SC Gov. Nikki Haley Angers Black Leaders by Replacing Dr. Paula Orr, Sole Black Member of University Medical Board, with White Male

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has sparked the ire of black legislators by replacing Dr. Paula Orr, the only black member on the Medical University of South Carolina board, with a white man, Harold Jablon. Seems that Mrs. Haley doesn't care for diversity, the same diversity that saw her through to the governor's mansion, considering she's of Indian descent. This board has now become the good ole boys club -- made up of 14 white men.

Orr, owner of Charleston Women's Wellness Center, had been the governor's designee since July 2003.

"Dr. Jablon has extensive ties to MUSC and an incredible record of military service, leadership and professional achievement for which he has been widely recognized, and the governor couldn't be more excited for him to get to work on MUSC's board,'' said Haley's spokesman Rob Godfrey.

Haley can fill two spots on the MUSC board. Orr's is a non-voting position. The term of the governor's other appointment expires in June.

This is not the first time Haley's been criticized for a college board appointment. Students and alumni of the University of South Carolina last month called on Haley to reconsider her replacement of the school's largest donor, Wall Street financier Darla Moore, with a lawyer and campaign donor.

Haley said then she wanted a new perspective on the board. Moore had been the governor's appointee since 1999. Her removal left one black woman and 19 white men on the USC board. Source: South Florida Times

So, Gov. Haley, who doesn't seem to have a problem shedding all evidence of her Indian background in exchange for coming across more Anglo Saxon, is just showing her true colors where she stands on diversity.

Photo credit: Dr. Paula Orr, MD www.wjmd.com