By SUSAN JONES
Longtime Pitt Trustee John Pelusi Jr., who transitioned to emeritus status this summer, has filed a suit against the Board of Trustees and its current chair, John Verbanac, alleging he has been denied information relevant to his position, particularly concerning Pitt Athletics.
The University responded in a statement: “We vehemently disagree with the baseless allegations contained within the complaint filed by non-voting Emeritus Trustee John Pelusi, and we will aggressively defend against this action.”
Pelusi has been temporarily suspended from attending board meetings and accessing the the board’s internal internet portal, at the chair’s discretion. No formal action has been taken to remove him as an emeritus trustee, a position which has very limited responsibilities under bylaws approved in June. Pelusi is seeking an injunction granting him participation in the meetings and the information he has requested.
Pelusi, who has been a voting Pitt trustee for 30 years, was elected as an emeritus trustee at the same time the board approved new rules, including setting term limits for term trustees of two consecutive four-year terms, with eligibility for one additional four-year term after a lapse of two years.
The voting rules also were changed. Previously, emeritus trustees could not vote in full board meetings but could be voting members of committees. The new bylaws say they can be members of committees, but cannot vote.
Verbanac, in an interview with the University Times when he became chair in July, said the change was made partly because some committees have the authority to act for the whole board on fiduciary matters — such as the Property and Facilities committee, which can approve projects of less than $25 million — and the people making decisions in those committees should be voting members of the trustees.
Pelusi was elected emeritus trustee in June along with four other longstanding members, including outgoing board chair Louis Cestello.
The University bylaws say that emeritus trustees may attend meetings of the board as observers, subject to the discretion of the chairperson. They also are not considered in constituting a quorum at a committee meeting.
Pelusi, who was a co-captain of Pitt's 1976 national championship football team, said in a 20-page filing with the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, that he voiced concerns about Pitt’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policies; challenges associated with the House vs. NCAA settlement that requires schools to pay former and current college athletes; and the firing of former Pitt Athletic Director Heather Lyke in September, along with a long-held complaint of some Pitt fans that the school does not own its home football stadium.
His suit particularly takes issue with Lyke’s firing, saying that the University risks losing multiple large donations because of how the situation was handled. Pelusi was chair of the trustees’ Athletic committee and a member of the search committee that brought Lyke to Pitt in 2017.
Pelusi, his wife and their family foundation have been large contributors to Pitt Athletics, including funding the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program, which helps prepare student-athletes for life after athletics.
“This unforced error could have been avoided if the Trustees, including Mr. Pelusi, were not kept in the dark when they made legitimate requests for information,” the suit says.
Pelusi says he repeatedly requested a meeting with Verbanac to discuss his concerns and then with the full Governance, Nominating and Trusteeship committee. In Pelusi’s suit, it says he was contacted in October to schedule a meeting with Verbanac and Robbie Luxbacher, chair of the Governance, Nominating and Trusteeship committee. But Pelusi said he would only meet with the full committee.
It was after this exchange that Verbanac revoked Pelusi’s right to attend board meetings. The suit says Verbanac said Pelusi’s attempts to gather information about Lyke’s firing and his requests for meetings were “disruptive, inappropriate and go beyond what is appropriate for someone serving in this role” as emeritus trustee.
A hearing on the injunction request is scheduled for February.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.