Ruling restores leaders at D-Q

Judge says prior board is only valid one at tribal school.

By Lesli A. Maxwell -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 19, 2005

A Yolo Superior Court judge on Tuesday ruled that none of the American Indian community members and students who have been fighting over leadership of D-Q University is a valid board member of the troubled college.

California's only tribal college, D-Q University lost its accreditation in January and was shut down by administrators. Since then, three different groups have claimed to be the school's legitimate governing board.

In a two-page ruling, Judge David Rosenberg found that "the attempts to appoint/elect board members of DQU by all parties during the period January-March 2005 are all defective and invalid and ... none of the persons claiming to be board members of DQU by virtue of an appointment/election during this period are valid members of the board."

Rosenberg ruled that four board members - all of whom had been seated on the D-Q panel before January - are valid. Two of those members had resigned, but Rosenberg said they could reclaim their positions.

He also ordered those board members to immediately begin the process of filling nine of 15 positions by the middle of July.

The judge said none of the invalid board members is precluded from being appointed to the D-Q board.

The board recognized in Tuesday's ruling will hold its first meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday on the D-Q campus.

Tuesday's ruling may help D-Q, a tiny campus in rural Yolo County, begin its recovery after months of turmoil. D-Q President Victor Gabriel has said the administration is working to restore accreditation and recoup federal money the school lost because enrollment of American Indian students had fallen sharply.

At the same time, a handful of students has continued to live in D-Q's two dormitories and sought help in keeping the school alive.