of these constituencies to lead the process of selecting the next president,” the letter added. “The Board’s own policy on filling Chief Executive vacancies requires appointment of a search committee with ‘a faculty member of the affected institution, selected by the Faculty Senate of the affected institution’ on its membership. This policy and process must be
ä See SEARCH, page 6A
Measles case reported at N.O. airport Vaccination remains crucial for community safety, officials say BY EMILY WOODRUFF Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Members of the Acadiana Veterans Honor Guard post flags and wreaths representing the branches of the U.S. armed forces during a Veterans Day service Tuesday at Fountain Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette. Edith Carmouche holds a photograph of her son, Jonathan D. Carmouche, an Army veteran who died earlier this year, during Tuesday’s ceremony.
An Army veteran stands and salutes as the Army song is played during Tuesday’s Veterans Day service at Fountain Memorial Cemetery.
A traveler with measles passed through the New Orleans airport Sunday night, a brief encounter that health officials say poses a low risk for most people. But for those without immunity, such as children too young to be vaccinated or people with health conditions that prevent vaccination, the risk is higher. The Louisiana Department of Health said the individual, an adult from the state’s Region 9 — which includes Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes — was exposed to measles while traveling internationally. People who were in Concourse B at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport between 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday may have been exposed. The patient’s vaccination status is unknown, and they are isolating at home until they are no longer contagious, officials said. Anyone who was on the same flight or in that section of the airport may have been exposed. Measles can remain in the air for around two hours after an infected person leaves. People who were on the plane
ä See MEASLES, page 9A
Ex-coach Kelly files suit against LSU He claims school now wants to fire him for cause
BY WILSON ALEXANDER Staff writer
Brian Kelly has filed a lawsuit against LSU as he seeks confirmation that the school fired him without cause and that he is owed his full buyout of nearly $54 million, according to a copy of the filing STAFF PHOTO By MICHAEL JOHNSON obtained by The Advocate. Kelly’s attorneys said in a petition for Brian Kelly was fired on Oct. 26, the day after a 49-25 home declaratory judgment that LSU repreloss to Texas A&M. sentatives told them during a call Mon-
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LSU believed grounds for termination for cause existed,” the lawsuit said. ä Scott Rabalais: Kelly’s lawsuit If fired for cause, LSU would not against LSU bodes poorly for school, have to pay Kelly his full buyout. Kelly would be owed 90% of his remaining coaching search. PAGE 1C base salary and supplemental compensation if fired without cause, which day he was not “formally terminated” would be paid through 2031, under the as the football coach on Oct. 26 and the terms of his contract. The lawsuit did not specify what school now seeks to fire him for cause. “LSU took the position that Coach case LSU has for terminating Kelly for Kelly had not been formally terminat- cause or who represented the school on ed and informed Coach Kelly’s repreä See KELLY, page 9A sentatives, for the very first time, that
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