Liam Conner
Sonoma State University President Mike Lee will retire from his job at the school, notifying officials a day after he was placed on leave for an email he sent about the deal he made with campus protesters over the divestment of Israel.
CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia confirmed Lee’s plan to retire in a statement posted to the California State University website on Thursday.
“President Ming-Tung ‘Mike’ Lee has informed me of his decision to retire from his position at Sonoma State University,” the statement read. “I thank President Lee for his years of service to California State University – starting with California State University, Sacramento – and to higher education in general. I wish him and his family all the best. I will continue to work with the President in exercise Nathan Evans and our Board of Trustees Leadership during this transition period Additional information will be released.”
Lee found himself at the center of controversy earlier this week over an email about his deal with pro-Palestinian protesters that was posted online by a group of students.
The email and Lee’s decision to enter into the agreement received immediate backlash. Chancellor Garcia announced that Lee was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday.
“For now, due to this insubordination and the consequences it has brought to the system, Chairman Lee has been placed on administrative leave,” Garcia said.
Garcia went on to say that Lee’s message was sent without approval. An updated message from Lee to campus confirmed that he was alone in his decision to send the email.
“I want to be clear: The message was written and sent without the approval or consultation of the Chancellor or other system leaders. The points outlined in the message are solely my own and do not represent the views of my colleagues or the CSU,” Lee said Wednesday -fair.
The California Jewish Legislative Caucus also released a statement Wednesday saying the organization supported the suspension. O group co-chairs Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued a statement stating that Lee’s endorsement of an academic boycott was “completely unacceptable and proof that former President Lee is unfit to lead one of our great state institutions.”
