Amid controversy, move to remove Fresno City College academic senate president falls short.

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The tenure of Tom Boroujeni, a communication instructor at Fresno City College, remained unresolved after the recent academic senate meeting. Boroujeni has been on involuntary administrative leave since November 30 but has declined to step down from his presidency position.

At the final meeting of the semester, the academic senate couldn’t reach a decision to remove Boroujeni as president or postpone the decision to August. A significant number of senators chose to abstain from voting, resulting in no majority decision. This impasse implies that the academic senate will likely commence the new academic year under the interim leadership of president-elect Jackie Williams.

The lack of resolution has put the academic senate in a state of uncertainty, noted theater design instructor Christina McCollam-Martinez, who initiated two petitions to oust Boroujeni from his presidency.

“We’re at a standstill; progress is halting,” McCollam-Martinez expressed during the meeting. “When choices are removed, we’re trapped with no alternatives.”

The senate members were divided on the implications of removing Boroujeni, including concerns about due process, beliefs about the allegations, the senate’s direction, and faculty rights, as advocated by Boroujeni.

“I’m standing my ground because I support the faculty,” Boroujeni declared during the meeting, where he spoke with permission, not as a senate member but as a public attendee. Despite refuting claims of sexual violence, Boroujeni attributed his suspension by Fresno City College to disagreements with the State Center Community College District over academic policies.

Following changes to the Fresno City College senate bylaws, the executive board recommended Boroujeni’s removal due to his administrative leave status, which led to the situation where Williams served as acting president without a president-elect, a critical position within the executive board.

“The decision to remove the current president is not about the allegations that led to their leave,” explained Alana Jeydel, a history and political science professor. “It’s simply about ensuring the continuity of the senate with a present and active leader.”