It begins: Republican leaders call for Cheng to go. Chancellor possesses no authority to exempt himself from investigation.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon dealt another blow to Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) Chancellor Terrence Cheng’s tenure leading the troubled 85,000 student system. Republican legislative leaders were quick to call for the former University of Connecticut English professor to resign.

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora and Senator Stephen Harding, who leads the 11 Republicans of the Senate’s 36 members reacted quickly Wednesday afternoon. The two Republicans issued an emphatic statement calling for Cheng’s removal, writing:

“Make no mistake—this is a black eye for the State of Connecticut. While we appreciate Comptroller Scanlon’s proposals to address spending abuses and procedural failures within the CSCU system, restoring public trust demands bold and decisive action. 

That begins with terminating the employment of CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. His continued leadership over a system in clear disarray undermines efforts to restore stability and confidence among students, parents, staff, and taxpayers alike. 

The troubling transactions revealed in today’s report may well be just the tip of the iceberg, emphasizing the critical need to extend the audit process and fully expose how this system has been mismanaged. Failing to act decisively not only excuses unacceptable behavior but also risks eroding trust in all our public institutions.”

The CSCU Board of Regents meets Friday morning in Manchester. It will not be possible for even the most somnolent members to remain silent in the immediate aftermath of the Scanlon report on reckless spending of public funds. Students, faculty, administrators, and the public will expect a meaningful reaction and plan for the way forward. Regents have known about Cheng’s spending for months. Silence will no longer provide a cover for their distaste.

Published December 18, 2024.