The Louisiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal in a case involving efforts to challenge the selection of a college president, the Associated Press reported. The lawsuit, brought by a group of faculty members, alumni, and others, contended that the trustees of Louisiana College, a small Baptist institution in Pineville, La., had violated college bylaws when they named Joe Aguillard as president last year (The Chronicle, January 19, 2005).

The trustees chose Mr. Aguillard shortly after their initial pick accepted the job but then backed out over concerns of meddling by the board. The previous president resigned amid a controversy over a textbook-screening policy imposed by the board and a dispute over Christian values at the college (The Chronicle, March 17, 2004). The textbook policy drew complaints from faculty members concerned about a loss of academic freedom, and it drew a year’s probation from the college’s regional accreditor as well.

In announcing, without comment, last week that it would not hear the appeal, the Supreme Court upheld rulings by two lower courts.