Some of my HU colleagues may say 'Good Riddance!', but I am simply going to say goodbye to our former President, H. Patrick Swygert, who has led our institution since 1995.

Amidst rumors that he was peddling money from HU, faculty leaders called for Swygert's resignation saying the university was "in a state of crisis". Faculty also criticized how Swygert was handling funding received from grants and the federal government, his failure to implement programs after funding was awarded, and letting facilities deteriorate.

Tensions were high amongst HU faculty and came to a boil when faculty senate members voted to send a letter to the Board of Trustees describing "an intolerable condition of incompetence and dysfunction at the highest level."

He announced his resignation, a complete reversal of his former statement, in late April last year stating he was ready to begin a new phase in his life.

Starting August 1, Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau, former president of Bowling Green State University, will be the new leader of the great Mecca. He was voted in unanimously by the Board of Trustees, and will be HU's 16th president.

Gen. Colin L. Powell, US Army (Ret.), assisted the presidential search committee in their quest for a new University leader and is optimistic of the changes Dr. Ribeau will bring to Howard. At Bowling State, Dr. Ribeau initiated many culturally and technologically stimulating programs and increased funding and budget management.

All these credentials are impressive, but students will just have to wait to see what changes and improvements this new president will bring to Howard.