The Lane Community College Board of Education recently made a formal apology to the college’s president, Stephanie Bulger, for discrimination against her on the basis of race and sex, according to a report from Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
In August, an independent investigator substantiated an anonymous complaint that the board dismissed and failed to acknowledge President Bulger’s feedback regarding the college’s operations during a March 5 board meeting, finding the disrespect towards President Bulger would not have “taken place if [she] was a white man.”
The investigator also substantiated another claim that former board chair Zachary Mulholland conducted abusive and bullying behavior towards President Bulger and others. Following these findings, board members voted to censure Mulholland in a September 3 meeting.
During the board’s recent meeting on September 30, current chair Austin Fölnagy read aloud a formal apology to President Bulger.
“The board recognizes and is accountable for the harm caused to you, President Bulger. We are deeply sorry for the negative impact our behavior has had on you, and the college community at large. President Bulger, please accept the board’s apology for treating you badly. We thank our president and the community for holding us accountable. We are listening, and we are ready to do the hard work required to support the president, regain her trust and respect, and help make Lane Community College even better than it is now.”
Dr. Bulger was installed as the eighth president of Lane Community College on July 1, 2022. Before taking the helm of the Oregon-based school, she gained significant experience in community college leadership, including service as vice chancellor of instructional services at the San Diego Community College District. Dr. Bulger holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University in Utah, a master’s degree in nineteenth- and twentieth-century British and American literature from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan.
I’m sick and tired of reading these lame a*s stories in which a highly qualified and experienced Black American administrator or faculty member in higher education tolerating and enduring explicit racist behavior from an insecure White man/woman in 2025. My point is that when will these so-called highly educated Black Americans going to stop being afraid of these insecure a*s White men/women along with worrying about losing a funky a*s job. Unfortunately, too many of these establishment so-called Black Americans are more concerned about being VALIDATED by their White peers as compared to their own self-respect and dignity.
Further, I’m real curious in knowing what Dr. Bulger’s husband response to his wife being abused on the job. Let me guess, he did nothing. I think Dr. Bulger and her husband should have responded if another “Black American” was being abusive and disrespectful to them. I think there’s a high probability the outcome would have been different.