MSU president resigns

Mississippi State University President Doc Foglesong unexpectedly resigned Friday after less than two academic years as leader of the university. His final day of work will be June 30.

In a prepared press statement, Foglesong, a retired four-star U.S. Air Force general, said: "With the express purpose of helping the university move forward, I have asked the commissioner of higher education that I be relieved as president not later than June 30, 2008."

Foglesong had recently received negative attention from some students, faculty and alumni for removing daffodils from the campus, not allowing architecture students to show their work in a window and for his lack of attendance at faculty senate meetings, among other things.

MSU will soon begin searching for a new president, the university's third in the last 10 years.