Sports

Davis, Sugg meet with UAPB supporters

By Mike Marzelli
Thursday, May 24, 2007 10:52 AM CDT

OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

In a meeting with University of Arkansas system President Alan Sugg and a group of University of Arkansas Pine Bluff supporters on campus Wednesday, UAPB Chancellor Lawrence Davis, Jr. defended his decision not renew the contract of outgoing athletic director Craig Curry and said he would not reverse the move and reinstate Curry before or after his contract expires on June 30.

The meeting was called after a petition was filed with Davis’ office by Pine Bluff attorney Gene McKissic on April 24 that included 19 signatures and called for Davis to explain his decision not to retain Curry in a private meeting with the group. After Davis’ office did not respond to the initial request, McKissic sent another letter to Davis on May 2 again asking for a meeting with himself and the 18 co-signers of the petition. Both letters were also sent to Sugg.

The meeting took place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on campus and was described by one of the petitioners in attendance as “largely uneventful”.

Davis did share some of his reasoning behind the decision not to retain Curry, citing the presence of only three home football games on UAPB’s 2007 schedule, a projected budget loss of close to $500,000 over the next fiscal year and Curry’s “arrogant behavior” as the main catalysts in his decision making process.

According to sources close to the group of petitioners who asked to meet with Davis, the meeting did not satisfy the request because it was held in a public forum rather than in a private setting.

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