Brochin Denounces Comptroller's Criticism of Towson University President

State Sen. Jim Brochin is denouncing Comptroller Peter Franchot's call for the resignation of Towson University President Maravene Loeschke.

"The comptroller needs to back down and allow the president to do her job. We in the Towson community are very supportive of her," Brochin said in an emailed statement.

"For the comptroller to denounce the president of Towson University is totally inappropriate," Brochin wrote. "The comptroller needs to understand that this is a Title IX issue that Towson University, as part of the University System of Maryland, deals with as a statewide issue with a funding mechanism, which should be addressed by the legislature. He has no idea what is going on at the campus and the positive and incredible changes that president Loeschke has helped create. I invite him any day to come down and take a tour so he can get his facts straight."

Last week, Franchot called for Loeschke to resign after criticizing her for not attending a Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis.

"The president of Towson, in my view, has forfeited her claim on moral leadership," Franchot said during the Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis. "It's with a heavy heart, I believe, in the best interest of Towson University that she should resign."

Franchot and Gov. Martin O'Malley asked Loeschke to come before the board after hearing of the elimination of the university's men's baseball and soccer teams. The university president later met privately with each. The meeting with the governor led to a deal that could save the baseball team.

Franchot has repeatedly criticized Loeschke for not only eliminating the teams but for the manner in which she notified the players and faculty.

Loeschke did not attend last week's meeting after O'Malley excused her. Instead, she was the scheduled speaker at the BWI Business Partnership breakfast.

Brochin said the elimination of teams at Towson University is similar to what has happened at other colleges and universities including the University of Maryland.

"I think there is a huge double standard going on here," Brochin wrote. "When the president of the University of Maryland, Dr. Wallace Loh, gutted the school's swim program and decimated the hopes of thousands of swimmers who
thought one day they could swim for the school, the comptroller was silent. President Loh wasn't asked to explain himself to the Board. Why isn't this any different? Likewise, when Maryland moved to the Big Ten and broke open meetings laws, the Comptroller again did not say one word. I simply do not understand this double standard."