The News and Record of Greensboro has published a story that begins to lift the veil behind the secretive dismissal of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum's executive director. The Greensboro museum is still trying to recover from the firing and the subsequent reaction.
The newspaper has relied on anonymous background sources who charge some of the museum's founders took an immediate dislike to Lacy Ward Jr. Ward, who was fired after less then six months on the job.
The paper says Ward was the target of a campaign orchestrated by several founders and their allies on the museum's board. It paints a picture of a conspiratorial effort to accuse Ward of various infractions, including speaking publicly about the museum's financial troubles.
There were also questionable allegations that Ward acted inappropriately with a female museum employee. The paper says those allegations were actually raised by the museum's chief financial officer. The female employee in question is said to have denied the charges that Ward's behavior was inappropriate, and in fact said she felt pressure from the board to condemn Ward's behavior.
Ward has declined to publicly address his dismissal. One board member resigned following Ward's firing, and another member, Mayor Nancy Vaughan, has suggested that the city take over leadership of the troubled institution.
The News and Record is defending it's use of anonymous sourcing by saying all of its reporting is accurate, and that the public deserves to the know the events surrounding Ward's dismissal.
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