Mass. Overturns Firing of School Leader

According to the AP the Mass. state Board of Higher Education reversed the firing of the president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, who was fired by the school's trustees earlier this month with little explanation. The panel roundly criticized the Dec. 4 firing of Admiral Richard Gurnon before voting unanimously to undo it. It was the first time the state board had used its power to reverse the firing of a state college president. Gurnon, a 27-year veteran of the Buzzards Bay academy, had served two years as acting president and six months as president when he was dismissed in a 9-1 vote. Gurnon said he was given an ultimatum — resign or be fired — but never an explanation for his ouster. Trustees said they fired Gurnon because he had a combative relationship with them. Arthur Desrochers, the board of trustees' chairman, defended the move at the hearing.