PINEVILLE, La. (BP) - A district judge has ruled that Louisiana College's new president, Joe Aguillard, was legitimately elected by the board of trustees although the action did not follow the college's bylaws; trustees also have taken steps to address accreditation concerns that have put the Baptist school on probation.

A group of Louisiana College alumni and faculty members filed a lawsuit contesting Aguillard's 17-13 election by trustees in January. On March 17, Judge Dexter Ryland of Louisiana's 9th Judicial District ruled in favor of the election.

The lawsuit claimed that trustees failed to follow their own bylaws when they created a "blended committee" after an initial presidential nominee, Malcolm Yarnell, was chosen as the college's president last fall and then withdrew his name.

Ryland ruled that the election of a president must include nominations from the floor, which is how Aguillard was elected.

Concerning the college's accreditation, trustees unanimously voted to rescind a 2003 textbook policy, to dissolve a faculty handbook committee and to establish a task force to examine academic freedom, among other actions during a March 15 meeting.