We, the undersigned students, faculty, alumni, and community members of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, write to express our deep disappointment and concern regarding the Board's decision to let go of Dr. Sullivan, Odawa White , and Brandi White.

Dr. Sullivan's dedication to the University-and more importantly, to our community-has been unwavering. His leadership, compassion, and commitment to student success have strengthened the very foundation of the university. 

Moreover, Dr. Sullivan is not only a respected academic leader but an expert in his field-one of an extremely few in the world specializing in Ojibwe Language Linguistics. His knowledge and contributions in this vital area of cultural preservation and education are irreplaceable and invaluable to both our institution and the broader Indigenous academic community. 

Indigenous scholars such as Odawa, Brandi, and many others in recent years have not been respected at LCOOU even though they have spent years working to help our Native Community here. LCOOU should be a safe place for these scholars and embraced for the work they sacrificed in gaining their degrees, especially like these individuals that have given back so much to our community.

We respectfully but firmly call upon the Board of Regents to: 

1. Prioritize an immediate and transparent search for a highly qualified University President who embodies the educational, cultural, and community-driven values of LCOOU. 

2. Appoint a qualified interim president immediately, with a minimum of a Master's degree AND proven leadership experience, to ensure stability and academic integrity during this transition. 

3. Engage in serious reflection and accountability regarding how the Board's recent actions have contributed to the university's internal and external turmoil. These actions have caused widespread discord, uncertainty, and distress among staff, faculty, and students. 

4. Reassess the current leadership of the Board of Regents itself and consider the immediate removal of the current Board President, whose decisions and leadership approach have directly contributed to the ongoing instability and erosion of trust within the university community. 

Believe us when we say: we, the students, have felt and been directly impacted by this instability. Our learning environment, morale, and trust in university leadership have suffered as a direct result. We care deeply about the future of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University. We ask the Board to listen, act with transparency, and rebuild the trust that has been shaken. Our university deserves leadership that reflects the strength, integrity, and vision of our community. 

Respectfully, 

The Concerned Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Community Members of Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University.