ORANGEBURG, SC (WACH) - The president of South Carolina State University resigned in a Friday morning press conference.
The school's president, Dr. George E. Cooper, announced the press conference early Friday morning.
The resignation comes one day after Trustees at the university met behind closed doors to discuss the possibility of removing Cooper from office.
Trustees did not talk to reporters after they left the emergency session Thursday afternoon.
The Faculty Senate released a letter Wednesday saying the university is in a "state of crisis" under the leadership of President George Cooper and his administration. The letter also says the Faculty Senate voted "no confidence" in Cooper and also criticized the school's board of trustees for allowing him to remain in place despite never giving the university president a favorable evaluation.
Last month, Cooper fired eight high-ranking administrators. He has refused to give a reason for the firings, only citing an internal investigation into policies and practices without giving any details.
SC State officials released hundreds of pages linked to the firings last week, but the documents offered no explanation for why the employees were fired.
People supporting Cooper gathered outside of the conference.
Zoheb Hassanali with WACH Fox is in Orangeburg, and we will update information as it becomes available.
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