Mark Kennedy named University of Colorado president amid protests [View all]
DENVER (AP) The University of Colorado named Mark Kennedy as its next president Thursday amid protests that the former Republican U.S. representative is out of step with the school's values.
Regents voted 5-4 along party lines in favor of Kennedy, who is currently president of the University of North Dakota. Kennedy has been criticized for his conservative congressional voting record, as well as for his responses during several open forums, since he was selected in April as the lone finalist for the job.
The concerns dealt mainly with his votes against marriage equality when he represented Minnesota in the House from 2001 to 2007. He voted against gay marriage and in favor of abortion restrictions decisions that didn't sit well with left-leaning CU students and faculty, The Denver Post reported .
Some regents began wavering soon after students and faculty protested the selection, and even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis weighed in by advocating for a president who "unites the board."
Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/kennedy-named-university-of-colorado-president-amid-protests/article_bf14b88d-fd9f-5343-bab7-4ffa945e47d5.html