Professor Claims Funding Issues with SIU President

Three lawmakers say Southern Illinois University's president should resign following allegations he tried to move more than $5 million in state appropriations from Carbondale to Edwardsville campuses.

Carbondale professor Kathleen Chwalisz said in a Thursday column that documents obtained through public records requests show SIU President Randy Dunn hid the proposed transfer from Carbondale officials. Dunn said in an internal email that he used certain funding distribution figures "simply to shut up" those against the reallocation.

Dunn says he never withheld details and that Chwalisz's statements are "misleading and ... grossly misrepresenting the situation."

On Friday, the SIU Board of Trustees announced a meeting was called for May 30, which includes a closed session to discuss personnel issues. Dunn said he doesn't anticipate actions at the meeting to affect his employment.

Republican Reps. Terri Bryant and Chad Hays were first to call for Dunn's resignation. They were joined Friday by Democratic Rep. Natalie Phelps Finnie of Elizabethtown.