Trustee Joel Ferguson responded to students' dissatisfaction over Ferguson answering a phone call during a Board of Trustees meeting Friday, when students were voicing concern about the administration's response, or lack thereof, to Proposal 2's passing.

About 125 students had flooded into the board room with posters and black bandanas tied around their mouths to represent how they feel like they've been silenced.

Students had already taken control of the meeting and were sharing their opinions when Ferguson answered his cell phone.

"Why he would ever do that is beyond me," history senior Francesco Aimone said. "It was incredibly disrespectful and shows the trustees are hostile toward students and don't care about their concerns."

Ferguson said Monday he told the person who called during the meeting that he would call back before hanging up, adding that he would have done the same in other meeting situations.

"There was just one student who was very disrespectful to the board and made a big deal about it," Ferguson said.

He would not comment further on the situation and said he was "putting the whole issue to bed."

Students can be assured that MSU officials are interested in the issue and their concerns, Ferguson said, adding that he met with some students after the meeting and further discussed the fact that the university will continue to promote diversity.

For more on this story, please see Tuesday's edition of The State News.