FPU students demand answers follow president's resignation

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Questions are swirling over the abrupt resignation of Pete Menjares as president at Fresno Pacific University. Students and campus supporters held vigil Tuesday to pray for Menjares and FPU.

The official word is Menjares and his wife, Virginia, are moving back to Southern California simply to be with family.

But, a lot of FPU students say the answer doesn't make sense, especially just three weeks into the new semester. Now they're asking the university board and Menjares for more details.

Students at the small Christian University are praying for answers about the future of their campus. They're also demanding them about the recent and abrupt resignation of President Menjares, after just two years as FPU's leader.

"We're college students, we can handle the truth," Rachel Catrina said. "So I wish they had been much more open and honest with us."

Catrina was one of more than thirty students who showed up to campus Tuesday wanting to know more, wanting to know why.

At this point the university is only saying Menjares and his wife, who is also a fixture on campus, decided to leave to be closer to family. In a statement last week Menjares said the decision to explore new opportunities near family came after prayerful consideration.

"His family lives in Los Angeles and it's not too far away," said FPU student Patricia Vazquez. "It did not seem like the real reason at first, to me, personally."

The students shared stories of how Menjares inspired them. The prayer vigil was held while the university's board met nearby, discussing what's next.

Board Chairman John Thiesen did not answer students' questions or ours during a brief statement to the group.

"We are limited in what we can say because of our agreements," Thiesen said. "But I will say that we care deeply about you."

Menjares was named president in 2012, the first Hispanic president in FPU history. Students say he recently talked with them publicly about plans for the future at FPU, which gives them more reason to question last week's resignation.

"We're also asking Pete directly, is there any way that you could still remain as president," Vazquez said. "Is there any way that we could reverse that resignation because we believe that he is our future still."

Action News also reached out to Menjares but he didn't respond to my request for an interview.

Right now, FPU's board needs to decide whether to continue having the provost to run day to day operations, appoint an interim president, or name a new president altogether.