Over faculty objections, president named for Louisiana College

PINEVILLE, La. (RNS) --- The trustees of embattled Louisiana College have elected Joseph Aguillard president over the objections of most of his faculty colleagues and scores of student and alumni opponents.

It will fall to Aguillard to reunite the divided Southern Baptist school and get it off academic probation. He will lead a college that has become a battleground in conservative Baptists' national campaign to remake Baptist institutions in the image of the religious and cultural conservatism that marks the denomination.

Moments after his election, Aguillard promised to approach the faculty to "work together in peace and harmony."

The school's trustees elected Aguillard by a vote of 17-13 Jan. 18 in a grueling special meeting that lasted until 1:30 a.m., according to a source who knew the vote.

The trustees convened their meeting Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. as hundreds of spectators squeezed into their meeting room carrying slogans divided between supporting and opposing Aguillard, an associate professor of education who is known for his conservative views.

In the days leading up to the meeting, a faculty straw poll on Aguillard's suitability rejected him 53-12.