HLS 21RS-4044 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 216
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREIBERG
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., for his service as interim
president of Louisiana State University
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., for his service as interim president of Louisiana State
3 University.
4 WHEREAS, Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., began his academic career at LSU as a law
5professor in 1986, progressed to serving as dean of law at the University of Tennessee, then
6as president of Colby Sawyer College, returning home in 2016 to serve as dean of the LSU
7Paul M. Hebert Law Center; and
8 WHEREAS, in late 2019, the LSU Board of Supervisors was in need of an interim
9president to serve for a short period while the board began a search for a permanent
10president, and Mr. Galligan readily accepted the challenge; and
11 WHEREAS, expectations of a bright and prosperous 2020 were set when the LSU
12Tigers won the national football championship during Mr. Galligan’s first month in office;
13and
14 WHEREAS, following the emergence and rapid global spread of the COVID-19
15virus, Mr. Galligan led the university into a virtual learning environment on March 12, 2020,
16that, while undesirable, was necessary to protect the health of the students, faculty, and
17community; and
18 WHEREAS, under his leadership and collaborative direction, the many campuses of
19LSU were leading the fight against COVID-19 by producing health workers faster,
20conducting clinical trials on treatments and therapies, and creating personal protective
21equipment; and
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HR NO. 216
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Galligan guided the university toward the initiation of a utility
2infrastructure overhaul that had been needed for years but had been deferred due to cost; and
3 WHEREAS, during his time as president, LSU saw its graduation and retention rates
4rise to record levels; and
5 WHEREAS, LSU also faced allegations of Title IX errors, which came to light in
6November 2020, and Mr. Galligan committed to an open and transparent process of
7reviewing the cases and improving the Title IX operations; and
8 WHEREAS, Mr. Galligan earnestly provided valuable information to the Senate
9Select Committee on Women and Children for an extended period of time, earning the
10respect of the committee members and legislators; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. Galligan's period as interim president was originally expected to
12be three to six months but expanded to an eighteen-month term of service that encompassed
13some of the biggest challenges the institution has ever faced; and
14 WHEREAS, in recognition of Mr. Galligan's exceptional level of leadership,
15commitment, and personal sacrifice, the LSU Board of Supervisors retroactively removed
16the interim from his title, making him president of LSU effective January 2020; and
17 WHEREAS, Mr. Galligan capably navigated the eight-campus LSU family through
18multiple crises, and his leadership enabled the university to endure the COVID-19 pandemic,
19develop its outdated policies and procedures, and emerge ready to return to normal activities;
20and
21 WHEREAS, Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., faced a seeming insurmountable degree of
22hardships during his brief tenure as Louisiana State University's president, but he faced these
23challenges with poise; he is most deserving of recognition for his service.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
25Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., for his service as
26interim president of Louisiana State University; does hereby express its sincere gratitude to
27Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., for agreeing to serve as president during unprecedented times and
28providing outstanding leadership to the university; and does hereby extend sincere hopes that
29he enjoy continued success as he moves on to another venture in life.
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HR NO. 216
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
2Thomas C. Galligan, Jr.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 216 Original 2021 Regular Session Freiberg
Commends Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., for his service as interim president of La. State
University.
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