'They must go now:' Saint Augustine's alumni file lawsuit to remove Board of Trustees

A group of concerned St. Augustine's University alumni and supporters filed a lawsuit to remove the Board of Trustees.

The Save SAU coalition accuses the board of not following bidding procedures for construction projects, violating bylaws and breaching their implied duties.

This is the same group that called for the board to step down earlier this year as the university's financial struggles became more apparent. They said at the time their mission was to save Saint Augustine's University.

The filed lawsuit begins by examining the history of Saint Augustine's, stating the school "has been a beacon of pride and opportunity for the Black community in Raleigh, in North Carolina, and across the country" for almost 160 years. Founded in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, SAU became an "educational stepping stone for generations of students."

The lawsuit points out that the university has preserved through tumultuous times, such as the "violent racism of the post-Reconstruction South" and "the ugliness of Jim Crow" and the "tumult of the Civil Rights Movement."

The lawsuit specifically calls the Board of Directors, accusing the board of neglecting the school. It states Save SAU's purpose is to remove the board in hope's of correcting the university's course.

"In its darkest hour ... SAU most needs a component, engaged Board of Trustees with smart, moral leadership," the lawsuit states.

The document lists the Plaintiffs as Henry Debnam and Dr. John Larkins, both of whom are alumni of SAU who served on the Board of Trustees. It also listed Save SAU Coalition as a Plaintiff.

The lawsuit is more than 200 pages long and details a large number of complaints and concerns. However, one of their primary goals remains the same as they stated months ago: To keep Saint Augustine’s storied legacy alive for future generations.