Commonwealth University's Council of Trustees has expressed its "unwavering support" of university President Bashar Hanna in the wake of a recent federal jury verdict in a whistleblower case.

Former Bloomsburg University dean Jeffrey Krug on Aug. 20 won a $3.9 million federal jury verdict over claims he faced retaliation and was fired for helping an administrative assistant file a sexual harassment report against Hanna in 2017.

Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities merged on July 1, 2022 to become Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, with Hanna as its president.

"We believe that Bashar should continue to serve as our president and that his continued service is in the best interest of our students, our university and the State System as well," Council of Trustees Chair John E. Wetzel wrote in an undated letter on behalf of the council that was emailed to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Chancellor Daniel Greenstein.

"We are disappointed in the jury's decision in the recent wrongful termination suit against Commonwealth University, President Hanna and the State System," Wetzel's letter added. "We would encourage the State System and the Attorney General's office to appeal swiftly after post trial motions are exhausted."

State System spokesman Kevin Hensil on Thursday confirmed that a copy of the letter received by WVIA matched one his agency received.

“We do not discuss litigation,” Hensil said when asked about a possible appeal.

Krug,...

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