Member of Oklahoma's Legislative Black Caucus criticizes selection of Eric Stevenson to OU Board of Regents

A member of Oklahoma's Legislative Black Caucus criticized Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's recent selection of Eric Stevenson to the OU Board of Regents. 

Oklahoma Sen. George Young (D-Okla. City) expressed displeasure in an interview with News4 that Stitt did not choose someone who lives in Oklahoma for the position. 

Stevenson, an OU alumni who lives in Columbus, Ohio, said he plans to fly back to Oklahoma for every Board of Regents meeting using his own money. Young said the Legislative Black caucus sent a variety of recommendations to Stitt, all of whom currently lived in Oklahoma. 

"We sent a list of individuals who we thought would be very amenable not only to the administration but actually have an idea of what's happening on campus," Young said.

Stitt said during Stevenson's announcement ceremony March 1 that he was the right person for the job regardless of where he lived, but joked it would be better if he lived in Oklahoma.

"The guy is going to be a fantastic regent — that's why I selected him. The fact that he's African-American is just an absolute bonus," Stitt said. "He's the right person for this job. But he happens to be African-American." 

Young said someone more local to Oklahoma would be able to better respond to issues on campus. 

"If there is something happening on that campus, someone would be around and know and understand what's going on," Young said. "They would have a better response to it." 

Young told News4 he believed Stevenson's selection simply fell in line with what the administration wants, not the welfare of students. 

"This is another guy who falls in line with what the administration wants, and that is, 'We're looking at the bottom line at OU,' and not at the development of students as citizens and individuals," Young said.