We the undersigned are concerned as alumni and friends of Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, regarding the recent upheaval within the Board of Trustees and the resignation of Dr. Akande.

We are signing in support of the members of the Board who have resigned or submitted a call for answers regarding the actions in this situation.

Our love for our alma mater is great. We are greatly concerned that the actions of the Board, especially the chairman, have negatively impacted not only the image of the college but also the recovery and stability at a critical juncture in Westminster's history. The future of small institutions of higher learning is very much at a crossroads. The optics of this situation have alienated alumni and friends of Westminster. Westminster cannot survive the alienation of her alumni. This is a grave and critical matter.

This is the time to put petty ego and self interest aside for the benefit and security of Westminster. The board is not a gathering of old friends who do not answer to others. Your duty is to Westminster and her students and alumni.

Specifically:

We want the issue raised regarding the personal conflict between the chairman and President Akande, as well a the glaringly questionable request of the chairman to use his position to give personal favors to his associates instead of an alumni or representative of Westminster at the Cardinals game this previous season.

Also, we request full clarity regarding the differences if any between the contract of prior Presidents and President Akande.

We demand a full and explicit explanation of the outlined procedures that are involved in due process of removing a Westminster president under the Board's governance.

What were the reasons stated for the call to remove President Akande? What metrics were used to examine his performance? What other factors impacted those metrics?

We expect full transparency in this event and demand the resignation of the chairman if he is not willing to be transparent and address our concerns.