NEW ORLEANS
Myron Lawson was chosen Friday as the chairman of the Southern University System board of supervisors, replacing the former chairman who has been embroiled in sexual harassment allegations.
Lawson, an Alexandria city councilman who owns a State Farm agency and who had previously served as the university’s board chair in 1999 and 2000, was serving as the vice chairman before Friday’s 9-7 vote in New Orleans, where the Bayou Classic football game was played Saturday. The game pitted Southern University against Grambling State University.
The Southern system is the nation’s largest historically Black university system.
The former chairman, Johnny Anderson, has faced accusations by female employees of sexual harassment.
In May, Southern University President Ralph Slaughter filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging he was retaliated against as a whistleblower after revealing the sexual harassment complaints against Anderson. That lawsuit was dropped as part of an agreement that gave Slaughter a new, lucrative two-year contract
Anderson, who has served as Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s assistant chief of staff, has denied any wrongdoing.
