Historic Association continues quest for sole affiliation
For 118 years, the MUW Alumnae Association has served all alumnae and the university by creating partnerships and programs that enrich the lives of those who attended the W, current students and those yet to come.
Retaining our status as the only affiliated organization for all alumni has played out largely in the legal arena. Our attorneys include a number of W graduates whose primary interest is in preserving the jewel we know as MUW.
The timeline below shows you the legal steps that have been taken in 2007 and so far in 2008.
2007
Feb. 1 – University president Dr. Claudia Limbert announces her decision to disaffiliate with the MUW Alumnae Association. According to the affiliation agreement, the contract will not terminate for 60 days.
Feb. 2 – Dr. Limbert announces that she has appointed Andrea Godwin Overby to create a committee that will create a new alumni association.
March 25 – Renee Flynt, the appointed president of the new alumni association created from Dr. Limbert’s committee, signs an affiliation agreement with Dr. Limbert.
March 28– MUW Alumnae Association’s Executive Committee files petition for injunctive relief against Dr. Claudia Limbert.
April 2 – Following a brief hearing, Lowndes Co. Judge Dorothy Colom orders the Association to amend the petition to name additional parties.
April 5 – Pursuant to Judge Colom’s order, the Association files an amended petition captioned “Mississippi University for Women Alumnae Association v. Claudia A. Limbert, individually and in her official capacity; Mississippi University for Women; and Board of Trustees of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.”
May 8 – Judge Colom holds the first of two hearings on the Association’s petition for injunctive relief.
Despite an agreement signed by the parties during the first hearing, in which the Defendants agreed not to present the appointed association’s affiliation agreement to the IHL Board for approval until the completion of the hearings, later that month Dr. Limbert presents, and the IHL Board approves the affiliation agreement between Dr. Limbert and the appointed alumni association.
June 5 – Judge Colom holds the second hearing on the Association’s petition for injunctive relief. Following the close of evidence, Judge Colom requests post-trial briefings from the parties in lieu of closing arguments. MUWAeA files Supplemental Brief in Opposition to MUW's Motion for Preliminary Injunction.
July 23 – The Defendant, MUW, submits Post-Trial Brief to the court. MUWAeA submits Post-trial Brief to the court.
Oct. 1 – Judge Colom files her opinion and judgment, granting the Association’s request for a permanent injunction. The injunction orders Dr. Limbert to honor the affiliation agreement with the Association and to rescind the affiliation agreement between Dr. Limbert and the appointed alumni association. See Press Release of MUWAeA, with link to full Court ruling.
Oct. 26 – The Defendants file their notice of appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Nov. 9 – The Defendant/Appellant files Motion for Expedited Consideration of Appeal , along with Brief in support of Motion, with the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Dec. 13 – The Defendants file a motion with the lower court to stay the judgment pending the outcome of the appeal. The motion is accompanied by a cover letter to the Clerk, a Brief in Support of Motion, along with Exhibits. The IHL issues a Press Release stating the Board requests a stay of opinion pending completion of the appellate process.
Dec. 15 - Press Release of the MUWAeA.
Dec. 18-19 – The Association files a motion with the lower court to enforce the judgment, along with a Brief in support of said motion. A Supplemental Brief was filed on Dec. 19, after which a Press Release was issued by the MUWAeA.
2008
Jan. 24 – The Defendants file Rebuttal Brief in support of their Motion for Stay of Judgment Pending Appeal, along with a Motion to Strike Affidavits and accompanying Letter.
Feb. 19 – Judge Dorothy Colom holds a hearing on two motions filed in December 2007. Following the hearing, Judge Colom issues an order allowing Dr. Limbert to re-affiliate with her appointed alumni group because the IHL policy does not prohibit a university from having two alumni associations. Judge Colom denies the Association's motion to enforce the judgment. That order is entered on Feb. 25.
March 5 – The Association files a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court to vacate the order granting the partial stay that was entered on Feb. 25. A Brief in Support of the Motion, along with Exhibits are also filed.
March 12 – MUW files a Counter-Motion for Complete Stay of Judgment, along with Brief in support of said Counter-Motion.
April 16 – Proposed Affiliation Agreement from ongoing negotiations between the MUWAeA and MUWAA (the University).
April 19 - New Constitution and Bylaws, revised and restated, and approved by its membership.
May 23 – MUW's Reply Brief to Supreme Court and Request for Oral Argument.
July 24 & 28– MUWAeA approves Name Change Resolution during special meeting, with Press Release issued on June 28.
August 11 – Dr. Limbert's Convocation Speech which included her announcement to begin the process of changing the name of MUW.
August 11 – Statement of the Original, Historic MUW Alumnae Association Negotiating Team in response to remarks made by Dr. Limbert in her Convocation Speech.
August 13 – MUW Alumnae Association President's Response to Dr. Limbert's Convocation speech, in response to a request from an Associated Press writer.
November 20 – Supreme Court of Misssissippi rules against the historic MUW Alumnae Association. See the complete decision of the Court.